Shandra White, who has more than 15 years of leadership experience in sponsored research, grants and contracts administration, will soon join the University of Michigan to lead its Office of Research and Sponsored Projects.
Her appointment as the assistant vice president for research – sponsored projects begins April 10.
“The University of Michigan is a global leader in research, scholarship and creative practice, and I am very excited to work alongside its talented faculty and staff so that, together, we can help strengthen one of the nation’s largest research enterprises,” White said.
ORSP is based in the Office of the Vice President for Research, and its team collaborates with faculty and staff across disciplines to ensure administrative compliance for externally sponsored grants, contracts and ancillary agreements.
As part of her new position, White will have institutional oversight for the review and submission of all extramural proposals, as well as the review, negotiation and acceptance of awards.
During fiscal year 2022, the team at ORSP reviewed and submitted 7,531 proposals on behalf of U-M researchers, while processing 2,763 awards. This type of work allows researchers to accelerate discoveries and innovations for broad societal impact.
White also will lead the institutional response to emerging policies and regulations that require attention and change within the research infrastructure to ensure compliance.
White most recently served as the assistant vice president for sponsored research at Northwestern University, and she also was the director of sponsored projects and research enhancement at George Washington University. In both roles, White had direct responsibility for leading research administration efforts.
“The success of our enterprise is truly dependent on the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects because, without the knowledge and support of their team, our community would lack the financial resources necessary to accelerate our collective work,” said Rebecca Cunningham, vice president for research.
“Shandra White brings a wealth of experience and expertise, and I am confident that she will play a critical role in bolstering support for our research community.”
