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Research Operations
1599 Clifton Road NE - 4th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30322
Mailstop: 1599-001-1BE
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RBO Leadership

Sheritha Brown
Director of Business and Finance
Contact Information
Email: sbrow23@emory.edu
Phone: 404-727-4685
Biography
Sheritha is the Director of Business and Finance for Research Business Operations (RBO). She has over 25 years of experience working at all levels of accounting. As the Director, Sheritha manages the work of the finance team, preparing and monitoring financial reports, and improving the financial processes while ensuring the division expenditures are compliant with the University. She also manages administrative staff to ensure the successful completion of day-to-day activities. In Sheritha's former role as manager, she orchestrated the preparation and implementation of a metrics system that enabled a high reduction in error rates for the division. In addition to the decrease in errors, there was an improvement of the processing time for travel expenses, reimbursement,s and invoices. Prior to joining Emory University in 2000, Sheritha worked at SunTrust Bank for eight years.

Melanie Lawrence, MBA
Assistant Vice President for Research and Chief Business Officer
Biography
Melanie Lawrence is a member of the Senior Vice President for Research leadership team. Melanie served in a variety of roles at Emory University School of Law before transitioning to Research in 2013. She has responsibility for leading and executing cross cutting strategic initiatives and special projects across the research enterprise. She manages the strategic planning, budget and fiscal planning, human resources, operational improvements, and key special projects and initiatives for both the SVPR office and the Office of Research Administration. She is also currently the Acting Director for Science Gallery Atlanta for its overall implementation and inaugural exhibition, HOOKED, slated to open January 2022.
Melanie is an Atlanta native and a proud alumnus of Emory University, having received her Executive MBA from Emory's Goizueta Business School and has been an active Emory alum, most recently as Treasurer of the Executive Women of Goizueta Alumni Board. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History, Economics, and Geography from Georgia State University.

Cindy Cha
Senior Project Support Specialist
Biography
Cindy Cha is the Senior Project Support Specialist for the Office of Research Administration Business Operations (ORABO). She provides project management support and helps all of ORABO implement project management best practices. She holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting and is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Maria Mendez
Division Director for Human Resources and Operations
Contact Information
Email: mmendez@emory.edu
Phone: 404-727-5689
Biography
Maria is the Division Director for Human Resources and Operations in Research Business Operations (RBO). She is responsible for the oversight of the human resources function for ORA, including recruitment, talent management, employee relations and performance management, among others. In addition, Maria is responsible for managing ORA's centralized operations and business processes including supply ordering, event coordination, equipment inventory, ORABO website and other special projects. Maria joined Emory in March of 2005 and served as the Assistant Director of Finance and Human Resources in the Environmental, Health and Safety Office.
Maria's science background and experience in Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Management Systems provided her with the opportunity to manage the initial implementation of Emory's EHS Management System. Marias current projects include the Leadership Pipeline to identify and develop future leaders in ORA. Maria is a participant of the Emory's Business Leadership Program.
Maria holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Alex Wagner
Director of Research Data Analytics
Contact Information
Email: alexander.wagner@emory.edu
Phone: 404-727-5385
Biography
Alex serves as the Director of Research Analytics in the Office of the Senior Vice President of Research at Emory University. He leads as small Data Analytics Team that serves as the central funnel for all research data and reporting needs within the research enterprise. Prior to coming to Emory in October 2020, Alex was the Director of Institutional Research at Lesley University and Fisher College in Massachusetts.
His experience with grants as a Principal and Co-Principal Investigator is primarily in the public safety area. While at Fisher College Alex, also led the Center for Leadership in Public Service obtaining grants in the criminal justice and traffic safety areas. Prior to that he served as the Senior Research Analyst and Data Coordinator for the Massachusetts Statistical Analysis Center at the Office of Grants and Research within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security in Massachusetts. There he managed federal and state research projects and grants including grant reporting. He still enjoys maintaining the contacts he made during this time and serves on the International Outreach Committee for the International Association of Crime Analysts as well as the Training Committee for the Massachusetts Association of Crime Analysts. Alex is a proud alumni of Auburn University and the University of Mannheim in Germany.
Human Resources and Operations

Adrianne Brutscher
Program Specialist
Contact Information
Email:adrianne.brutscher@emory.edu
Phone:404-712-0043
Biography
Adrianne is the Program Specialist for Research Business Operations (RBO). Prior to this role, she served as a Senior Administrative Assistant for Business Operations. Before Emory, Adrianne spent seven years in the banking industry, providing senior level administrative support as well as performing vendor risk analysis.
Adrianne holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Sullivan University in Louisville, Kentucky.

