Dr. Carolynn Julien: Leading with Purpose and Mentorship
Carolynn Julien Fairleigh Dickinson University
Dedicated to a life of service and with almost 4 decades of experience in research development, Dr. Carolynn Julien has built her career around nurturing meaningful relationships, mentoring others, and advancing research excellence. As the Associate Provost for Research and Sponsored Projects at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), Carolynn collaborates with faculty, staff, and students to implement strategies and proactive approaches for securing funding and enhancing institutional competitiveness.
Her journey in RD started at Hunter College of City University of New York (CUNY). Her first position was in research administration and contracts; she saw the job opening in a newspaper, one she still keeps a clipping of today, where she thought, “I think I can do this, and I am going to figure this out….” She felt happy to be in higher education, but didn’t realize until later how lucky she was to be in higher education.
When asked about her move from Hunter College of CUNY to FDU, Dr. Julien describes it as an intentional leap of faith. “You have one life to live, and you have to live it without regrets,” she says. “Trust yourself. The right time, the right place, the right reason—preparation is key.” She feels like no one day is ever the same, and the newness of each day has kept her in RD for almost 4 decades. Her strength as a writer has supported her journey in RD.
Always going back to her parents’ guiding principle to use your life for something bigger than what you are, she uses her mentoring skills to mentor RD professionals across the country. In 2023, she received the NORDP Mentoring Award, recognizing her unique ability to create an engaging, supportive, and inclusive environment that fosters professional and personal growth in the research development community.
During COVID, Carolynn became more invested and more involved with NORDP. She has served as a mentor and mentee, been appointed to, and then elected to, the NORDP Board of Directors, and been a member of the Mentoring Committee, Conference Committee, and the Committee on Inclusive Excellence (CIE), deepening her engagement with the RD community.
“When George Floyd was murdered, CIE created spaces for people to talk and process,” she explains. “A small group of us met monthly throughout COVID. We discussed everything—from our personal experiences to joint presentations. Mentoring and CIE were the vehicles that allowed me to fully engage with NORDP.” One of her contributions to NORDP was to ideate and implement NORDP’s Got Heart—a way for members to contribute to the RD community and to the local community at conferences.
When asked to summarize her leadership philosophy, she emphasizes that the focus is not on what you build but how you build it. Dr. Julien offers a quote of her own creation—one that speaks to her purpose as a leader and mentor: “I lead not to be seen, but so that others may see what is possible.”
Dr. Carolynn Julien is happy to answer any questions you have for her, so please feel free to contact her at c.julien@fdu.edu
Written by: Roshni Singh with input from Natalie Baronian, Career Stories team
Nicole Motzer
In our March Career Stories, we spotlight Nicole Motzer, the founding director of the Office of Research Development at Montana State University (MSU). Leading a small but mighty team of research development professionals, Nicole’s journey is one of passion, perseverance, and innovation. With a Ph.D. in Geographical Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park, Nicole has been awarded over $1 million in funding from NSF, NASA, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Before joining MSU three years ago, Nicole served as the Assistant Director for Interdisciplinary Science at the National Science Foundation-funded National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC). There, she played a critical role in facilitating science teams, supporting interdisciplinary proposals and research programs, and developing first-of-their-kind training programs. As SESYNC sunsetted, through lots of googling, Nicole discovered the research development field and the position at MSU that allows her to continue doing what she loves.
Transitioning from working with a single sponsor (NSF) and supporting projects focused only on socio-environmental systems research at a research center to launching a broad-reaching RD office at an R1 university was an exciting challenge, but also a steep learning curve. By spending time getting to know MSU faculty and research needs, attending countless NORDP webinars, and building strong relationships with NORDP colleagues and peer institutions, Nicole turned MSU’s Office of Research Development from a nascent idea into a thriving campus unit in just a few years.
