Research Administration Advisory Council (RAAC)

The Research Administration Advisory Council (RAAC) helps identify issues, develop solutions and adopt best practices in the research administration arena. Find an overview of RAAC’s mission, structure, committees, membership, meetings, and work to improve U-M research administration processes and best practices.

The mission of the RAAC

The mission of the RAAC is to effectively coordinate the efforts of ORSP, Finance-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. Bylaws of The Research Administration Advisory Council (RAAC)

The RAAC’s structure

The RAAC is composed of seven subcommittees whose membership spans the University of Michigan’s schools, colleges, offices, units and campuses. A full-time project manager, reporting to the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects and Finance-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.

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

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)
Heather Kraus, LSA
Melissa Li, Medical School (Chair, RAAC Training)
Kimberly Mann, OVPR
Melissa Milligan, LSA (Chair, RAAC Metrics)
Heather Offhaus, Medical School
Lauren Orleman, School of Public Health
Carolyn Pappas, Information & Technology Services
Anne Thompson, LSA (Chair, RAAC Process)
Bryan VanSickle, Sponsored Programs
Rick Wintergerst, College of Engineering
Becky Youmans-DeMoss, Medical School (Chair, RAAC Communications)

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.

Sean Ahlquist, Taubman College of Art & Architecture
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
Duxin Sun, College of Pharmacy

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
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
Amy Lingle, College of Engineering
Sarena Nuttall, Medical School
Becky O’Brien, School of Information
Thomas Paluchniak, ORSP
Emma Smith, LSA
Christie Tomaszewski, Sponsored Programs
Melissa Vaquera, College of Engineering

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
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
Ryan Knierbein, College of Engineering
Rachael Lee, College of Engineering
Adam Mall, Sponsored Programs
Rey Martell, ORSP
Dan Mitchell, Information & Technology Services
Lauren Orleman, School of Public Health
Vasu Ramani, Information & Technology Services
Susan Sica, Medical School
Polly Simms, ORSP
Rob Truex, OVPR / RADIO

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
Karen Alameddine, ORSP
Emily Baxter, ORSP
Kerri Cross, Institute for Social Research
Chris DeVries, ORSP; Sponsored Programs
Brooke Dougherty-Reyes, Medical School
Jenna Fitzgerald, Sponsored Programs
Teresa Herrick, School for Environment and Sustainability
Tonia Jackson, ORSP
Melissa Karby, OVPR
Heather Offhaus, Medical School
Lauren Orleman, Public Health
Mike Randolph, Information & Technology Services
Pat Turnbull, UM-Dearborn
Bryan VanSickle, Sponsored Programs
Rick Wintergerst, College of Engineering

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
Mindy Alguire, College of Literature, Sciences & Arts
Christy Bohensky, ORSP
Amy Brooks, College of Engineering
Betsy Brouhard, Medical School
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

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: Nicolette Collins, Melissa Karby
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: Abby Cervantes, 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: 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: None
Finance-Sponsored Programs: Kristie Beckon, *Chris DeVries, Peter Gerard, Debbie Talley, Bryan VanSickle
Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP): Karen Alameddine, Emily Baxter, *Chris DeVries
OVPR Research Units: Kathy Devereux, Ellen Han
OVPR Research Compliance: Lori Deromedi

*Denotes a dual appointment with Finance-Sponsored Programs and ORSP

RAAC meetings

In addition to regular subcommittee meetings, the RAAC hosts Research Administrators’ Network (RAN) Meetings three times a year. These are planned and executed by the RAAC Communications Subcommittee.

Questions?

For any questions about the RAAC, contact Chris Devries, project manager for the RAAC at [email protected].