Georgia Institute of Technology

Eme is a Contracting Officer supporting academic grants and contracts administration. Eme is a certified research administrator (CRA) and her prior experience in sponsored programs includes Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She earned a Masters in Business Administration from Walden University and completed undergraduate studies at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Tara Barker is a contracting specialist responsible for contracts administration in the Industry and International Contracting group. Tara has a corporate background and previously worked in the banking and hospitality industries before joining Georgia Tech in 2019. Tara has a business degree from St. Andrew’s University.

Rochelle Barry is the Manager for the Office of Sponsored Program’s closeout team. Rochelle earned her Master of Social Work from Georgia State University and completed undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Prior to Georgia Tech, Rochelle worked for the federal government for 15 years as State Director for National Services in Georgia.

Lakita Brooks is Manager of Grants and Contracts Administration for Colleges of Computing, Business, and Design. She has more than 20 years of grants and contracts experience at Georgia Tech and Georgia State University. Lakita is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager and Certified Research Administrator. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix.

Shari is a contracting specialist on the Corporate and International Contracting team. She has an inventory and accounting background and worked in the manufacturing industry for eight years prior to joining Georgia Tech. Shari has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.

Lee Broxton is the Training Specialist within the Research Education and Outreach Team, responsible for the planning, course development, training, and evaluation of multiple systems used by Georgia Tech in research administration. He is also the primary contact for sponsor system access. Lee holds a Master of Education degree (M.Ed.) in Adult and Career Education from Valdosta State University, and an interdisciplinary baccalaureate degree with concentrations in Education, Culture/Society, and Justice Studies from Georgia Southern University. 

Leland Butisbauch is a Contracting Officer supporting awards for the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTARC Awards). Leland has a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the University of California San Diego and an undergraduate degree in Intercultural Studies from William Jessup University. Leland is also a Certified Federal Contract Manager.

Rebecca Caravati, CPA, is the Executive Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs. She is an alumna of Wesleyan College and is a certified public accountant. Previously, Rebecca served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Georgia Foundation and served the Georgia Tech Research Institute for 23 years, including service as Deputy Director for Finance and Research Administration.

Catherine Cassidy is a Contracting Officer supporting awards for Academic Grants and Contracts Administration (GTRC Awards). Catherine has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Agnes Scott College. Catherine is also a Certified Research Administrator.

Kendall Crosby is associate director for the Exchange Agreements team. Kendall has a JD from the University of Georgia School of Law and an undergraduate degree in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Victoria Custodio is a Contracting Officer on the subawards team. She has a Master of Business Administration from Georgia Tech. Her undergraduate studies in Biology were completed at Mercer University.

Naranja Davis is a Contracting Specialist supporting the Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GTRC). Naranja holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in Project Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. She brings 10 years of previous Research Administration experience from the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and Kennesaw State University.

Lara Erdelyan is an associate on the Exchange Agreements team. Lara has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University. She earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Trey Fraune is a contracting officer supporting grants and contracts for the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Trey previously worked in research contracting at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Trey earned a JD from North Carolina Central University, an MA from the World Learning Institute, and a BA in International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Karon Gray is a Contracting Specialist for the Closeout Team. Karon earned a Master of Public Administration from Georgia State University and completed undergraduate studies at Georgia Southern University earning a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Journalism. She is a Certified Research Administrator, awarded by the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) and has more than 15 years of experience in sponsored programs as well as research and governmental administration.

Yathurshi (Yadu) Haase is an associate on the Industry and International Contracting team. She has a legal background and previously worked in real estate for a telecommunications firm before joining Georgia Tech in 2018. Yadu earned her JD in 2016 from Georgia State University College of Law, and she holds a bachelor of science in psychology with a minor in religion from the University of Georgia.

Teri Hansen is the Manager for GTRI Other Sponsored Contracts. She has over three decades of experience in subcontract administration and research contracting including Georgia Tech and Boeing . Teri holds a Master of Science in Contract and Acquisition Management from Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Auburn University.

Deanna Hendrickson is the Manager of Research Education and Outreach, responsible for training development, assessment, and outreach for the Office of Sponsored Programs. She has over 20 years of experience in research administration. Deanna earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University and is a Certified Research Administrator.

