Å·ÃÀAV

• Research Development, Outreach, and Engagement (RDOE) — assistance with identification of funding sources, funding databases (SPIN and GrantSearch), information dissemination, limited submission coordination, ORA website maintenance, newsletter design, and more 
• Proposal and Award Management (PAM) — budget development, proposal submission, award negotiation & acceptance, subaward preparation, non-financial award management, such as time extensions, PI/PD changes, and more
• Financial Reporting and Audit (FRA) — award set-up, subrecipient monitoring, expense review and approval, cost transfer approvals, invoice preparation, financial reporting, payment deposits, project closeout, audit management, F&A and salary recovery distributions, and more
• Research Information Systems and Grant Analysis (RISGA) — salary verification, expense monitoring, ORA systems and desktop support, and more

UNITS & STAFF    

Central Office Staff

Erica Kennedy, MBA, CRA (Erica.KennedyFREEMississippi) 
   Associate Vice President for Research

Research Development, Outreach,
and Engagement (RDOE)

Maurine Pace (Maurine.PaceFREEMississippi)
   Information Specialist

Alexandra Schneider (Alexandra.SchneiderFREEMississippi)
    Contracts & Grants Administrator

Proposal & Award Management (PAM)

Proposal & Award Management (PAM) staffmembers are assigned to specific departments, centers, or other units. If you have questions about whom to contact, call us at 601.266.4119 or email us at Å·ÃÀAV-ORAFREEMississippi.

For assistance with Proposals and Contracts:

To see which pre-award administrator provides assistance for your organizational unit, open ORA's Area Assignments Chart (pdf).

Jeannene Garbee (Jeannene.GarbeeFREEMississippi)
    Sponsored Projects Analyst

Joseph Steadman (Joseph.SteadmanFREEMississippi)
    Assistant Director

Matthew Thornton (Matthew.W.ThorntonFREEMississippi) 
    Contracts & Grants Coordinator

Michelle Harper (Michelle.HarperFREEMississippi)
    Contracts & Grants Administrator

Phillip Snyder (Phillip.SnyderFREEMississippi)
    Contracts & Grants Administrator

Justin Miller (Justin.MillerFREEMississippi) 
    Contracts & Grants Administrator

TBD 
    Contract Coordinator

Financial Reporting & Audit (FRA)

Corrie R. Stringer, MPA (Corrie.StringerFREEMississippi) 
   Director

Sally Downey, MPA (Sally.L.DowneyFREEMississippi) 
   Assistant Director

To see which post-award administrator accountant provides assistance for your account, open the FRA Accountant by Agency (pdf).

For assistance with restricted fund expenditures, invoices, financial reports, project closeout, and audits:  

Lindsey Bussolati (lindsey.bussolatiFREEMississippi)
   Research Administration Analyst

Barbara Dawson (Barbara.DawsonFREEMississippi)
   Accountant: Fixed Price Projects, State & Business/Industry Agencies

Jerilynn "Nikki" Lee (Nicole.LeeFREEMississippi)
  Senior Accountant: Federal Agencies

TBD 
  Accountant: Fixed Price Projects, State & Business/Industry Agencies

Darlene Shepherd (Darlene.ShepherdFREEMississippi)
  Accountant: Fixed Price Projects, State & Business/Industry Agencies

Brittany Wilson (Brittany.WilsonFREEMississippi)
  Contracts and Grants Accountant

Jenni Schmidt (Jennifer.SchmidtFREEMississippi)
   Contracts and Grants Accountant

Research Information Systems & Grant Analysis (RISGA)

Jennifer Wilson (Jennifer.WilsonFREEMississippi)
   Director

Kaycee McMullan (Kaycee.McMullanFREEMississippi)
  Assistant Director

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ORA PRINCIPLES & SERVICES

 ORA Principles

• to provide visible leadership in sponsored project development, administration, and compliance
• to offer service that is responsive to the current and projected needs of Southern Miss faculty and staff
• to supply differential assistance that reflects individual faculty and staff needs and experience with sponsored projects
• to support the pursuit and administration of external funds to advance the University's mission

ORA Services

• provide timely information on funding opportunities
• contribute to development of proposals
• support principal investigators (PIs) by providing information, interpretation, and guidance from proposal preparation through close-out of the award
• process and submit proposals in an accurate, timely manner
• ensure that accounts for funded projects are in place as quickly as possible
• provide information on contracts and subcontracts
• verify that sponsored activities are conducted in compliance with state, federal, and university requirements
• develop and ensure compliance with university policies related to external funding
• ensure cost-sharing commitments are documented
• capture, analyze and report pertinent financial data to the administration
• assist in preparation of the University's facilities and administrative costs rates  
• prepare financial billings and reports
• collect and monitor payments from sponsor
• manage audits of externally funded projects

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