ORSP Mailing Address:
David L. Butler, Ph.D. 
Vice Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies
(615) 898-2182
David.Butler@mtsu.edu
Tara Hayes
Administrative Assistant to VPR & Dean
Phone: (615) 898-5897 Fax: (615) 904-8020
Tara.Hayes@mtsu.edu
Rachel McGinnis
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 faculty start-ups, internal research funding, procurement and personnel (hiring, termination, extra comp, summer salary), events, and website design.
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. Facilitates the MT-Internal Grants Opportunities (MT-IGO) program, Grant Writing Enhancement Program (GEP), ORSP communications, and the ORSP training program. Serves as Fulbright Scholar Liaison for faculty. Oversees Export Control Compliance Verification forms for international travel.
(Vacant)
Compliance Officer
(615) 898-2400
compliance@mtsu.edu
Responsible for specific components of research compliance including the Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and Research Integrity; including, developing and implementing 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 support for the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs by overseeing contracts, faculty start-ups, budgeting, and more.
Our Awards Management staff is responsible for increasing faculty and staff research and sponsored programs by the development and delivery of training, partnership development, pre-proposal planning, and proposal development.
The duties of the Award Management Specialist are to manage grantee contract requirements and performance; maintain grant records; monitor and report on grant strategy budgets; and ensure compliance with organizational and federal rules and regulations.
The staff provide dual control and administrative support to Principal Investigators/Project Directors to ensure timely and proper administration of externally-funded activity. Their roles include initiating the set-up of new awards in Banner for finance and human resources functions, reviewing for approval of all financial personnel transactions requested on each assigned award, and conducting periodic comprehensive desk review/audit of each award.
Janie Becker
Award Management Specialist
(615) 494-8751
Janie.Becker@mtsu.edu
Post-Award Assignments:
| College of Basic & Applied Science: Agriculture, Biology (O-Z) & Geosciences | |
| Mary E. Miller Chair of Excellence in Equine Health | Data Science Institute |
| Center for Health and Human Services | Tennessee STEM Education Center |
Kelsey Benton| College of Education | MTeach |
| University College | Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans & Military Family Center |
| Academic Affairs | Student Recreation Center |
| Student Affairs | Womack Educational Leadership |
| College of Basic & Applied Science: Concrete & Construction Management & Aerospace | |
Keith Palmer
Award Management Specialist
(615) 494-7600
Keith.Palmer@mtsu.edu
Post-Award Assignments:
| College of Basic & Applied Science: | |
| Biology – Faculty last names (A-N), Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Tech & Mathematical Sciences | |
| Center for Popular Music | |
John Sousa, M.F.A.
Award Management Specialist
(615) 898-5894
John.Sousa@mtsu.edu
Post-Award Assignments:
| College of Liberal Arts | Center for Historic Preservation |
| Office of International Affairs | Center for East & South Asian Studies |
| Dept. of Recording Industry | Governor's School for the Arts |
| ACE Learning Center | Albert Gore Research Center |
| Political Economy Research Institute | |
| College of Behavioral & Health Sciences: Criminal Justice | |
| College of Basic & Applied Science: Physics & Astronomy | |
Michelle Willard
Award Management Specialist
(615) 494-7848
Michelle.Willard@mtsu.edu
Post-Award Assignments:
| College of Behavioral & Health Sciences | Tennessee Small Business Development Center |
| School of Journalism & Strategic Media | Business Education Research Center |
| Jennings A. Jones College of Business | Forensic Institute for Research & Education |
| Public Safety | James E. Walker Library |
| June Anderson Center for Women & Nontraditional Students | |
| College of Liberal Arts: Sociology & Anthropology | |
Supports faculty and staff with hiring, procurement and travel related to external grant activities, as well as provides support for our ORSP team.
