The Daily Bulletin Archive

From the Special Adviser to the Provost for Academic Research Initiatives
The Research Foundation (RF) at Buffalo State continues its communication series with the campus community on the resources, processes, support, and guidance that are available at the RF. The RF staff of 19 knowledgeable and experienced individuals is a team that supports campus research and sponsored program activities from pre-award development, proposal submission, project development, and economic advancement through post-award operations that encompass award administration, purchasing, and accounts payable as well as information systems and human resource management.

Research Foundation management managers:

Carol Darstein serves as director of pre-award and contract services, a position she has held for the past 15 years. Darstein works with faculty from the initial search for funding through negotiating and acceptance of an award. Read more about Darstein.

Gina Game is the executive assistant to the director and compliance manager. In addition, she serves as administrative coordinator to the Institutional Review Board, the Institutional Animal Care Use Committee, and the Research Council. Read more about Game.

Rick Johnson is the manager of project development and economic advancement. He provides assistance in partnering with the campus community on project development and proposal writing in the proposal process. Read more about Johnson.

Carol Julian is the manager of RF accounts payable and purchasing services (APPO). She is responsible for the Research Foundation purchasing, accounts payable, and travel functions. Read more about Julian.

Mary Kren is the manager of communication and training. She is responsible for centralized RF communications, announcements, messages, and invitations to the campus community. She collaborates with intraoffice colleagues to prepare, schedule, and deliver learning opportunities relating to RF policies and topics. Read more about Kren.

Susan Maerz is the manager of the grants administration department. She is responsible for financial monitoring, adherence to sponsor requirements, and compliance with RF processes and internal control policies in the establishment, maintenance, and closeout of sponsored programs. Read more about Maerz.

Peter Reganti is the RF information systems manager. He is responsible for the analysis, design, administration, and support of all information technology systems and solutions within the Sponsored Programs Office, and is the primary architect and developer of the RF electronic form processing system. Read more about Reganti.

Sandra Schoelles is the RF human resources director and EEO officer. She is responsible for the overall management of the department. She also serves as the AA/EEO officer for the Research Foundation at Buffalo State, prepares the annual Affirmative Action Plan, and manages employee relations. Read more about Schoelles.

Bridget Zimmerman is the associate for research and evaluation. She is an expert in research and evaluation and has extensive experience on numerous federal, state, and local grants as well as experience in educational research, operational research, quality improvement, and medical studies. Read more about Zimmerman.

An earlier Daily Bulletin notice focused on the campus leadership:

James A. Thor, associate vice president and comptroller, also appointed as Research Foundation operations manager (OM);

Robert L. Baumet, director of campus accounting, also appointed as Research Foundation deputy operations manager (DOM);

Lisa H. Krieger, assistant vice president for finance and management, also serves as interim director of sponsored programs;

Mark W. Severson, Ph.D., dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences, also serves as special adviser to the provost for academic research initiatives.

Sincerely,

Mark W. Severson, Ph.D.
Dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences