Directory & Services

• Funding and Information Services — 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

— Marcia Landen (marcia.landenFREEMississippi)
     Associate Vice President for Research

UNITS & STAFF

Organizational Diagram of the Office of Research Administration

 Central Office Staff

Kenda Rose (kenda.roseFREEMississippi) 
   Budget and Office Manager

Funding & Information Services 

Maurine Pace (maurine.paceFREEMississippi)
   Information Specialist

Proposal & Award Management

T. Michelle Shows (michelle.showsFREEMississippi) 
   Director

The Proposal & Award Management (PAM) staff 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 USM-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)
    Contracts & Grants Specialist

Darlene Ramsey (darlene.ramseyFREEMississippi)
    Assistant Director, PAM

Omaria Gray (omaria.grayFREEMississippi)
    Senior Contracts & Grants Coordinator

Joseph Steadman (joseph.steadmanFREEMississippi)
    Contracts & Grants Coordinator

Adam Saucier (adam.saucierFREEMississippi)
    Contracts & Grants Administrator

Matthew Thornton (matthew.w.thorntonFREEMississippi) 
    Contracts & Grants Administrator

Phillip Snyder (phillip.snyderFREEMississippi)
    Contracts & Grants Administrator

Brandon Vineyard (brandon.vineyardFREEMississippi)
    Contracts & Grants Administrator

Financial Reporting & Audit

Corrie R. Stringer, MPA (corrie.stringerFREEMississippi) 
   Director

Sally Downey, MPA (sally.l.downeyFREEMississippi) 
   Assistant Director

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

TBD
   Research Administration Specialist

Brittany Wilson (bm.wilsonFREEMississippi)
   Research Administration Analyst

Shannon Davis (shannon.davisFREEMississippi)
   Senior Accountant: Federal Agencies

Nikki Lee (nicole.leeFREEMississippi)
   Senior Accountant: Federal Agencies

Sherry McArn (sherry.mcarnFREEMississippi)
   Accountant: Fixed Price Projects, State & Business/Industry Agencies

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

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

Systems & Technology

Jennifer Wilson (jennifer.wilsonFREEMississippi)
   Director of Research Information Systems and Grant Analysis

Kaycee McMullan (kaycee.mcmullanFREEMississippi)
  Assistant Director of Research Information Systems and Grant Analysis

Harrison Gerald (harrison.geraldFREEMississippi)
   Associate Business Analyst

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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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