More than three years into the role, Nicole feels good about what she and her team have built through a process of “trial and error.” MSU’s RD programming and services have shifted as the office has matured, starting with a regular schedule of bi-weekly lunch-and-learns (e.g. EPSCoR, international research, etc.) to now including biannual Research Development Days, three-day writing retreats, and multi-week grant writing workshop series. Additionally, broader impacts support now features more prominently in her office following her participation in multiple Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS) programs, as does support for graduate student research fellowships such as the NSF GRFP. Nicole’s office further provides innovative, multi-institutional opportunities for NIH R01-ready investigators and for faculty interested in other priority funding programs through her participation in the FOCUS (Fostering Opportunities Through Collaborative University Synergies) community, alongside the University of Idaho, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Utah State University and University of Nevada Reno.
Nicole credits her lessons in leadership to her mentor, Dr. Jonathan Kramer, former Director of Interdisciplinary Science at SESYNC, who provided her with a supportive environment, increasing responsibilities, and trusting space to experiment and fail safely. She tries to emulate this model with her own team to help grow the profession of RD. She also mentioned an important part of her legacy will be to serve institutions where she feels she can make a significant impact. Nicole initially experienced imposter syndrome as a novice RD director and now advises everyone, especially early-career women, to never doubt themselves and their capabilities. Her advice to RD professionals just starting out is to slow-walk proposal feedback, understand how people want to receive feedback, and customize their approach to individuals.
Nicole is actively involved in NORDP, having participated in the Mentoring Program, NORDP LEAD, and the Professional Development Committee. A favorite part of her job is collaborating on innovative programming with NORDP colleagues across the country. At the 2025 NORDP conference, Nicole received NORDP’s Rising Star award as well as the Innovation award for her involvement with the FOCUS team. In 2024, Nicole was appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Research and Application in Team Science, representing both her research development and team science practitioner perspectives in one space. Nicole lives in Bozeman, MT, surrounded by mountains, with her family.
Nicole would love to answer any questions you have for her, so please feel free to email her at nicole.motzer@montana.edu
Board Membership: Carly and Nathan’s Journey of Commitment
The February 2025 installment of Career Stories highlighted NORDP board members Carly Cummings and Nathan Meier. Carly and Nathan have made significant contributions to NORDP and to research development (RD), and they shared valuable insights about their professional journeys, the impact of board service, and advice for those considering leadership roles within NORDP. The February installment of Career Stories was co-hosted by the Nominating Committee (NomCom), which facilitates the annual board of directors’ nomination, application, and election processes.
Carly Cummings
Senior Director of the Office of Research and Faculty Development at the University of Idaho
Carly Cummings, NORDP board member elected in 2023, is the Senior Director of the Office of Research and Faculty Development at the University of Idaho—a newly minted Carnegie R1, rural, land-grant institution. Carly started this office in 2018, establishing a team of six Research Development Specialists to deliver a 360-degree approach to enhancing the competitiveness of extramural research proposals at the University. This approach includes offering a suite of faculty development programming and seminars, tailored internal competitions for limited submission funding programs, and managing internal funding opportunities. Prior to the University of Idaho, Carly held college-level RD and RD/RA roles at two other land—grant institutions. Carly serves as an advocate for developing and implementing innovative collaborative RD approaches to achieving institutional research goals.
Nathan Meier
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Capacity and Competitiveness, within the Office of Research and Innovation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)
Nathan Meier, NORDP director and immediate past president, is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Capacity and Competitiveness within the Office of Research and Innovation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Directing UNL’s Research Development Group, Nathan increases faculty and institutional success by providing leadership for internal funding, proposal development, research impact, external recognition, and faculty research development programs. During the last two decades, Nathan and his team have partnered to help the UNL community secure more than $870 million in external funding. Examples of Nathan’s impact to NORDP are him serving on the working group that developed NORDP Leadership, Engagement and Development (LEAD) and initiating the Career Stories series.
Carly is in the middle of her first term, and Nathan is nearing the end of two terms on the NORDP Board, having served as the organization’s president. Reflecting on their experiences, Carly and Nathan expressed appreciation for their time as board members and emphasized that board service does not require being senior in one’s career but a deep commitment to NORDP and the RD community. Though serving on the board comes with responsibilities to ensuring the continued growth of NORDP is accompanied by the necessary administrative support and governance structures, the benefits of this service are significant. One benefit mentioned was gaining a deeper appreciation of faculty experiences and challenges, such as large proposal development processes, and managing team dynamics and collaborative work. Carly and Nathan also mentioned that board service benefits include the satisfaction of contributing to our professional organization and shaping its future, networking opportunities with other directors through regular meetings and annual campus visits, and collaborative initiatives toward shaping NORDP’s future. The takeaway is that this service engages in strengths-based, collaborative initiatives where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the growth, credibility, and visibility of RD professionals.
When asked to share pro tips for those considering board service or increased involvement with NORDP, Carly and Nathan advised it is important to consider when the time is ripe to take on a leadership role and the importance of nominating others you see as strong candidates. Additionally, they noted the importance of understanding the requirements for nonprofit board service, in general, and the responsibilities and expectations of NORDP board members in particular. To help with this, they recommended conducting informational interviews with current or recent board members to gain firsthand insights as a way to better understand and prepare for the role. Nathan uses a set of six questions to guide these discussions, which he is happy to share. He also recommended accessing a copy of What Every Board Member Needs to Know, Do, and Avoid, which is a quick guide recommended to him by prior members of the NORDP board.
Carly and Nathan share a deep commitment to supporting NORDP and an enthusiasm for RD. They are both open to continued dialogue and would love to answer any questions you have for them regarding their roles as board members or their involvement in NORDP. Carly may be reached at ccummings@uidaho.edu, and Nathan may be reached at nlm@unl.edu.
We hope this blog provides some practical insights and resources to help you consider your involvement within NORDP and the plusses and potential of serving on the board. If you would like to continue the conversation, reach out to NomCom at nomcom@nordp.org or to Career Stories team member Chetna Chianese at cchianes@syr.edu.
Written by: Roshni Singh with input from Natalie Baronian, Career Stories team
Carter Lea, PhD
From Promoting Out-of-the-Box Thinking to a Board Member
Career Stories’ January 2025 session featured Carter Lea (they/he), a queer introvert who connects with the world by absorbing as much information as possible. Carter is a newly elected (2024) member of the NORDP Board of Directors, who currently works in the Office of Research Proposal Development at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he lives with his spouse, two cats, and a cat-like dog.
Carter received a Ph.D. in Ecology and Biodiversity in 2015 from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and was busy funding their own research in ecophysiology and climate change modeling when he learned about research development as a career path. Their love for writing grants and editing proposals is what eventually led him to an RD position. What excites and motivates Carter is creating new knowledge that ultimately helps communities, and crafting and writing about those ideas makes their effort worthwhile. Even though they were originally hired to work in the STEM disciplines, the Liberal Arts department was added to their portfolio, and they now work on a wide variety of proposals.
Carter’s strategy for working with hesitant faculty includes building trust and relationships and maintaining discipline as a details-oriented person to market how RD is a useful skill. According to Carter, extensive editing, reworking the language for clear communication for readers, and incorporating visuals/graphic design helps foster a stronger relationship and trust with investigators and enhances the proposal, which keeps him actively engaged in RD. Carter’s passion for data visualization and inherent tendency to collect knowledge and skills also led him to pursue a post-baccalaureate certificate in graphic design, a skillset they apply almost daily to improve proposal presentation, infographics, and tables.
Carter joined NORDP soon after entering RD and became an active member of the Committee on Inclusive Excellence (CIE). Through CIE, he encouraged others to think creatively and look beyond traditional constraints, promoting out-of-the-box thinking. His innovative ideas caught the attention of Samar Sengupta, who nominated him for a position on the NORDP Board. They believe NORDP is genuinely filled with good people, and they see a “home” in this organization. While Carter appreciates the organization’s inclusive culture, he also believes that, within the unique field of RD, it is essential to make research more human-centered.
