Kelly Ard joined the University of Virginia in August 2024 as Assistant Vice President of Corporate and Foundation Relations. In this role, she leads efforts to cultivate and steward strategic partnerships with corporate and foundation entities in support of the University’s mission and priorities. Prior to joining UVA, Kelly held frontline fundraising roles at Auburn University, serving in both the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations and the College of Liberal Arts. She brings more than 17 years of experience working closely with institutional leaders, faculty, and administrators across higher education to identify and develop mutually beneficial partnerships that advance institutional goals. Kelly’s team focuses on aligning university initiatives with industry and foundation priorities, facilitating collaborative partnerships that leverage workforce needs, support economic development opportunities, and amplify institutional impact. Kelly’s team is instrumental in identifying new funding opportunities and creating a seamless, strategic engagement experience for corporate and foundation partners. Kelly earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from James Madison University, with a minor in Italian Language and Studies. 

Bryan Berger, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS); founder and CSO, Lytos Technologies. Bryan’s laboratory works at the intersection of biotechnology, environmental and human health to develop solutions that protect our food, water and health. He was recognized most recently as UVA’s 2025 Edlich-Henderson Innovator of the Year and the SEAS Invention of the Year for developing bio-based tools to eliminate diseases that affect apples, wine grapes, poultry, seafood and other key industries important to the commonwealth and beyond. He also works collaboratively with local community partners, farmers and tribal communities to develop and implement low-cost biosensors to detect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) and other contaminants of concern to develop strategies that prevent exposure in food, water and other consumer products. 

Richard Chylla joined the UVA Licensing & Ventures Group in January 2022 as the Executive Director. Rich came to the University of Virginia from the Innovation Center at Michigan State University where he served as Executive Director of MSU Technologies since 2012. He also served on the board of directors for the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) and held the AUTM chair position in 2019. He has more than 30 years of experience in university technology transfer, research leadership, and business development. Rich has extensive experience in licensing and technology commercialization in both academic and industry settings. He has amassed career accomplishments with top-tier organizations including the University of Michigan and BASF Corporation. He also has broad international experience having worked in various technical roles with Johnson Polymer in Singapore, Japan, and the Netherlands. He has commercialized more than 200 products in his career. Richard Chylla holds a Ph.D. and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and an Executive MBA in Global Management Development from IESE/University of Michigan. 

Crystal serves as the Unit Administrator and Pre- and Post-Award Research Administrator for Youth-Nex, a research center within the UVA School of Education and Human Development (EHD). Before joining Youth-Nex in 2009, Crystal held various roles across the University in event planning, annual fund administration, and donor relations. She currently serves as an Expense Ambassador for EHD and is very knowledgeable in grant purchasing as well as non-sponsored research activities.

Rob Jones has 25+ years of experience in various security related roles and serves as UVA's first Chief Research Security Officer. Rob helped establish the UVA Office of Research Security and is a founding member of the VaRNISH, a working group of the research security offices throughout the Commonwealth. The University of Virginia's Office of Research Security supports the research enterprise by providing expertise in areas of national security, export controls compliance, research data security, and operational security, while managing associated infrastructure and serving as a liaison to partner security agencies.

Liz Kitchin is a Senior Grants and Contracts Administrator in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia. She has supported the research mission at UVA Engineering for more than five years and previously held research administration and grants management roles with the U.S. Department of State, the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), and ICON plc.

One of Liz’s major areas of interest in the field is the consideration of research administration as a strategic bridge between faculty, institutional partners, and sponsors. Liz enjoys discussing approaches to managing complex grant portfolios, fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups, and streamlining processes that strengthen research operations, compliance, and overall research success.

Laura Kozma joined the University of Virginia in June of 2025 as the Associate Vice President of Research Operations and the Executive Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs. With nearly 20 years of experience in research administration, she leads teams responsible for the review and submission of sponsored proposals, acceptance of grant awards, negotiation of contracts for research, clinical trials, and other sponsored activities, financial management and reporting, and invoicing and cash management. 

Prior to UVA, Laura served as the Associate Vice President for Research Administration at the University of Miami and held senior leadership positions at the University of Connecticut and Yale University. Her work at UVA focuses on leading organizational change to adapt to evolving policies and regulations and a growing research enterprise and focusing on the needs of UVA faculty and researchers to reduce administrative burden. In her tenure at UVA, she created a new department to provide critical proposal development assistance to faculty, launched a comprehensive educational curriculum in research administration, and restructured the Office of Sponsored Programs to align with the needs of the $550M sponsored research enterprise.

