Board of Directors

Chair

Jacqueline E. Rearick, CRA® 

Jackie joined the Board of Directors in 2021. She is the Executive Director of the Offices of Sponsored Programs and Research Integrity at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She has over a decade of research administration experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2019. Jackie believes certification demonstrates a proficiency in this profession

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jackierearick 

Chair-Elect

Georgetta Dennis, CRA®, CPRA®, CFRA 

Georgetta joined the Board of Directors in 2019.  She is a Senior Associate at Attain Partners.  She has nearly two decades of research experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2016, a Certified Preaward Research Administrator since 2016, and a Certified Financial Research Administrator since 2018.  Georgetta believes certification is a reflection of one's dedication to the profession and showcases expertise in the collaborative funding lifecycle environment. 

 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgetta-dennis-ms-cra-cpra-cfra-bab766177

Immediate Past Co-Chair

Suzanne Alstadt, CRA®, CPRA®

Suzanne joined the Board of Directors in 2018. She is a Senior Consultant with Attain Partners LLC. She has almost three decades of research administration experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2005 and Certified Preaward Research Administrator since 2023. Suzanne believes in certification for personal achievement. 

 LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-alstadt-dpa-cra-cpra-46191478 

Immediate Past Co-Chair

Shelly Berry Hebb, CPRA®  

Shelly joined the Board of Directors in 2018. She is the Associate Director of Proposal Services at Texas A&M University. She has over three decades of research administration experience and has been a Certified Preaward Research Administrator since 2017. Shelly believes certification creates awareness among faculty and staff, demonstrates professionalism in this field, and is beneficial when it comes to explaining debatable topics in research administration.

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shellyberryhebbcpra  

Treasurer 

Sami Naber, CRA®, CFRA 

Sami joined the Board of Directors in 2023. He is the Program Manager, Clinical Trial Billing at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He has over a decade of experience in research administration and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2015. He became certified to validate and further his knowledge in research administration and show the capability to provide a high level of service to research faculty and staff. 

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sami-naber/

 

 

Secretary

Connie Motoki, CRA®, CFRA

Connie joined the Board of Directors in 2023. She is a Grants Manager in the Office of Sponsored Research Services at Washington University in St. Louis. She has nearly two decades of research administration experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2017 and a Certified Financial Research Administrator since 2024. Connie believes certification is significant validation of personal knowledge in this profession. 

 Website: www.star.wustl.edu/people/motoki-connie/

 


Brent Bell, CRA®

Brent joined the Board of Directors in 2022. He is the Director of Pre-Award Research Administration at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He has over two decades of research administration experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2015. Brent believes obtaining certification is an excellent way to focus on one’s experience and knowledge while demonstrating commitment to the field.

 LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/brent-bell-mra-cra-5165354a


Melissa Emanus, CRA®, CPRA® 

Melissa joined the Board of Directors in 2023.  She is the Export Control & Research Compliance Officer at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.  She has nearly two decades of experience in research administration and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2014 and a Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator since 2024.  Melissa believes that certification reflects commitments to the field of research administration and one's own professional growth.

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-emanus-ms-cra


Cathy Le, CRA®, CPRA®, CFRA

Cathy joined the Board of Directors in 2022. She is the Director of Research Administration at the University of Southern California’s Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at Keck School of Medicine. She has over a decade of research administration experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2017, a Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator since 2024, and a Certified Financial Research Administrator since 2024. Cathy believes in certification for professional growth and job advancement, and its value towards giving credence and credibility to one’s resume.

 LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-le-mba

 tim miller

Tim Miller, CRA®

Tim joined the Board of Directors in 2024. He is a Contract & Grant Officer at Stanford University and has almost a decade of research administration experience. He has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2023 and believes that certification is the gold standard to showcase one's knowledge and experience in the field to advance in their career.

 

 

 

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tim-miller-mba-cra


Rick Roberts, CRA®, CPRA®, CFRA

Rick joined the Board of Directors in 2022. He is the Director of Finance and Administration at the Morehouse School of Medicine. He has almost three decades of research administration experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2009, a Certified Financial Research Administrator since 2022, and a Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator since 2023. Rick believes certification is necessary to continue working in this profession, especially as this profession grows more complex and technical.

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rick-roberts-phd-thm-cra-cpra-cfra-9aa61b41/


Noelle Strom, CRA®

Noelle Strom joined the Board of Directors in 2024. She is the Director of External Funding in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences at the University of Denver. Noelle has five years of experience in research administration and became a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) in 2023. She believes that certification demonstrates a commitment to excellence in research administration and to continuous learning.

  Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelle-strom/


Dotty Waters, CRA®

Dotty joined the Board of Directors in 2024. She is Director of the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs at Virginia State University. She has over a decade of grants management experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2022. Dotty believes certification is a powerful tool for expanding the credibility of individual research administrators, and helps to build a standardized knowledge base within the profession as a whole.

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dotty-waters

 
Stephen L. Williams, CRA®

Stephen joined the Board of Directors in 2022.  He is an Assistant Director in the Office of Sponsored Programs at Wake Forest University.  He has nearly three decades of research administration experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2007.  Stephen believes obtaining certification demonstrates expertise and experience in research administration.

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stephenlwilliams


Suzanne Wiltgen, CRA®

Suzanne joined the Board of Directors in 2021. She is a Team Lead at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She has just under a decade of research administration experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2021. Suzanne believes certification was a way to learn more about the scope of research administration and to pursue additional opportunities in the field.

 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-wiltgen-cra-1a8aa218


Robert Zurita, CRA® 

Robert joined the Board of Directors in 2023.  He is a Senior Applications Business Analyst at Florida International University.  He has nearly two decades of research administration experience and has been a Certified Research Administrator since 2007.  Robert believes certification further demonstrates your passion and knowledge in this field.

Chair Emerita

Patricia Buennemeyer, CRA®, CPRA®, CFRA

  

Executive Director

Kelley Apodaca

Kelley became the Executive Director of RACC in October 2023 but has been a management team member since 2020. She has worked with non-profit organizations for over ten years, helping volunteer boards realize their goals and organizational achievements.  Kelley believes certification elevates personal and professional standards by keeping up with best practices and connecting with a community of industry leaders.

Contact: [email protected]


About the Board of Directors

The Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) is a private, independent, nonprofit organization that develops and administers a voluntary program for the certification of individuals who meet the requirements established by RACC. It is composed of volunteers committed to the continuing improvement of the research administration profession and to assisting in the education and training of individuals who wish to become proficient in the research administration field. Through the Body of Knowledge and the certification process, RACC provides those entering the field with a training guide and a goal by which they can measure themselves as professionals.

RACC’s Board of Directors serves as the governing body for the organization. The Board is responsible for overseeing and administering the organization as well as validating its Certified Research Administrator (CRA®), Certified Pre-Award Research Administrator (CPRA®), and Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA) examinations. The Board plans, executes, and manages the organization’s policies, goals, initiatives, and approving the annual budget. In most cases, a Director’s term begins in October of the year they are selected and continues for three years. Directors may serve no more than two consecutive three-year terms.

If you are interested in serving on the RACC Board of Directors, please check back for when the nominations window opens in late Spring of each year.

Office Contact
Please contact us via email for general inquiries at [email protected]. 

Office Address
Research Administrators Certification Council 
12110 N. Pecos Street, Suite# 220 
Westminster, CO 80234