Dr. Chris Brown
Vice President for Research and Graduate Education
919-962-4619
The Vice President for Research and Graduate Education promotes research, sponsored programs, and graduate education across the full spectrum of academic disciplines and interdisciplinary activities carried out by UNC’s sixteen university campuses. He helps advocate for increased levels of external support from federal, state, and private sources and works closely with UNC General Administration staff and campus administration to support a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship and to develop research and sponsored program agendas that are supportive of the mission of each.
Sarah Smith
Director of Sponsored Programs
919-962-4557
Ms. Smith provides UNC General Administration and constituent institutions with a range of pre- and post- award services for externally funded projects. Services include identification of potential funding sources, direction of the grant application process, support for adherence to a variety of compliance activities, and provision of training and support.
Ann Doty
Sponsored Programs Accountant
919-843-5187
Ms. Doty serves as the accountant and reports to the Director of Sponsored Programs. The accountant supports a full range of sponsored programs functions including assistance with proposal development and review, subrecipient management (establishment and monitoring), transaction testing for administrative and financial compliance, review of high risk transactions prior to posting, budget monitoring, accounts receivable and F&A calculations processes, training and review/update of processes and procedures regarding sponsored programs.
Dr. Courtney Thornton
Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Education
919-962-2676
Dr. Thornton interprets and implements system policy related to the planning and approval of new graduate degree programs. She manages responses to external requests for information on research funding and expertise that draw upon systemwide research administration tools and related business intelligence platforms. Dr. Thornton supports the Vice President on other initiatives of strategic importance to the Office.
Dr. Lisbeth Borbye
Director of the Professional Science Master's Program
919-962-3542
Dr. Borbye leads the development, implementation and management of professional science Master’s education at UNC’s sixteen university campuses. She facilitates the inclusion of employer interaction and essential transferable skills into interdisciplinary, highly industry-responsive degree programs and invents central administrative e-tools, faculty training, and teaching methods in a number of disciplines relevant to successful engagement with the professional world outside the university.
Tisha Wallace
Director of Research Information Systems
919-843-5100
Ms. Wallace directs implementation and usage of web-based sponsored research administration tools at UNC's sixteen universities. Supports development of responses to requests for information on UNC sponsored research and related data.
Sweta Bhakta
Research Systems Analyst
919-962-4572
Ms. Bhakta serves as the applications programmer for electronic sponsored research administration tools, including RAMSeS. Sweta consults with campus users, provides technical support, and develops and implements technical solutions.
Betsy Rich
Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Research and Graduate Education
919-962-4623
Ms. Rich maintains the appointment calendar for the Vice President for Research and assists with scheduling meetings and coordinating meeting materials, audio/visual presentations, location, travel, and budget. She also manages listservs and contact information for Chief Research Officers, SPARC contacts, and technology transfer officers.
Michael J. Todd
Executive Director
North Carolina Research Campus
704-250-5432
Mr. Todd serves as the Executive Director at the North Carolina Research Campus located in Kannapolis, N.C. In this role, he coordinates diverse campus partners, plans strategically to identify and address critical campus priorities, and works to achieve outlined objectives by driving strategic plans forward. Mr. Todd also provides management, budgeting and facilities leadership to support UNC Campus partners.