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Research Administration Advisory Council (RAAC)

Expand the subcommittee headings shown below to learn more about their membership. Scroll down to see meeting minutes and bylaws.

The Research Administration Advisory Council (RAAC) was founded in May 2012, with the primary intention of organizing and energizing the research community around optimizing the pre- and post-award processes at the University of Michigan.

Following are lists of the RAAC committees and their charges. Expand the subcommittee headings to learn more about their membership. Scroll further to view FAQs about RAAC.

1. RAAC Executive Committee 

The RAAC Executive Committee (EC) establishes the framework and sets the tone for the overall RAAC.

Co-Chair: Shandra White
ORSP

Co-Chair: Debbie Talley
Sponsored Programs

Andrea Anderson
ORSP

Kerri Cross
Institute for Social Research

Chris DeVries
ORSP; Sponsored Programs

Teresa Herrick
Environment and Sustainability, School for (Liaison, Small Schools & Colleges Research Administrators Group (SSCRAG)

Melissa Karby
U-M Office of Research (OVPR) Research Units 

Heather Kraus
LSA

 

Melissa Milligan
LSA (Chair, RAAC Metrics)

Heather Offhaus
Medical School

Lauren Orleman
School of Public Health

Carolyn Pappas
Information & Technology Services

Nick Prieur
Institute for Social Research (Chair, RAAC Training)

Anne Thompson
LSA (Chair, RAAC Process)

Bryan VanSickle
Sponsored Programs

Rick Wintergerst
College of Engineering

Becky Youmans-DeMoss
Medical School (Chair, RAAC Communications)

2. The RAAC Faculty Advisory Council

The purpose of the RAAC Faculty Advisory Council (RAAC FAC) is to include a faculty voice on issues affecting research administration and to support ongoing efforts to reduce the faculty burden in research administration. 

Chair: Sean Ahlquist
Taubman College of Art & Architecture
[email protected]

Andre Boehman
College of Engineering

Marco Bottino
School of Dentistry

Cindy Chestek
College of Engineering

Francine Dolins
U-M Dearborn

Matthew Heinicke
U-M Dearborn

Bob Kennedy
College of LSA

Sue Moenter
Medical School

Crystal Patil
School of Nursing  (RAD member)

Duxin Sun
College of Pharmacy (RAD member)

3. The RAAC Communications Subcommittee

The RAAC Communications Subcommittee plans and executes the Research Administrators Network (RAN) meetings; identifies and assesses the communication methods currently used at U-M for research administration; recommends best practices by topic, purpose and or method; and works to develop improved systems that support robust, consistent and effective communications within the research administration community.

Chair: Becky Youmans Demoss
Medical School
[email protected]

Jodi Caviani
School of Social Work

Kara Cristian
Institute for Social Research

Lori Deromedi
Office of Research, Compliance

Kathy Devereux
OVPR

Chris DeVries
ORSP; Sponsored Programs

Amy Franklin
Information & Technology Services

Sam Gibbons
ORSP

Jim Jarvis
Medical School

Prentiss Laich
Sponsored Programs

Cathy Liebowitz
Institute for Social Research

Amy Lingle
College of Engineering

Sarena Nuttall
Medical School

Becky O'Brien
School of Information

Thomas Paluchniak
ORSP

Emma Smith
LSA

Melissa Vaquera
College of Engineering

4. The RAAC Metrics Subcommittee

The RAAC Metrics Subcommittee aspires to assist those interested in research administration data by enabling them to acquire the information desired to meet their strategic and operational data needs. The group seeks to accomplish this by helping users know where to locate reporting resources, how to use those resources, and by advocating for the best possible availability and experience with the related tools and datasets. More information may be found on the Data Resources for Research Administration Community page.

Chair: Melissa Milligan
College of Literature, Science & the Arts
[email protected]

Chris Allan
Institute for Social Research

Steve Beach
College of Literature, Science & the Arts

Chris DeVries
ORSP; Sponsored Programs

Laura Dickey
ORSP

Tricia Haynes
ORSP

Stephanie Hensel
School of Education

Jennifer Huntington
Institute for Social Research

Rachael Lee
College of Engineering

Adam Mall
Sponsored Programs

Rey Martell
ORSP

Dan Mitchell
Information & Technology Services

Lauren Orleman
School of Public Health

Susan Powell
College of Engineering

Vasu Ramani
Information & Technology Services

Susan Sica
Medical School

Polly Simms
ORSP 

Rob Truex
OVPR / RADIO

5. The RAAC Process Subcommittee

The RAAC Process Subcommittee seeks to identify and promote changes to research administration processes to benefit the Research Administration community, including pre and post-award and related compliance. The subcommittee will also serve as a resource to central offices on initiatives that need limited input or intermediate feedback. 