Carter would love to answer any questions you have for them at calea@tulane.edu
Written by: Roshni Singh with input from Natalie Baronian, Career Stories team
From Solo RD to a Team of Eleven!
Dr. Jeralyn Haraldsen
In December career stories, we are honored to feature Jeralyn Haraldsen, the founding Director of Research Development at the University of Vermont (UVM). Dr. Haraldsen leads a team of Research Development staff who provide strategic grantsmanship, writing, and project management support to faculty seeking extramural funding to support research, creative, and scholarly activities. She and her team, under the guidance of the Vice President for Research, provide professional development opportunities to early-career faculty, coordinate writing and project management support for large-scale, high-impact proposals, manage UVM’s internal limited submission process, and ensure that faculty across the University are aware of and prepared for new research grant opportunities.
Dr. Haraldsen’s career path into research development started in grad school when she attended a career panel about alternative career paths and heard a speaker discuss research development work. Although she always received positive feedback on her writing skills and knew she would be capable in such a role, she was not ready to make that jump and went on to a postdoctoral position. As a post-doc at UVM, she realized the work-life balance of laboratory work was not the best option for her and her growing family. Her priorities shifted after a family tragedy and she started exploring writing careers more broadly, not just RD, as she loved writing and editing papers. It is at this time she started doing informational interviews and connected with Peg AtKisson (an alum of the same graduate school). By the end of their conversation, Dr. Haraldsen was hired as a remote, independent contractor which allowed her to also accept freelance work with faculty at UVM.
These experiences led her to an interim position at UVM under a new Vice President of Research who was familiar with research development. With their support, she created a new RD office and singlehandedly provided research development support for up to five (5) years before growing and forming a team of eleven members. As exciting as it has been to grow a team, it’s come with many “growing pains” like managing people and struggling to obtain more resources. The transition from direct support to a larger strategic role was more challenging (surprise!) as she discovered that she had underestimated the skill involved in managing people. However, these are the challenges that keep Dr. Haraldsen in RD. The ever-evolving environment, opportunities for professional growth, and challenges with managing a growing team and a growing portfolio highlight the importance of the RD field. Moreover, fostering strong collaborations and building relationships while working on proposals and piloting limited submissions keeps Dr. Haraldsen inspired and engaged in her role. For Dr. Haraldsen these are her impact and legacy: to come together to work and to enjoy it. As such, her RD pro-tips are to “take a step back and think about the process, be innovative, and stay calm under pressure.”
Jeralyn would love to answer any questions you have for her, so please feel free to email her at Jeralyn.Haraldsen@uvm.edu.
To listen to her full interview by the career/kindle team, please click on this link (you must log in as a NORDP member to access): https://nordp.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=24459276; Chapter 44: Jeralyn Haraldsen
Written by: Roshni Singh with input from Natalie Baronian, Career Stories team
A Spectacular Path from Grantsmanship and Research Administration to Research Development
Dr. Melissa Hodge-Penn
Before joining the RD field, Dr. Melissa had various roles in higher education as a grant manager, a pre-award specialist, and someone who helped build programs for faculty members in grant writing and research initiatives. In these roles, she was unaware that she was crafting her path to the RD field.
Meet Melissa Hodge-Penn, the Interim Vice Chancellor for Research at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T), where she served as the Associate Vice Chancellor before her Interim role. Before joining NC A&T, Dr. Melissa served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for research and sponsored programs at the University of Mississippi, where she facilitated university-wide strategic research growth activities, strategic planning and implementation, and directed multiple and diverse constituencies in support of the research enterprise. Her experience began at Georgia State University, where she worked on community and workforce development projects. This exposure led her to Emory University, marking her formal entry into research administration.
