Changes in OSP

The phrase “The only constant is change,” is one that particularly rings true in the Office of Sponsored Programs these days.

Aaron Flynn, who has been working in OSP as a Grants Administrator, has been hired as a Contract Negotiator to fill the position previously held by Victoria Poindexter. Kathryn Kim, an OSP Contract Negotiator who had been serving the School of Engineering, has moved into a new role outside of OSP (but within Finance) as an Export Control Compliance Officer. To take over Kathryn’s duties, Laura Bowness Taylor has shifted back over to SEAS where she worked previously, after having served the School of Medicine faculty for the past few years. And Joanne Reid, a valued member of our Account Create Team who came to us from industry two years ago, has moved over to support the Post Award Team.

While there has been some movement within OSP, we are pleased to welcome several new employees as well. Willow Nash recently joined our Account Create Team.  She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business Management from Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts, and worked as a Medical Assistant before moving to Charlottesville from New Hampshire two years ago. She enjoys motorcycles, classic cars and trucks, reading, singing, cooking, and educating people about skin care.
Tesha Westbrook, new to the Post Award Team, has served UVA for 14 years before joining OSP. She started in the Office of the VP for Research for the Animal Care & Use Committee as an Office/Compliance Manager, Fiscal Technician and office LSA (Local Support Associate). Tesha enjoys reading, singing, and planning weddings and other events.

Tammy Sutton recently joined the Post Award team after having devoted 13 years of service to the City of Charlottesville in their Parks and Recreation Department as a Recreation Specialist.  She received her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from American InterContinental University. In her free time, Tammy enjoys spending time with her family, knitting, walking on the Downtown Mall, and enjoying the numerous parks available.  She also is a member of the local roller derby team, the Charlottesville Derby Dames.

In addition to bringing on new folks, OSP staff members are furiously scanning documents as we roll out the new ResearchUVA system. And while all this change is good, it can be challenging, so kudos to everyone in OSP who keep everything running smoothly so our faculty can keep doing their research!