Meet the TURAC Team
Meet the Team Behind TURAC 2024+
2024 Conference Chairs
Tom Champagne
TURAC 2024+ Co-Chair
Associate Vice President, Research
Northern Arizona University
Valerie Keim
TURAC 2024+ Co-Chair
Research Operations Manager
Arizona State University
TURAC 2024+ Subcommittees:
Communicating between the Universities
The Communication Subcommittee is responsible for promoting the conference, selecting and managing the conference registration system, crafting content for event announcements and reminders, and overseeing the creation and maintenance of the conference website. The subcommittee also assists the Program Subcommittee Chair in developing the overall conference format, content, and delivery approach.
Communications Subcommittee Members
Elena Miranda
Communications Subcommittee Chair
Business Analyst, Office of Sponsored Projects
Northern Arizona University
Celeste Vidal
Communications Subcommittee Co-Chair
Post-Award Fund Manager, Intermediate
Northern Arizona University
Alexus Robertson
Communications Subcommittee Member
Assistant Director, Operations
Arizona State University
April Sutter
Communications Subcommittee Member
Post-Award Research Administrator, Intermediate
Northern Arizona University
Mariah Castillo
Communications Subcommittee Member
Pre-Award Research Administrator
Northern Arizona University
Nicole Barber
Communications Subcommittee Member
Senior Research Administrator
University of Arizona
Managing Content & Presentations
The Content & Presentations Subcommittee develops and disseminates presenter guidance and resources, conducts presenter trainings or workshops, facilitates run-throughs, and provides feedback to presenters in advance of the conference. The subcommittee also manages all communications to conference presenters once selected for inclusion in the conference agenda.
Content & Presentations Subcommittee Members
Felicity Snyder
Content & Presentations Subcommittee Chair
Research Advancement Manager
Arizona State University
Tiffany Lehn
Content & Presentations Subcommittee Co-Chair
Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives
Arizona State University
Caden Gillespie
Content & Presentations Subcommittee Member
Business Operations Manager, Humanities Institute
Arizona State University
Doug Murphy
Content & Presentations Subcommittee Member
Post-Award Fund Manager, Intermediate
Northern Arizona University
Jen McCormack
Content & Presentations Subcommittee Member
Research Development Associate
University of Arizona
Yohana Orduno
Content & Presentations Subcommittee Member
Grant and Contract Manager
University of Arizona
Nakeisha Numrich
Content & Presentations Subcommittee Member
Content & Presentations Subcommittee Member
Project Coordinator
Arizona State University
Natalia Areño
Networking Subcommittee Member
Grant and Contract Officer
Arizona State University
Making Next Year Even Better
Under the direction of the Chair and Co-Chairs, the Evaluations Subcommittee plans and implements strategies to evaluate and report on conference success. This includes reviewing/updating conference surveys and managing dissemination plans to facilitate optimal response rates.
Evaluations Subcommittee Members
Dana Mravinc
Evaluations Subcommittee Chair
Accounts Receivable Manager, Office of Sponsored Projects
Northern Arizona University
Feifei Zhang
Evaluations Subcommittee Co-Chair
Research Associate
Northern Arizona University
Donna Sloan
Evaluations Subcommittee Member
Sr. Research Administrator
University of Arizona
Lucas Marshall
Evaluations Subcommittee Member
Research Advancement Administrator, Sr.
Arizona State University
Valerie Koellisch
Evaluations Subcommittee Member
Senior Research Administrator
University of Arizona
Making TURAC 2024+ Run
The Logistics & Volunteers Subcommittee is responsible for facilitating all aspects of a hybrid conference. This includes responsibility for accommodations, travel, hosting facilities, audio and visual, meals, coordination of events, technical support, “day of” preparations, contingency planning, etc.. Additionally, the Logistics & Volunteers Subcommittee is responsible for recruiting, training, and managing event-day volunteers – including, but not necessarily limited to, session moderators/monitors and IT support staff at the host institution.
Logistics & Volunteer Subcommittee Members
Rory Schoeneman
Logistics & Volunteer Subcommittee Chair
Post-Award Fund Manager, Intermediate
Northern Arizona University
Ivan Ochsner
Logistics & Volunteer Subcommittee Co-Chair
Assistant Director, Research Administration
Northern Arizona University
Chris Stevens
Logistics & Volunteer Subcommittee Member
Contracts Manager, Office of Sponsored Projects
Northern Arizona University
Hayley Bohall
Logistics & Volunteer Subcommittee Member
Associate Director, Research Development
Arizona State University
Kathleen Frank
Logistics & Volunteer Subcommittee Member
Program Manager, Economic Policy Institute
Northern Arizona University
Lucas Bass
Logistics & Volunteer Subcommittee Member
Pre-Award Research Administrator, Intermediate
Northern Arizona University
Rachel Ramos
Logistics & Volunteer Subcommittee Member
Grant and Contract Administrator III
University of Arizona
Coordinating Programs
The Programmatic Subcommittee ensures that a well-balanced, high-quality agenda of topics is organized and presented at the conference. Under the direction of the Chair and Co-Chairs, the subcommittee develops the conference’s approach to organizing presentations (likely along tracks), selects presentations to include, and creates and manages the conference schedule from a programmatic perspective.
Programmatic Subcommittee Members
Jessica Robins
Programmatic Subcommittee Chair
Associate Director, Pre-Award Services
Arizona State University
Mirna Hodzic Mun
Programmatic Subcommittee Co-Chair
Grant & Contract Officer Principal, Post-Award Services
Arizona State University
Alexus Robertson
Programmatic Subcommittee Member
Assistant Director, Operations
Arizona State University
Nancy Budaus
Programmatic Subcommittee Member
Administrative Support Assistant II
University of Arizona
Nicky Jurgens
Programmatic Subcommittee Member
Assistant Director, Research Administration
Northern Arizona University
Fostering Connections
The Networking Subcommittee is responsible for planning and implementing networking activities for the conference. This may include a networking event, as well as strategies for facilitating networking throughout the conference (and potentially facilitating networking before and/or after the conference). Additionally, the subcommittee works closely with CLARA groups to ensure grant aims are being achieved.
Networking Subcommittee Members
Megan Cooper
Networking Subcommittee Chair
Financial Specialist Sr, Post Award
Arizona State University
William Klein
Networking Subcommittee Co-Chair
Pre-Award Research Administrator
Northern Arizona University
Terra Lamotte-Harvey
Networking Subcommittee Member
Pre-Award Coordinator
Dine College
Lisa Wirth
Networking Subcommittee Member
Grant and Contract Officer
Arizona State University
Nancy Parker
Networking Subcommittee Member
Research Administrator, Senior
Arizona State University
Nicole Barber
Networking Subcommittee Member
Senior Research Administrator
University of Arizona
Natalia Areño
Networking Subcommittee Member
Grant and Contract Officer
Arizona State University