Research and Innovation Administration

The Office of Research and Innovation encompasses over 500 employees across research administration that includes seven institutes and supports strategic research investments and all university researchers.

The following outline shows the organizational structure of the Office of Research and Innovation at Virginia Tech, illustrating how leadership, units, and teams support the university’s research and innovation mission. It provides a clear view of reporting relationships and functional areas across the office.

Kevin Pitts

Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation

Kim Borkowski

Executive Assistant

Research Support and Communications

Laurel Miner

Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff

Laurel Miner serves as the assistant vice president and chief of staff for Research and Innovation.

As a member of Research and Innovation’s senior leadership team, she supports strategic planning and initiatives for the office and provides cross-cutting analysis and administrative support for Senior Vice President Dan Sui.

She oversees several teams for Research and Innovation, including marketing and communications, information technology, and electronic research administration.

Lindsey Haugh

Senior Director,
Marketing and Communications **

Radka Schenk Kretinska

Director,
Electronic Research Administration

Neil W. Sedlak

Senior Director,
Information Technology

Robyn Smyth

Events Coordinator

** Dual report to University Marketing and Communications

Research Development and Administration

Randy Heflin

Senior Associate Vice President Research and Innovation

Randy Heflin serves as the senior associate vice president for Research and Innovation and assists the senior vice president in both strategic and operational issues for Virginia Tech's research and innovation enterprise.

Heflin’s responsibilities include coordinating research development, planning for facilities and infrastructure, and cost-sharing for center-scale proposals. He also oversees the administrative units for sponsored programs, research development, postdoctoral affairs, and export and secure research compliance.

Linda Feuster Duffy

Assistant Vice President, Research and Innovation and Director, Sponsored Programs

Director, Pre-Award: Lauren Magruder
Director, Contracts: Daniel Cockrum
Assistant Director, Post-Award: Nevada Davis
Director: Financial Compliance: Divyabala Amin

Eleanor Nelsen

Senior Coordinator, Research Development

Chris Smith

Postdoctoral Affairs Program Administrator

John Talerico

Assistant Vice President, Research Security and Chief Research Security Officer *

Tim Leake

Associate Director, Industrial Security Program *

Alberto Cano

Associate Vice President, Advanced Research Computing **

* Dual report to Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance

** Primary report to Division of Information Technology; dotted line to Office of Research and Innovation

Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance

Lisa M. Lee

Senior Associate Vice President, Research and Innovation and Director, Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance

Lisa M. Lee serves as senior associate vice president for research and innovation, leading the Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance at Virginia Tech.

Lee He oversees the administrative units for integrity and human research, animal resources and care, animal care and use, institutional biosafety committee, export and secure research compliance.

Ann Thornhill

Administrative and Office Manager

Barbara DeCausey

Senior Director, Integrity and Human Research

Director, Human Research Protection: Samantha Bowling
Director, Research Conflict of Interest: Cristen Jandreau
Director, Privacy and Research Data Protection: Julie Cook
Director, Research Integrity and Research Integrity Officer: Iris Jenkins

Katie LaVallee

University Attending Veterinarian and Director, Animal Resources and Care

Karen Hall

Associate Director, Animal Care and Operations

Stephanie Trout

Director, Animal Care and Use Program

Regina Allen

Director, Institutional Biosafety Committee

John Talerico

Assistant Vice President, Research Security and Chief Research Security Officer *

Mike Kendrick

Associate Director, Export Control and Sanctions *

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Dennis Nolan

Executive Director, Environmental Health and Safety **

* Dual report to Research Development and Administration

** Primary report to Public Safety; dotted line to Office of Research and Innovation

Innovation and Partnerships

Brandy Salmon

Vice President of Innovation and Partnerships

Brandy Salmon serves as the vice president for innovation and partnerships.

In her current position, she serves as executive director for LINK, supporting a wide range of industry engagements, while guiding the university’s newest enterprise, LAUNCH, The Center for New Ventures.

Lisa Young

Executive Assistant

Brad Fravel

Executive Director, LINK, Center for Industry Partnerships *

Grant Brewer

Executive Director, LICENSE, Center for Technology Commercialization

Mark Mondry

Director, LAUNCH, Center for New Ventures

Gwen Harrington

Director, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships **

Brad Soucy

Senior Director,
Creative Studio ***

Vacant

Program Manager, Executive Advisors Management ***

*Dual report to Advancement

**Primary report to Advancement Division with shared staff

***Advancement only; Creative Studio shared with Principal Gifts

Strategic Research Alliances

Steven H. McKnight

Vice President for Strategic Alliances

Steve McKnight serves as the vice president for the Strategic Research Alliances office.

McKnight facilitates university-wide collaborations and engagement with faculty and staff throughout the greater Washington, D.C., metro area, and with colleges and units across the institution to advance strategic alliances and partnerships.