Amanda Watson
Human Resources Manager
Biography
Amanda is the Human Resources manager for Research Business Operations (RBO). She is responsible for the management of the human resources function for ORA, including recruitment, talent management, compensation, employee relations, and performance management, among others. Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Emory College and an Associate of the Arts from Oxford College. She is a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources and a Certified Compensation Professional. Prior to her role in ORA, she worked in Human Resources for Emory's Advancement and Alumni Engagement division since 2005.

Yolanda Ferrell
Human Resources Specialist
Biography
Yolanda comes to ORA from Emory Oxford College, where she served as the COVID 19 Test Site Manager, responsible for the planning and execution of the site operations. Yolanda also served as the supervisor of business operations at Emory Winship Cancer Institute, Hematology, Oncology and Infusion Center. Prior to Emory, Yolanda held numerous appointments in the healthcare arena, including Community Health, American Cancer Society, Wellstar Health Systems, Dekalb Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center of Akron, Ohio. Yolanda is a certified Phlebotomy Technician from the National Healthcareer Association.
Business, Finance and Administration

Lyngail Cooper
Senior Administrative Assistant
Contact Information
Email: lyngail.cooper@emory.edu
Phone: 404-712-5915
Biography
Lyngail is a Senior Administrative Assistant for Research Business Operations (RBO). She provides support to Inger Garnett, Director of Strategic Operations, in the Office of Research Administration, Bill Lambert, Associate Vice President of Research Grants & Contracts, and Holly Sommers Assistant Vice President of Research Administration, Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) . Lyngail has extensive experience in Executive Administrative Assistant, Finance and Healthcare. In 2021, she was Awarded "The Admin Dragon Award", for Research Business Operations. Lyngail has a degree in Pre-Nursing and Psychology and studied Business and Healthcare Finance Management.

Tundra Latrice Ivy
Project Coordinator, Administration
Contact Information
Email: tundra.ivy@emory.edu
Phone: 404-727-7854
Biography
Since January 2013, Tundra has worked in various capacities in Research Administration. Currently, she supervises the administrative team in Research Business Operations, is a Project Coordinator for Science Gallery Atlanta, and she provides administrative support to the Office of Clinical Research. With more than 20 years of administrative experience, she prides herself on being detailed-oriented, organized, and always seeking to deliver outstanding customer service.

Shantel McMillan
Accountant, Business and Finance
Biography
Shantel McMillan is the Accountant for Research Business Operations (RBO), providing support in accounts payable, catering, purchasing, human resource and event planning. She has a background in hospitality, nonprofit and university settings. Shantel prides herself in being a motivated team member that exudes a positive attitude, demonstrates initiative, and flexibility to achieve maximum productivity.

Dana Simmons
Financial Analyst, Business and Finance
Contact Information
Email: dana.simmons@emory.edu
Phone: 404-712-7069
Biography
Dana Simmons is a Financial Analyst with Research Business Operations (RBO). In Dana's role she works with the Director of Business and Finance preparing monthly financial reports. In addition to preparing the monthly financial reports, she processes employee expense reports and invoices. Dana also acts as a back up to the Accountant.

Enid Sullivan
Senior Administrative Assistant
Contact Information
Email: elsulli@emory.edu
Phone: 404-712-5915
Biography
Enid is a Senior Administrative Assistant in Research Business Operations (RBO). Enid supports Wil Brown, Director, IT Operations, in the Office of Research Administration IT, and Brenda J. Seiton, JD, Assistant Vice President, Research Administration, in the Office of Research Administration. Enid is responsible for the processing of all the Material Transfer Agreements and New Invention Disclosures for the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) and works closely with Kae Gruner, Licensing Associate, in OTT and Dr. Cliff Michaels, Assistant Director, Licensing, in OTT. Enid also works closely with her fellow colleagues in ORABO. She has served in several Administrative/Managerial positions during her 29-year tenure at Emory University.

Maria Wackerly
Senior Administrative Assistant
Contact Information
Email: mwacker@emory.edu
Phone: 404-712-4591
Biography
Maria is a Senior Administrative Assistant for Research Business Operations (RBO). She provides support to Institutional Animal Care, Conflict of Interest, and Institutional Review Board. Prior to joining ORABO, Maria worked in the Office of International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) for over 11 years. In 2012, she was awarded the Emory University Award of Distinction for her administrative expertise with ISSS. Prior to relocating to the United States, she worked for Jakarta International School in Jakarta, Indonesia, provided administrative support to the Director of Alumni Department.
Maria studied Business Administration at the Polytechnic University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Research Data Analytics

Jennifer Gore
Assistant Director, Data Management/Integrity