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
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.
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.
Katie Medrano
Coordinator - Internal Grants
(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 comp, summer salary), events, faculty development, and website design. Facilitates the MT-Internal Grants Opportunities (MT-IGO) program, Grant Writing Enhancement Program (GEP), Raider Research Series, ORSP communications, and ORSP workshops and trainings.
Supports faculty and staff with hiring, procurement and travel related to external grant activities, as well as provides support for our ORSP team.
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.
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 | |
Janie Becker
Award Management Specialist
(615) 494-8751
Janie.Becker@mtsu.edu
Post-Award Assignments:
| College of Basic & Applied Sciences - Agriculture, Engineering Technology, Mathematical Sciences, Chemistry, Geosciences, TN STEM Education Center | |||
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 | |
| Unviersity President's Office | |
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 | |