Sophia is responsible for managing and training the corporate and international contracting team, leading and facilitating complex transactions with sponsors, and developing and implementing policies and procedures in support of the research collaboration process. Prior to joining Georgia Tech in 2006, she practiced at an Atlanta law firm and served as in-house counsel for two Fortune 500 corporations. Sophia holds a BA in international studies and Spanish literature from Manhattan College and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Steffanie Kruzan is a Contracting Specialist supporting Georgia Tech Research Institute grants and contracts (GTARC Awards). She brings previous experience from Western Connecticut State University and the University of Washington, including research administration, database management, compliance and program support. Steffanie holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Photography from the University of Washington.

Kadian Leslie is a Contracting Officer supporting awards for Academic Grants and Contracts Administration (GTRC Awards). She has more than 11 years of experience in Grants Administration in governmental and nonprofit organizations as well as institutions of higher education. Kadian has a Master of Public Administration from Binghamton University and is a Certified Research Administrator.

Michael Little, GCPA, is the Small Business Administrator for the Office of Sponsored Programs. Michael worked for Georgia’s Tech’s Office of Business and Procurement Services for 18 years before joining OSP. The Small Business Administrator (SBA) is responsible for preparing subcontracting plans on federal contracts that are expected to total an estimated cost of $700,000. The Small Business Administrator also has the oversight responsibility for preparing and submitting the data that documents actual performance in terms of dollars paid to small/disadvantaged business concerns.

Chase McCallum is a contracting officer on our Industry and International Contracting team. His career has included work in private law practice and clerkships for four judges in Superior Courts of Georgia. Chase holds a JD, as well as undergraduate double majors completed at the University of Georgia.

Bhupen (Ben) Mistry is a Business Analyst for the OSP Data and Enterprise Systems Team. He has more than two decades of experience with database and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, including Workday and PeopleSoft. Ben holds a Bachelor’s in business from Lamar University in Texas and is certified in Workday Financials.

Scott Niles is a Contracting Officer supporting awards for Colleges and Centers (GTRC Awards). Scott has a PhD in Interdisciplinary Education Sciences from the University of Kentucky and a Master’s in Journalism from Marshall University.

Stacey Oliver-Johnson is a Contracting Officer supporting Academic Grants and Contracts Administration (GTRC Awards). Stacey has more than two decades of experience in federal and non-federal grants and contracts administration, working at Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Emory University, and Morehouse School of Medicine. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Alison Peffer is an associate on the Exchange Agreements team. Alison studied political science and government at the University of Louisville. She earned a Juris Doctor and a masters in health administration from the University of Kentucky.

Ashvin Raj is a Contracting Specialist supporting awards for Academic Grants and Contracts Administration (GTRC Awards). His previous experience includes management of technology-based federal and state-sponsored grants within the Virginia Community College System. Ashvin holds a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Oberlin College.

Marcia Scott is the Executive Assistant supporting Rebecca Caravati and the Office of Sponsored Programs. She has more than 15 years of executive support experience from professional organizations.

Dana Simpson has more than 25 years of service to Georgia Tech’s Office of Sponsored Programs. As the Director for Operations, she oversees the Institute’s research subawards operations and monitoring, as well as data and enterprise systems and administrative support. Dana has a Master of Public Administration from Kennesaw State University and is a Certified Research Administrator and Certified Federal Contract Manager.

Claire Stamm is a contracting officer and is responsible for the negotiation and administration of sponsored research agreements. Before joining Georgia Tech, Claire practiced insurance defense and clerked for two different judges. Claire has an English degree from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi and a JD from the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Allison Tapp is a Contracting Officer supporting Department of Defense Prime Awards for the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTARC Awards). Allison brings over eight years of professional defense contracting experience to Georgia Tech. She holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Winthrop University.

David Walker is a Contracting Officer supporting Academic Grants and Contracts Administration (GTRC Awards). Prior to joining Georgia Tech, David developed private sector management experience followed by a position as Assistant Director for Proposal and Award Management with The University of Southern Mississippi, which is also his alma mater. David is a Certified Research Administrator. 

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