ORSP Mailing Address:
David L. Butler, Ph.D. 
Tara Hayes
Administrative Assistant to VPR & Dean
Phone: (615) 898-5897 Fax: (615) 904-8020
Tara.Hayes@mtsu.edu
Rachel McGinnis
Jamie Burriss, Ph.D.
Program Manager
(615) 494-7669
Jamie.Burriss@mtsu.edu
Oversees the Undergraduate Research Center (URC) including serving as the advisor for the Student Organization for the Advancement of Research (SOAR), oversight of URC communications, SOAR Ambassadors, and graduation distinction, facilitates the Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity (URECA) grant cycles, coordinates events such as the Fall Open House, Scholars Week, and Posters at the Capitol, and organizes workshops offered by the URC. Serves as Fulbright Scholar Liaison for faculty. Oversees Export Control Compliance Verification forms for international travel.
Responsible for specific components of research compliance including the Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and Research Integrity. Develop and implement policies, procedures, programs, and educational activities which satisfy Federal, State, local and institutional rules and regulations which govern proper conduct of research.
Lisa Lee
Accountant
(615) 904-8398
Lisa.Lee@mtsu.edu
Provides financial support for the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs by processing grants and contracts from draft through execution. Oversees faculty start-ups, budgeting, and more. Tracks URC, URECA, MT-IGO, ORSP, and VPR budgets and assists with projections.
Katie Medrano
Coordinator
(615) 904-8040
Katie.Medrano@mtsu.edu
Provides internal operational support for all areas of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, including internal research funding, procurement and personnel (hiring, termination, extra compensation, summer salary), events, faculty development, and website design. Facilitates the MT-Internal Grant Opportunities (MT-IGO) program, Grant Writing Enhancement Program (GEP), Raider Research Series, ORSP communications, and ORSP workshops and trainings.
Supports departments with questions related to personnel (hiring, termination, extra compensation, and summer salary), travel, etc., and provides administrative support to the ORSP award specialist team. Coordinates responses to external surveys and prepares statistical reports for both internal audiences and state agencies regarding grant-related activity. Responds to internal and external inquiries to ORSP, assists with maintenance of the ORSP website, and manages grant-related communication to faculty and staff.
Keith Palmer
Award Management Specialist
(615) 494-7600
Keith.Palmer@mtsu.edu
Pre-Award Assignments:
| College of Basic and Applied Sciences - all departments except Biology | |
| College of Graduate Studies - Center for Health and Human Services (CHHS) | |
| James E. Walker Library | |
| Other Academic Affairs areas not listed |
Michelle Willard
Award Management Specialist
(615) 494-7848
Michelle.Willard@mtsu.edu
Pre-Award Assignments:
| College of Behavioral & Health Sciences | |
| Jennings A. Jones College of Business | |
| College of Education | |
| College of Liberal Arts | |
| College of Media and Entertainment | |
| College of Basic & Applied Sciences - Biology | |
| University College and Office of Student Success | |
| College of Graduate Studies - Data Science Institute | |
| University President's Office | |
| Student Affairs | |
| International Affairs | |
| Business and Finance | |
Kelsey Benton| College of Basic and Applied Sciences - Office of the Dean, Aerospace, Concrete & Construction Management, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, Jennings A. Jones College of Business | |
| University College | |
| College of Graduate Studies - Cetner for Health & Human Services | |
| Student Affairs | |
| College of Education | |
| University President's Office | |
| Agriculture | |
| Geosciences | |
John Sousa, M.F.A.
Award Management Specialist
(615) 898-5894
John.Sousa@mtsu.edu
Post-Award Assignments:
| College of Basic and Applied Sciences - Biology, Computer Science, Physics and Astronomy | |
| College of Liberal Arts | |
| College of Media and Entertainment | |
| College of Graduate Studies - Data Science Institute | |
| James E. Walker Library | |
| International Affairs | |
| Business and Finance | |
| Academic Affairs areas not already listed | |
| Engineering Technology | |
| Mathematical Sciences | |
| Chemistry | |
| TN STEM Education Center | |
