Directory & Services

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ORA is divided into four functional units under the direction of the Associate Vice President for Research. They are as follows:

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.Kennedy@usm.edu)
Associate Vice President for Research

Brittney McLain (brittney.mclain@usm.edu)
Office Manager

Research Development, Outreach,
and Engagement (RDOE)

Maurine Pace (Maurine.Pace@usm.edu)
Information Specialist

Alexandra Schneider (Alexandra.Schneider@usm.edu)
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 USM-ORA@usm.edu.

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).

Joseph Steadman (Joseph.Steadman@usm.edu)
Assistant Director

Jeannene Garbee (Jeannene.Garbee@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Coordinator - Outgoing Subawards

Matthew Thornton (Matthew.W.Thornton@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Coordinator

Michelle Harper (Michelle.Harper@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Administrator

Phillip Snyder (Phillip.Snyder@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Administrator

Justin Miller (Justin.Miller@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Administrator

Lindsey Bussolati (Lindsey.Bussolati@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Administrator

Margaret Jones (Margaret.S.Jones@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Administrator

TBD
Contract Coordinator

Financial Reporting & Audit (FRA)

Corrie R. Stringer, MPA (Corrie.Stringer@usm.edu)
Director

Sally Downey, MPA (Sally.L.Downey@usm.edu)
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:

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

Jerilynn "Nikki" Lee (Nicole.Lee@usm.edu)
Senior Accountant: Federal Agencies

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

Jenni Weigand (Jennifer.Schmidt@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Accountant

Cooper Murray (joseph.murray@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Accountant

Niesha Archie (niesha.archie@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Accountant

Yvette Barncastle (yvette.barncastle@usm.edu)
Contracts & Grants Accountant

Research Information Systems & Grant Analysis (RISGA)

Jennifer Wilson (Jennifer.Wilson@usm.edu)
Director

Kaycee McMullan (Kaycee.McMullan@usm.edu)
Assistant Director

Brittany Wilson (BM.Wilson@usm.edu)
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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