The Office of the Vice President for Research announces new Director of Research Project Planning and Support

Wed, 10/23/2019 - 02:41pm | By: Kendra Ablaza

The University of Southern Mississippi’s Office of the Vice President for Research has announced Kim Wingo as its new Director of Research Project Planning and Support.

Wingo, who began her role on Oct. 1, assists the University's Vice President for Research Dr. Gordon Cannon in managing and supporting research efforts at the University, particularly through government relations and special projects. Her extensive experience overseeing grant-funded programs at the University will contribute to her role promoting and expanding funding efforts and recruiting for various research projects across different divisions.

Wingo will also meet regularly with research administration, centers and faculty to discuss their needs, and act as an official representative for the office internally and externally.

“I am excited to assist in increasing and enhancing research opportunities and programs across the University’s numerous academic disciplines as a part of the Office of the Vice President for Research,” Wingo said. “It has been so rewarding to work within the School of Polymer Science and Engineering and witness the growth of hundreds of students from year to year. Now, it is an honor to be able to do that on a larger scale for the entire research entity at USM. I especially look forward to promoting more interdisciplinary work between departments when applicable, as it could further enhance University-wide projects and proposals.”

Wingo first joined the University in 2003 as a PeopleSoft trainer with iTech. Through the years, she worked in various grant-funded roles in USM’s School of Polymer Science and Engineering related to education and outreach events. Her previous roles include education outreach director under the National Science Foundation’s Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers, Research Experiences for Undergraduates, and Research Experiences for Teachers grants.

She was also program manager of NSF’s GK-12 project, which connected USM graduate students with high school science teachers, and coordinator of the NSF’s National Research Trainees (NRT) program, which helps research-based graduate students develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers.

Wingo also served on a leadership team that established the state of Mississippi’s Center for Emergent Molecular Optoelectronics, an inter-disciplinary, multi-institution materials research program. This research program, which involves USM and other Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning institutions, achieved its funding through NSF’s EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) program, which enhances the research competitiveness of states and jurisdictions by strengthening STEM capacity and capability. Wingo served as the Education Outreach Director who oversaw outreach efforts for the involved institutions including Jackson State University, University of Mississippi, and Mississippi State University.

“Kim has worked on many large research projects at USM in the past and has a thorough understanding of the research enterprise across the University,” Dr. Cannon said. “I look forward to working with her in her new, expanded role as Director of Research Project Planning and Support.”

Wingo earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communication Studies from USM.