OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
OVPR Team
The Office of the Vice President for Research works with both internal and external partners to catalyze, support and safeguard research at the University of Michigan.
Leadership and Staff
OVPR Leadership
Rebecca Cunningham, Vice President for Research
Email: stroh@med.umich.edu
Jessica Durkin, Chief of Staff
Email: jesskan@umich.edu
William Greer, Assistant Vice President for Research, Animal Program Compliance Oversight
Email: wggreer@umich.edu
Michael Hague, Executive Director, Business Operations
Email: mjhague@umich.edu
Trachette Jackson, Assistant Vice President for Research, DEI Initiatives
Email: tjacks@umich.edu
Jacqueline Jeruss, Associate Vice President for Research, Integrity and Compliance
Email: jjeruss@umich.edu
Evan Keller, Director of Research Cores
Email: etkeller@umich.edu
William King, Associate Vice President for Research – Animal Care and Use Program
Email: wwking@umich.edu
Kristina Ko, Assistant Vice President for Research, Federal Relations for Research
Email: kdko@umich.edu
Julie Lumeng, Associate Vice President for Research, Clinical and Human Subjects Research
Email: jlumeng@umich.edu
Arthur Lupia, Executive Director – Bold Challenges
Email: lupia@umich.edu
Brad Orr, Associate Vice President for Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering
Email: orr@umich.edu
Jason Owen-Smith, Executive Director, Research Analysis and Data Integration Office
Email: jdos@umich.edu
Alex Piazza, Assistant Vice President for Research, Strategic Communications
Email: apiazza@umich.edu
David Pinsky, Director, Michigan Israel Partnership for Research and Education
Email: dpinsky@umich.edu
Lisa Prosser, Associate Vice President for Research, Health Sciences
Email: lisapros@umich.edu
Kelly Sexton, Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation Partnerships
Email: kbsexton@umich.edu
Geoffrey Thün, Associate Vice President for Research, Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts
Email: gthun@umich.edu
Nick Wigginton, Assistant Vice President for Research – Strategic Initiatives
Email: nwigg@umich.edu
OVPR Central Administration
Kimberly Gaedeke, Director of Partnerships
Email: kgaedeke@umich.edu
Karen Houghtaling, Senior Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Research and Chief of Staff and Assistant Director of OVPR Administration
Email: houghtak@umich.edu
Megan Kashani, Executive Assistant
Email: kashanim@umich.edu
Lindsey Mitchell, OVPR Project Senior Manager
Email: lseyfert@umich.edu
Wendi Mohl, Executive Assistant
Email: wendig@umich.edu
Rachael Richmond, OVPR Senior Executive Assistant and Office Manager
Email: rachrich@umich.edu
Nicole Sitek, Project Senior Manager/Project Intermediate Manager
Email: nsitek@umich.edu
Elizabeth Sprang, Administrative Assistant Senior
Email: esprang@umich.edu
OVPR Central Business Operations
Jena Ault, Associate Director of Finance
Email: aultj@umich.edu
Kathy Devereux, Senior Research Process Coordinator
Email: ilyman@umich.edu
Marjory Falconer, Associate Director, Information Technology Administration
Email: mefalcon@umich.edu
Sarah Hallum, Financial Specialist
Email: shallum@umich.edu
Michael Hague, Executive Director, Business Operations
Email: mjhague@umich.edu
Melissa Karby, Associate Director, Research Administration
Email: mkarby@umich.edu
Michelle Milosavlevski, Human Resource Generalist
Email: michmilo@umich.edu
Cindi Plummer, OVPR Business Administrator Associate
Email: cplummer@umich.edu
Angela Skellie, Research Administrator Senior
Email: askellie@umich.edu
Patricia Smith, Associate Director of Human Resources
Email: pssmith@umich.edu
OVPR Central Development and Fundraising
OVPR Communications
Alex Piazza, Senior Director, Communications
Email: apiazza@umich.edu
Eric Shaw, Director of Digital Marketing and Communications
Email: shaweric@umich.edu
Kelsey Keeves, Communications Specialist
Email: krobinet@umich.edu
Kate Barnes, Communications Specialist
Email: katebarn@umich.edu
OVPR Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Trachette Jackson, Assistant Vice President for Research, DEI Initiatives
Email: tjacks@umich.edu
Sabrina Ervin, OVPR DEI Program Manager
Email: sme@umich.edu
OVPR Public Engagement and Research Impacts
Elyse Aurbach, Public Engagement Lead
Email: eaurbach@umich.edu
Ellen Parakkat, Public Engagement Specialist
Email: ekuhn@umich.edu
OVPR Research Development and Proposal Services
Jessica Brassard, Graphic Designer
Email: brassard@umich.edu
Tricia Ebright, OVPR Grants and Awards Manager
Email: triciamc@umich.edu
Kelsey Ebbs, Bold Challenges Project Manager
Email: klucinda@umich.edu
Mariah Gavin, Bold Challenges Project Manager
Email:mgav@umich.edu
Jill Jividen, Director of Research Development
Email: jjgoff@umich.edu
Sean O’Connor, Bold Challenges Project Manager
Email: spoconno@umich.edu
Rachel Wallace, Research Development Officer
Email: rlmw@umich.edu
Office of Federal Relations
Kristina Ko, Associate Vice President for Research, Federal Relations
Email: kdko@umich.edu
Neil Canfield, Director of Federal Relations
Email: neilcan@umich.edu
Madeline Nykaza, Assistant Director of Federal Relations
Email: mnykaza@umich.edu
David Bluhm, Federal Relations Associate
Email: dcbluhm@umich.edu