Dr. Mindy E. Scott has been appointed director of the Office of Sponsored Programs at Alfred University. Gabrielle Gaustad ’04, Dean of the Inamori School of Engineering, vice president of Statutory Affairs, and Associate Provost for Research, made the announcement Friday, Sept. 18.
Scott, whose appointment is effective Oct. 12, will lead efforts to provide support to Alfred University faculty and researchers throughout the sponsored research lifecycle. She will work closely with faculty, academic leadership, the Division of Business and Finance, and other university offices to strengthen Alfred University’s research infrastructure, improve processes, identify new funding opportunities, and ensure that our sponsored programs are managed effectively and in compliance with sponsor requirements.
“Mindy brings nearly 20 years of experience in sponsored research administration, research development, and externally funded research,” Gaustad commented. “Throughout her career, she has worked across the full lifecycle of grants and contracts, including proposal development, budget development, compliance, subaward management, award administration, and research development.”
“I’m thrilled to join Alfred University as the new Director of Sponsored Programs,” Scott said. “I have long admired the culture and community of Alfred and am excited to support current and future externally funded research initiatives. I look forward to collaborating with faculty and students to strengthen and expand Alfred’s portfolio of innovative and impactful research.”
Scott holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in Sociology and Demography from Pennsylvania State University and a B.S. in Rural Sociology from Cornell University. She joins Alfred from Child Trends, where she serves as a Senior Research Scholar. In that role, she leads research development planning; proposal development across federal, state, and private funders; proposal quality control; and efforts to strengthen research administration systems. Previously, she served as a Program Area Director at Child Trends, directing a 45-person program area and overseeing a grants portfolio exceeding $20 million.
Her experience also includes serving as a principal investigator and project director on federally funded research, managing partnerships and subcontracted work, and contributing to approximately $10 million in awarded funding.
“Mindy brings particular expertise in pre- and post-award administration, proposal development and review, budget feasibility and compliance, subaward management, process improvement, and mentoring new investigators,” Gaustad said. “Her combination of research development expertise, sponsored-programs administration, federal compliance experience, and faculty-centered approach will be an important asset as Alfred University continues to grow and strengthen its research enterprise.”
Gaustad expressed her appreciation to the following members of the Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs Search Committee: Dr. Scott Misture, Inamori Professor of Materials Science and Engineering; Jordan Kozlowski, research administration specialist, Office of Sponsored Programs; Dr. Angeline Felber, associate professor of counseling; Dr. Michaela Fendrock, assistant professor of geology; and Amanda Azzi, controller.