Dr. Melissa brings a wealth of experience managing programs funded by multiple and diverse sources and providing administrative oversight and management for a research enterprise. This includes portfolio administration, complex and multidisciplinary project administration, research development, research compliance, and policy implementation. Her experience at different universities and systems has allowed her to gather best practices, provide influence around visioning, and align RD for the unique needs of the “next university” and place of employment.
Dr. Melissa is a demonstrated leader with experience across academia, government, and not-for-profit organizations who has successfully fostered private sector and community-based relationships. Adding her leadership qualities to her current role. Dr. Melissa advocates for research needs and supports faculty in research endeavors. She emphasizes the importance of strategic operational support for the research enterprise and through these develops networks amongst research professionals. She is inventive in maximizing and leveraging resources to support researchers and their students. She is not reluctant to speak on what potentially “could be seen as out of the box” and her always “willing to grow, move and learn all she can and having that front seat to innovation.” Hence, she finds fulfillment in mentoring junior faculty and supporting new research development officers, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation.
As a Black woman in a leadership role, Dr. Melissa recognizes the significance of representation in academia. Therefore, she aims to inspire others by demonstrating that diverse paths can lead to success in research administration. Her tip to everyone is that while moving around to grow your career, absorb the best and let it expand your worldview — particularly around research. She also advises to “Document Your Journey” by keeping detailed notes of your experiences and insights. These can be invaluable for future reference and for helping others.
Her RD pro-tip/hack is to give yourself grace and don’t take yourself too seriously, you know what you know. She also recommends taking part in professional development and networking teams you might not otherwise as this will have a great impact on you and your career.
Dr. Melissa would love to answer any questions you have for her, so please feel free to email her at mhodgepenn@ncat.edu.
The link to the interview to Dr. Melissa’s November Career Stories will be posted on the LMS when available.
An exceptional Journey from Student Services to Research Development Professional and into Retirement
Jan and Izzie, her Certified Therapy Dog
She often says “she was doing RD, before RD was a thing.” Jan Abramson, a retired RD professional and Emeritus member of NORDP has had an exceptional professional journey. After receiving her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Central Missouri, Jan worked in student leadership and development in England and the US. She arrived at the University of Utah (UofU) in 1995, with a goal of volunteering at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Goal achieved! as Company Manager for UofU’s Children’s Dance Theatre.
Following the Olympics, Jan took a foray into the nonprofit community, working primarily with arts organizations in various roles: grant writer, development director, volunteer coordinator, trainer, and interim Executive Director. Those experiences enhanced a skill set that allowed for a seamless transition to RD professional.
Returning to UofU in 2005, she began doing research development work in the Health Sciences, where she stayed, in various roles until retirement in 2020. Jan was introduced to NORDP in 2011 and became an active member, contributing her time, talents, skills, and knowledge to the NORDP community. As she says, “through NORDP, I found a professional home, which has helped me grow.” During her time with NORDP, she was primarily involved with the Mentoring Committee, served on the Board of Directors, and co-chaired the 2019 conference in Providence, RI. She is an Emeritus member, was recognized as a Charter Fellow in 2020, and received one of the two inaugural Mentoring Awards in 2022. She built life-long relationships with NORDP colleagues and works to build, nurture, and sustain those relationships.
COVID offered a chance for early retirement. Reflecting on retirement, Jan is convinced that one’s impact weaves throughout their life, touching others in ways we may not even know. The legacy of who we are and what we do is passed on and continues in ways we may not be aware of. Retirement offers new ways to #payitforward. Now, Jan volunteers in the community several times a week with her dog Izzie, for Intermountain Therapy Animals, spreading smiles in hospitals, schools, the airport, and other public places. She also volunteers for Salt Lake County Arts and Culture to get her arts fix.
Jan’s message to everyone is to network, take initiatives, and get involved in NORDP. There are so many ways to participate; reach out where you are interested, make time to engage with other RD professionals, and invite others in. Celebrate the good things about yourself and reflect on your impact and legacy.