Gordon Laurie is a Professor of Cell Biology with joint appointments in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Ophthalmology. He founded, directed and served as PI of UVA’s Biotechnology Training Program from ’00 –’20 (now the Biotechnology for Human Health Training Program) that graduated over 100 PhD’s during his tenure. In a search to address the biological basis of dry eye disease, the Laurie lab with NEI support discovered and named the protein ‘Lacritin’ whose bioactive form is selectively deficient in dry eye. For clinical testing as a replacement therapy, Gordon cofounded TearSolutions Inc. with local former eye executive Mark Logan. Having successfully completed a 204 patient clinical trial for dry eye with the 19-mer lacritin fragment ‘Lacripep™’, Lacripep recently obtained ‘Fast Track’ and ‘Orphan Drug’ designation from the FDA for neurotrophic keratitis that shares some properties with dry eye.

Lori L. McMahon, PhD was appointed as Vice President of Research at the University of Virginia in June 2024 and reports directly to the Provost. Dr. McMahon previously served as Vice-President of Research and Professor of Neuroscience since 2021 at the Medical University of South Carolina. Prior to this, she spent 23.5 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and held an endowed professorship in neuroscience and several leadership roles including Director of the Comprehensive Neuroscience Center and Dean of the UAB Graduate School where she oversaw approximately 110 master’s and PhD Programs and 7500+ students. Her fundamental neuroscience research laboratory has been consistently funded by the NIH since 2000 with her work focusing on brain circuits that underlie learning and memory, with a particular focus on aging, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, and neuropsychiatric illness such as anxiety and depression. Her work involves use of sophisticated methods that allow direct measurement of electrical brain activity in preclinical models that mimic human disease. She is a dedicated educator and mentor, having received numerous teaching and mentorship awards, served on over one hundred PhD dissertation committees, and has mentored more than 50 trainees in her own laboratory, including undergraduate students, PhD trainees, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty. In addition, Dr. McMahon has held leadership roles for national committees, has served numerous NIH and other funding agencies grant review panels, and has been a member of editorial boards for scientific journals.

Jaime Petrasek brings over 21 years of deep expertise in research administration, built entirely within the state of Virginia. Having served in nearly every facet of the field, from pre- to post-award, across both central offices and departments, Jaime possesses a rare, 360-degree view of the sponsored programs enterprise. Currently focusing on creating training and education for research administrators across grounds, she bridges the gap between complex compliance rules and daily workspace realities by creating targeted RA and compliance focused curriculum, workshops, and guidance documents.

A recognized leader in the national community, Jaime has presented extensively both internally and across the country at conferences, meetings, and workshops. Over a period of several years, she served on various committees and as an officer for NCURA Region III. This perspective, combined with lessons learned over two decades of "boots on the ground" work, gives her a unique ability to understand the RA language, identify gaps in processes, and serve the UVA community as a “doer,” trainer, and subject matter expert.

What truly sets Jaime apart is her commitment to community building and her strong belief that work shouldn't be miserable. She excels at breaking down institutional silos and cultivating genuine relationships across grounds. She possesses a keen eye for improving culture and workflow, and is quick to jump in and tackle a challenge. Known for her humor and warmth, Jaime brings people together to laugh and connect, even when facing a rapidly changing regulatory environment. She uses her deep institutional knowledge and uplifting style to mentor others and build strong, happy teams. She is always willing to “talk shop” on camera or in person, and will never turn down a sparkling water.  

Erika Priddy is a Training & Communications Manager supporting UVA's research enterprise through initiatives focused on training, communications, and change management. Her work is centered on helping research administrators navigate change, access the information they need, and build the knowledge, skills, and connections that support long-term success.

Erika has a particular interest in organizational change and the role that communication, professional development, and community-building play in helping people adapt and thrive. She is passionate about creating resources, learning opportunities, and communication channels that make it easier for research professionals to stay informed, connected, and empowered to do their best work. 

Carey Reinicke is the Assistant Director of Grants and Contracts for the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, focusing on the management of the school’s sponsored awards and research administration processes. She began her career in research administration in 2012 with UVA's AdviseVA.

Over the last 14 years at UVA, Carey has worked primarily in post-award school level roles until recently expanding her skill set into pre-award processes. Carey continues to participate in various research administration professional organizations, such as NCURA and SRAI, in addition to other UVA communities across grounds. She enjoys connecting with other research administrators on topics related to professional development, research administration processes, and the latest developments in the field. 

Jenna Rybnicky works in the UVA Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) as a member of the award setup team (Pre-Award). Her current portfolio primarily supports the UVA School of Medicine. Jenna’s UVA journey began four years ago as an assistant, tasked with managing the central intake inbox. In that role, she developed a strong foundational understanding of the university's research enterprise, which enabled her to transition into account creation and ultimately, her current position on the award setup team.

Jenna's path to research administration was not a traditional one. She graduated from James Madison University with degrees in Health Sciences and Biology before spending time in Chicago working in retail and as a birth and postpartum doula. Following a move to Charlottesville in 2022, she sought an opportunity to bring her diverse skill set to UVA.

She believes her background provides a unique perspective within UVA Research. Research administration requires a combination of exceptional customer service, adaptability, and calm crisis management, skills she developed while supporting families through the high-stakes experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. Jenna is grateful for the opportunities she has had to grow her career within OSP, and looks forward to sharing fresh perspectives and insights as part of today's panel.