Chair: Anne Thomson
College of Literature, Sciences & Arts
[email protected]

Karen Alameddine
ORSP

Emily Baxter
ORSP

Kerri Cross
Institute for Social Research

Chris DeVries
ORSP; Sponsored Programs

Brooke Dougherty-Reyes
Medical School

Teresa Herrick
School for Environment and Sustainability

Tonia Jackson
ORSP

Melissa Karby
OVPR

Dean Michalak
Sponsored Programs

Heather Offhaus
Medical School

Julie Olivero
School of Public Health

Mike Randolph
Information & Technology Services

Pat Turnbull
UM-Dearborn

Bryan VanSickle
Sponsored Programs

Rick Wintergerst
College of Engineering

6. The RAAC Training Subcommittee

The RAAC Training Subcommittee will inventory and assess current training programs available within and beyond the U-M research administration community. The subcommittee will conduct needs analyses to identify training gaps, recommend new training, and participate in the development of new training using a variety of training delivery modes. Subcommittee members will also participate in working groups to support the ongoing professional development of the research administration community.  Training materials, sessions and resources are available through the Navigate Program.

Chair: Melissa Li
Michigan Medicine
[email protected]

Mindy Alguire
College of Literature, Sciences & Arts

Amy Brooks
College of Engineering

Betsy Brouhard
Medical School

Gretchen Cai
Sponsored Programs/Navigate

Lori Deromedi
OVPR Compliance

Chris DeVries
ORSP; Sponsored Programs

Lia Floreno
ORSP

Lyn Fyfe
Sponsored Programs

Lizzie Howard
ORSP

Kristen Hug
Medical School

Kirby Jewell
Ford School of Public Policy

Kimdra Jones
Sponsored Programs

Jonah Lee
Animal Care & Use

Julie Olivero
School of Public Health

Susan Powell
College of Engineering

Nick Prieur
Institute for Social Research

Raquel Silvius
Navigate

Angie Skellie
OVPR

Tabita Szabo
Marsal School of Education

Pat Turnbull
UM-Dearborn

7. The RAAC Committee-at-Large

The RAAC Committee-at-Large(RAAC CAL) has two representatives from each school, college, unit, or institute, including UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint and the research-related central offices.

Architecture and Urban Planning,
Taubman College of
TBD

Art & Design, School of
TBD

Business, Ross School of 
Vickie Earl

Dentistry, School of 
Jennifer Linzmeier

Education, School of 
Stephanie Hensel
Corene Weiland

Engineering, College of 
Susan Powell
Rick Wintergerst

Environment and Sustainability,
School for
Teresa Herrick

Information, School of 
Becky O'Brien

Institute for Social Research
Charlie Mattison
Melissa Wallace

Kinesiology, School of
Elizabeth Tropiano

Life Sciences Institute
Anna Schork
Danielle Smith

Literature, Science, and the Arts, College of 
Steve Beach
Anne Thomson

Medical School
Brooke Dougherty Reyes
Jane Sierra

Music, Theatre & Dance, School of 
Michelle Terrell

Nursing, School of 
Rhonda McCammon
Lisa Parker

Pharmacy, College of
Sheree Temple

Public Health, School of 
Julie Olivero
Lauren Orleman

Public Policy, Ford School of 
Kirby Jewell
Laura Kaminski

Social Work, School of 
Jodi Caviani

UM-Dearborn 
Pat Turnbull
Jackie Dani 

UM-Flint
Joanne DeVore
Jennifer Klimowicz

Animal Care & Use
Bill Greer

Innovation Partnerships
Bryce Pilz
Hilary Bond
Maggie Swift

ITS - Application and Information Services
Mary Locey
Carolyn Pappas

Shared Services Center
Stacy Orban

Sponsored Programs
Kristie Beckon
Peter Gerard
Debbie Talley
Bryan VanSickle

Office of Research and Sponsored
Projects (ORSP)
Karen Alameddine
Emily Baxter
Andrea Anderson
*Chris DeVries

OVPR Research Units
Kathy Devereux
Ellen Han

OVPR Research Compliance
Lori Deromedi

*denotes a dual appointment with Sponsored Programs and ORSP

 

 

8. The RAAC DEI Workgroup

  • Karen Alexa
  • Kristie Beckon
  • Chris DeVries
  • Jennifer Huntington
  • Melissa Li
  • Cathy Liebowitz
  • Becky O'Brien
  • Ayana Richardson
    

FAQs

The Research Administration Advisory Council (RAAC) was founded in May 2012, with the the primary intention of organizing and energizing the research community around the concept of optimizing the pre- and post-award processes at the University of Michigan.

The mission of the RAAC is to effectively coordinate the efforts of ORSP, Sponsored Programs, and the research administration community within the schools and colleges to identify issues, develop solutions, and adopt best practices in the research administration arena.

The RAAC is comprised of seven groups:

  1. RAAC Executive Committee
  2. RAAC Faculty Advisory Council
  3. RAAC Communications Subcommittee
  4. RAAC Metrics Subcommittee
  5. RAAC Process Subcommittee
  6. RAAC Training Subcommittee
  7. The RAAC (committee-at-large)

A full-time project manager, reporting to ORSP and Sponsored Programs, coordinates the work of the seven groups. The project manager serves as a conduit to avoid duplication of effort and helps to prioritize recommendations and ensure that initiatives and outcomes are tracked and documented.

RAN refers to our Research Administrators' Network (RAN) meetings -- networking meetings which are held three times a year and are planned and executed by the RAAC Communications Subcommittee.

References and Resources

Questions?

Chris DeVries, Project Manager for the RAAC, (734) 763-7343, [email protected]

Produced by: [email protected]
Posted on: Thursday, May 8, 2025 - 09:11