For the author, Roshni Singh, Jan has been an inspirational woman and a great mentor. Roshni looks up to her and hopes to continue her professional relationship with her as there is so much to learn from her and learn to foster relationships like Jan does.
Jan would love to answer any questions you have, so please feel free to email her at janabramson.slc@gmail.com.
The link to the interview to Jan’s full Career Stories by the NORDP LEAD Career Stories team will be posted when available.
She Knew What She Wanted Even Before She Knew What to Call the Job
Dr. Toyin Babarinde
Meet Dr. Toyin Babarinde, whose persistence and creativity led to her dream role in RD and her exciting position as the inaugural Executive Director of the recently established Office of Strategic Research Development (OSRD) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). After obtaining her PhD and two years of post-doctoral training, Dr. Toyin knew she did not want to continue bench research. With a deep passion for advancing science and research, she wasn’t sure what path to take and unaware of the exciting career of RD, she began searching for jobs using words like ‘research planning’, or ‘research organization’. After numerous Google searches, she started seeing positions that described her areas of interest and from there, she identified individuals with similar job titles. After several informational meetings and applying for countless jobs, she ended up as a consultant. However, she soon realized that a position in academia was more her style, so she kept applying for jobs and eventually received her first “official” RD position at The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson).
Before joining UTMB, Toyin was the Associate Director of Research Planning and Development at MD Anderson. During her time at MD Anderson, she collaborated with faculty and staff across the institution and the Texas Medical Center developing large multidisciplinary research initiatives, identifying targeted funding opportunities, and assisting in the development and submission of research funding applications. While in this position, she sought opportunities to deliver A+++ service to all stakeholders. Back then, Toyin operated more linearly in thought, and as she contemplated her next growth opportunity, she began looking for director-level positions. When those opportunities did not materialize as she had hoped, she unexpectedly heard from not one, but two executive-level positions. She was reluctant at first to pursue either position because she was unsure, she could “skip a step on her career ladder.” However, she experienced an aha moment, when she asked herself, “who told you Toyin, that you can’t skip a step on the ladder.” In that moment, she realized that life doesn’t have to progress linearly. This aha moment motivated her to pursue the Executive Director position and ultimately led her to become the inaugural Executive Director at UTMB.
Throughout her career, Dr. Toyin understood that she had to advocate for herself and find creative ways to communicate her value. She is passionate about what she does and believes that the skills she uses in RD come naturally to her and align with her values, which are satisfying, feed her soul, and inspire her to pursue RD opportunities. Guided by her faith, she is able to keep her purpose in mind and operates with conviction. Dr. Toyin consistently strives for excellence, and she wants people to look back and say, “This research program has grown in depth and breadth because you were here,” as one of the chairs she worked with did once. This is the legacy she aspires to leave at every research organization she touches.
One of her RD pro-tips is to ‘develop and apply effective project management skills’, which are essential in every position. A second pro-tip would be to “invest in yourself and take the time to grow yourself, whether through employer-provided resources or on your own.”
Dr. Toyin is actively involved in NORDP and encourages everyone to network, which has helped her in her profession. As well, she wants to remind everyone that it’s okay to operate less linearly and embrace the dynamic possibilities that life has to offer.
Outside of her career, Dr. Toyin is active in her community, where she organizes STEM summer programs for children, volunteers with the Adventurer and Pathfinder youth clubs, and serves on the parent-teacher organization board of her children’s school. These community engagements bring her joy and valuable lessons that she uses in all aspects of her life.
Toyin would love to answer any questions you have for her, so please feel free to email her at tababari@utmb.edu
The link to the interview to Toyin’s full Career Stories by the NORDP LEAD Career Stories team will be posted when available.
Compiled by Daniel Campbell, Member Services Committee
Career Stories are a partnership of NORDP LEAD, the Professional Development Committee, and the Member Services Committee. These informal “fireside chats” highlight the professional trajectories of NORDP members by showcasing the multiple ways that members end up in research development as well as the variety of paths available for career growth and advancement.