Carolyn D. Saint is the chief audit executive for the University of Virginia, with responsibility to provide assurance services for UVA’s academic and healthcare divisions and UVA’s College at Wise. She joined the University in April 2015 and has over 30 years of external and internal audit experience.Under her leadership, the Office of Audit and Compliance has expanded its healthcare audit program in step with the growth of UVA Health’s footprint, provided independent oversight — including project health checks and IV&V — across major ERP implementations, and supported the Audit, Compliance & Risk Committee through the resolution of a multi-year material weakness in internal controls. Prior to joining the University, Ms. Saint served as the vice president of internal audit at 7-Eleven, Inc., a $28B global retailer. In addition to her experience at 7-Eleven, she served as vice president of internal audit for three Fortune 50 retail companies: Lowe’s, Sears Holdings, and Kmart. Her career includes over eight years of experience serving clients while at Deloitte. Ms. Saint holds a B.A. degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.A. degree in professional accountancy from Walsh College. She is a certified public accountant. She has held various leadership positions with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), having chaired the North American Board of Directors, the Global Advocacy Committee, and the Global Guidance Council. In her role as Global Advocacy chair, she led the creation of the IIA’s global advocacy platform, capturing the central role internal auditing plays in good governance and helping organizations achieve their goals. Ms. Saint served on the board of Galvanize, a privately held company specializing in software for Governance, Risk, and Controls professionals, until it was acquired by Diligent at a billion-dollar valuation. Ms. Saint is an active volunteer in the Charlottesville community, where she is board chair emeritus of the American Red Cross Central Virginia Chapter, Virginia Region board. In 2026, the Chapter recognized her eight years of board leadership with its Clara Barton Volunteer Leadership Award, presented to exceptional individuals for meritorious service. 

Alex Torres has more than 15 years of experience in both pre- and post-award grants management. He began his career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York where he served as a Project Coordinator in the Department of Neurology (2010-2013) and then as an Editor/Grant Writer in the Department of Surgery (2013 to 2018). In 2018, Alex joined the University of Virginia as a Grants and Contracts Administrator in the Department of Pediatrics and has since advanced to the role of Research Finance Program Director. In his current position, he oversees the department's research infrastructure, including a team of research administrators and 23 clinical research coordinators. He is responsible for the management and stewardship of the department’s sponsored research funds, helping to support and advance the department's research mission. 

Olga Weider is the Deputy Vice President for Finance at the University of Virginia, where she leads financial operations across the $6 billion enterprise spanning the Academic Division and UVA Health. Her work centers on advancing enterprise-wide alignment, modernizing financial infrastructure, strengthening financial stewardship, enabling strategic decision-making at scale, and fostering cross-functional partnerships to support the university’s long-term mission. Olga brings a pan-enterprise perspective shaped by more than two decades across higher education, healthcare, public accounting, and government sectors. She is known for leading large-scale institutional transformation initiatives, fostering high-performing teams, and navigating ambiguity with transparency and purpose. As a strategic partner, she focuses on systems thinking, long-range value creation, and building collaborative structures that deliver lasting impact. Prior to joining UVA, Olga served as the first female Associate Vice President and University Controller at the University of Florida, where she led a multi-year transformation of financial operations, enhanced institutional compliance, and fostered a more agile, service-oriented finance culture. A CPA and Certified Internal Auditor, Olga holds an MBA from Louisiana State University and a BA in Accounting from the University of South Florida. She is currently pursuing an EdD in Leadership studies at Louisiana State University. Outside of work, she enjoys travel, literature, and cheering on her son’s tennis journey. 

Kim Wood, SHRM-CP, CCSP, CPRW is a highly regarded career coach in the Commonwealth, bringing over 16 years of expertise to her role at the University of Virginia. She is an NCDA Certified Career Services Provider and has completed the Global Career Development Facilitator program, solidifying her knowledge and impact in the field. Kim is also a PARWCC Certified Professional Resume Writer, a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, and a SHRM Certified Professional. Additionally, she is a VCCS Certified Career Coach and a facilitator of Everything DiSC and Strong Interest Inventory assessments. With her extensive credentials and unwavering commitment to empowering others, Kim is dedicated to helping individuals achieve their professional aspirations. 

Claire Ziegler, MA, CRC, CVE, CPRW is a vocational and career development professional with extensive knowledge of job placement strategies, labor market, transferable skills analysis, career counseling, and resume writing. She has worked with people of all ages at every stage of their career journey, including working extensively with individuals with disabilities looking to enter or reenter the workforce. Claire is a Certified Professional Resume Writer, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist, is certified in EQ-I 2.0/EQ-I 360 and is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. Claire is passionate about encouraging individuals to explore their next step in their career journey. Her goal is to help empower individuals to use their interests, abilities, values, and transferable skills to succeed in their career and professional goals here at UVA and beyond.