Research & Innovation
Jennifer Sharpe Potter, PhD, Senior Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation, leads the Research and Innovation Functional Integration Team (FIT). To guide the discovery and design effort, Potter has launched working groups within this FIT focused on identifying quick wins, recommending solutions, planning implementation steps, and sequencing integration initiatives on a comprehensive roadmap.
Integration Updates
Update
Date
Research & Innovation Functional Integration – May 2026
- Strategic Research Initiatives Working Group – Advancing implementation of InfoReady for Limited Submissions Phase II. Assessing Faculty Research Development and Internal Funding Management programs to identify improvements for FY27 implementation. Assessing support to Organized Research Units (ORUs).
- Research Administration & Operations Working Group – Completed 88% of HOP/IHOP review and institutional policy inventory. Advancing Excellence in Award Management initiative through business process review and stakeholder engagement. Completed Research Administration IT System inventory and roadmap development.
- Innovation & Strategic Partnerships Working Group – Advancing implementation of IP management platform. Strengthening infrastructure to support innovation and commercialization efforts.
Research & Innovation Functional Integration – April 2026
- Strategic Research Initiatives Working Group – Completed Phase I unification of the limited submissions process and updated funding procedures; now advancing Phase II and III. Next steps include consolidating award and internal funding management and analyzing campus centers and institutes.
- Research Administration & Operations Working Group – 62% HOP/IHOP alignment complete, with systems inventory finalized and post-award insights gathered. Ongoing policy, process, and systems assessments continue. Next steps include alignment recommendations, stakeholder engagement, RAS consolidation, and IM system integration planning.
- Communications & Marketing Working Group – Advancing development of the project charter, with next steps focused on finalization to guide scope, priorities, and execution.
- Strategic Research Initiatives Working Group – Completed Phase I unification of the limited submissions process and updated funding procedures; now advancing Phase II and III. Next steps include consolidating award and internal funding management and analyzing campus centers and institutes.
Research & innovation – March 2026
- Strategic Research Initiatives Working Group – Developed and advanced recommendations to establish a streamlined limited submission process.
- Research Administration & Operations Working Group – Achieved 53% completion of HOP/IHOP alignment and finalized a comprehensive inventory of research administration information management system.
- Innovation & Strategic Partnerships Working Group – Completed implementation of a project and workflow management system to enhance coordination and efficiency.
- Communications & Marketing Working Group – Strengthened leadership capacity with the hiring of Wesley Elliot as director of communications.
Research & Innovation – November 2025
- Functional Integration Team (FIT) launched, members include Claudia Delgado, Siobhan Fleming and Anthony Francis.
- Three working groups have been established to focus on key priorities:
- Strategic Research Initiatives: identify and align research programs across both campuses. This effort is designed to strengthen collaboration.
- Research Administration & Operations: assess, align, and integrate administrative and operational functions that support research activities across both campuses. This initiative aims to build cohesive and efficient service models, optimize the use of institutional resources, and ensure consistent delivery of high-quality support to faculty and research staff.
- Innovation & Strategic Partnerships: enhance and unify efforts that advance research commercialization, industry collaboration, and strategic alliances across both campuses. This initiative focuses on fostering a cohesive innovation ecosystem that accelerates technology translation, expands partnership opportunities, and amplifies the economic and societal impact of institutional research. Through this effort, we will align programs, leverage shared resources, and strengthen the infrastructure that supports a dynamic and collaborative innovation enterprise.