NORDP Charter Fellow and Emeritus Member, Jan Abramson, was part of the group that worked to create this series of conversations. Jan adds, “Career Stories is always a highlight of my month. We have a great team of volunteers who make this event happen, and it is always fun to connect through conversation with NORDP members. Career Stories is a great way to start volunteering or sharing your personal path with NORDP colleagues.”
These 30-minute listen and learn sessions along with participant Q&A, began in January 2021 with Karen Fletcher, Director of Grants Resources & Services at Appalachian State University, and have continued monthly since then.
Gagan Bajaj, PhD, Grant Proposal Developer at the University of Vermont notes,“I joined the team at Career Stories in September 2021, bang in the middle of the pandemic—I was craving human connection, and boy, did the series deliver! Career Stories is my monthly dose of inspiration, and I am so grateful for all the wonderful people I have met through this forum.”
Career Stories from this year are listed below with a bit of background bio on the featured members. All Career Stories have been recorded and are accessible by NORDP members through the NORDP LMS.
January – Sammy Rodriguez Flecha (Washington State University)
Sammy Rodriguez Flecha, PhD is currently the director of the Washington State University’s Team Mentoring Program, a network serving underserved undergraduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and health fields. Prior to this new role, he served as interim director for the WSU Office of Research Advancement & Partnerships. His research development and administration career has spanned over 10 years. His PhD is in educational psychology and his Master’s degree is in English literature. He’s been a member of NORDP’s Nominating Committee, a mentor for NORDP’s mentoring program and participated in the inaugural cohort of NORDP LEAD.
February – Jaime Rubin (Columbia University) Dr. Jaime Rubin is currently the Vice Chair for Investigator Development in the Department of Medicine at Columbia University. She has held senior level positions at Columbia University Medical Center, including Acting Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs, was the founding Director of the Office of Graduate Affairs, and served as the Acting Associate Vice President/Acting Associate Dean for Research Administration – and was one of the founders of the Office of Research Administration. Dr. Rubin completed her PhD at the Ontario Cancer Institute, University of Toronto. She is currently a Fulbright Scholar awardee with the Republic of Kosovo’s Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation. Her responsibilities include working on projects to increase extramurally-funded research with international partners.
March - Elizabeth Lathrop (University of Maryland) Elizabeth Lathrop works as a Proposal Development Specialist for the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. She provides critical support to the Clark School's capacity for complex, multidisciplinary research initiatives in response to targeted funding opportunities. Elizabeth is a Professional Track Faculty with degrees in sciences and was the Associate Director of Programs for a DOE EFRC: Energy Frontier Research Center - Science of Precision Multifunctional Nanostructures for Electrical Energy Storage. Elizabeth is currently a co-chair of the Mentoring Committee, and participates in the iKnoW, (immigrant Knowledge and Wisdom) Affinity Group.
April - Jason Charland (University of Maine) Jason Charland serves as Senior Advisor to the President and Executive Director of Research Development at the University of Maine. He oversees research development service provision to faculty and researchers across the University of Maine System, which comprises five primarily undergraduate institutions, a regional comprehensive university, a law school, and an R1 research university distributed across a rural state. He is also responsible for implementing university-wide extramural funding strategies for federal, state, and foundation funding and executing strategic research initiatives.
May - Elizabeth Festa (Rice University) Elizabeth Festa is a Research Development Specialist in the Office of Research Development at Rice University. She received her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University and her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. She is an IRB affiliate at Baylor College of Medicine and a past screener for the Fulbright-National Geographic Fellowship. Before transitioning into RD, Elizabeth was Associate Director of the Program in Writing in Communication at Rice, and the Associate Director of the Center for Academic and Professional Communication. Elizabeth holds leadership positions in NORDP’s Strategic Alliances Committee and Member Services Committee.
June - Camille Coley (University of San Francisco) Camille Coley, JD, CRA is the inaugural Associate Vice Provost for Sponsored Programs and External Partnerships at the University of San Francisco. She has worked in research administration and research development for more than 20 years including at the American Museum of Natural History (in New York City, NY), Florida Atlantic University (FAU), and Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center and the Center for Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology at FAU. She is a certified Research Administrator as well as a Certified Mediator. Camille shares her experience and expertise through the NORDP PEERD program and is a consultant for NORDP’s Pilot Project for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
July – Eric Wayne Dickey (Oregon State University) Eric holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, both from Oregon State University (OSU), and is a certified Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute. He is also a published poet, children's author, and translator of German Poetry, and his work can be found online and in print. In July 2022, Eric began a new role as the first ever Director of Sponsored Programs for OSU’s Division of Extension and Engagement. He has 20 years of experience in research development and proposal and project management and has worked for OSU’s College of Forestry and College of Liberal Arts, for Oregon Sea Grant, and at Western Oregon University where he established its inaugural Sponsored Projects Office. For NORDP, Eric currently serves on the Member Services Committee and is a co-representative for the Pacific Region. He is also on the Mentoring Committee and has recently agreed to serve on the Conference Committee.
August - Jessica Venable (Thorn Run Partners) Jessica Venable, PhD is known for her work in higher education policy and reform, particularly as it pertains to how underserved and underrepresented individuals, institutions and groups are represented in, and benefit from, the Federal funding landscaper. In her career, she worked in RD at Virginia Commonwealth University, and at NASA Langley Research Center and NASA Headquarters. She has also served as a grant reviewer for numerous federal agencies, and prior to joining Thorn Run Partners served as Vice President at McAllister & Quinn.
Elizabeth Festa noted, “As a person who transitioned to RD mid-career, the experience of being interviewed for Career Stories was a validating one. The field of RD is still emerging and the opportunity to draw upon a wide variety of experiences and skills to impact the profession, as opposed to following a clearly defined path, has ultimately been rewarding. Career Stories made me recognize the value in my unique path, and those of my NORDP colleagues.”
If you are interested participating as a conversation facilitator, technical host or sharing your own story please contact Gagan Bajaj at gagan.bajaj@med.uvm.edu.
Submitted by Gagan Bajaj, Chetna Chianese, and Jan Abramson
How did you end up in Research Development? You may have had a circuitous path to this rewarding career. Many of us did.
Are you curious about how others within NORDP have grown their careers in RD? Did you know there is a large collection of 30-minute videos available to NORDP members, sharing the career stories of RD professionals? It’s true!
The NORDP Fireside Chats conversation series highlights the professional trajectories of NORDP members working in a wide variety of roles and showcases the many paths available for career growth and advancement within the field. Each conversation is 30-minute listen-and-learn session, with time provided for participant questions.
Previous Fireside Chats guests have included:
Karen Fletcher, Director of Grants Resources & Service, Appalachian State University
Susan Carter, Director of Research Development, Santa Fe Institute
Mark Milutinovich, Director, Large Center Development, University of New Hampshire
Samarpita Sengupta, Director of Research, Assistant Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Daniel Arriaga, Assistant Director for Research Engagement, UT Austin
Kelly Rose, Chief Scientific Officer, American Society of Hematology
Rebekah Hersch, Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation, George Mason University
Peg AtKisson, Founder and President, Atkisson Training Group
Quyen Wickham, Senior Proposal Manager, Arizona State University
Etta Ward, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Development, IUPUI
…and many more!
These recordings are available to NORDP members, via the NORDP LMS. To access them, first log in to the LMS using your NORDP credentials, then select the course named NORDP LEAD presents: Fireside Chats where you’ll find all of the previously recorded conversations. You can search for the course using the search bar or by selecting from the Course Categories tab (at the top of the screen) > Career and Personal Development.
You can watch any (or all) of the videos at your leisure.
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