Research Administration Leadership Team
The Office of Research Administration’s (ORA) primary purpose is to support Emory's research enterprise. ORA consists of multiple offices offering a range of expertise and specializations working together and partnering across the institution to facilitate research success. Our offices are categorized by their functions, which include sponsored programs and fiscal support, regulatory affairs, and operational support.
Led by Vice President Kimberly Maune, this executive team provides strategic guidance and thought leadership for Research Administration.
Vice President for Research Administration
Kimberly Maune
Vice President
Biography
Kimberly Maune serves as the Vice President for Research Administration (VPRA) at Emory University for the Office of Research Administration (ORA). In this role, she provides strategic and operational leadership across Emory’s research enterprise, reporting directly to the Senior Vice President for Research. Kimberly oversees the design and implementation of organizational structures that advance institutional research goals, leads the development and execution of enterprise‑wide research strategies, and directs the operational infrastructure that supports Emory’s research growth, innovation, and compliance priorities. Her portfolio includes shaping research administration workforce strategy, cultivating cross‑campus collaborations, and establishing metrics and transparency mechanisms that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of research operations.
Kimberly's career began at the University of Cincinnati, where she held various leadership positions, including Director of General Accounting and Senior Business Administrator. Her financial acumen and ability to streamline business functions were pivotal in supporting the academic health center's departments and units.
Prior to her VPRA appointment, Kimberly oversaw the financial management, budgeting, and operations of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Her leadership extended to finance, research administration, information technology, human resources, and facilities, and her strategic oversight supported the advancement of the school’s teaching, research, and service missions.
Kimberly holds a master’s in health administration from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Society of Research Administration and the National Council of University Research Administrators.
Administrative Support
April Carswell
Chief of Staff
Contact Information
Email: alcarswell@emory.edu
Biography
April Carswell, Ph.D. joined the Office of Research Administration as Project Manager in April 2022 and was promoted to Chief of Staff in January 2025. April serves as the Chief of Staff for the Vice President for Research Administration. Her responsibilities include supporting research and research operations across the University. April will manage and lead various projects and initiatives related to ongoing ORA operational programs, including employee engagement, research administration process enhancements, and infrastructure growth. She works closely with the ORA Senior Leadership Team on managing program initiatives and internal and external communications of such mission-oriented initiatives.
Before joining Emory University, April served as a Senior Research Scientist at ICF Inc. for five years. While at ICF, she led public health programmatic, research and evaluation efforts and was the Deputy Project Director for a large federally funded evaluation. She simultaneously served as the IRB Administrator and developed a systematic process to ensure ICF’s compliance with NIH Protection of Human Subjects Regulations. Before ICF, April led community health research efforts across a broad spectrum, including school health, mental health, maternal and child health, sexual health, faith-based interventions, and chronic disease management.
April completed her Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Memphis in social and behavioral sciences. She received her master's in science specializing in epidemiology from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN, and a bachelor's degree in biology from Lane College.
Stephanie Dennis
Executive Administrative Assistant
Contact Information
Email: steph.dennis@emory.edu
Phone: (404) 727-3889
Biography
Stephanie Dennis is the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Research Administration at Emory University. She has been with the ORA division since 2019 and supports the VPRA in daily meetings, manages calendar, events, and administrative support. She dual reports to Katie Stores, Ph.D., CRA, the Senior Director of Operations.
Stephanie earned a Bachelor's in Psychology from Ashford University in 2010 and studied a Master's in Family Therapy from the University of Argosy in Atlanta, Georgia two years.
She began her tenure at Emory in 2008 as the Program Coordinator in the Undergraduate Department of Religion. In 2001, she worked for J.P. Morgan as the Sr. Administrative Assistant to the CFO and H.R. Manager in the Atlanta Headquarters for eight years.
Sponsored Programs and Fiscal Support
Office of Sponsored Programs
Holly Sommers
Associate Vice President
Contact Information
Email: hsomme2@emory.edu
Phone: 404-727-2507
Biography
Holly Sommers is an Assistant Vice President for Research Administration with primary responsibility for overseeing the operations and strategic direction of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP).
Holly joined OSP in November 1999 and has remained with the office since. In her current role, Holly oversees the operations of the Office of Sponsored Programs, leading a team of 43 people who handle all sponsored funding for Emory University. This portfolio includes grants from all types of sponsors, including federal agencies and foundation sponsors; federal and state contracts, industry-funded clinical trials and research agreements, incoming subawards and subcontracts from other research partners, and associated activities.
During her time in OSP, Holly has seen a growth in Emory’s sponsored funding, from $205M in FY1999 to over $894M in FY2021. Prior to joining Emory, Holly worked as a Program Associate for the Conservation and Development Forum at the University of Florida.
Research Grants and Contracts
Edwin Bemmel
Associate Vice President
Contact Information
Email: ebemmel@emory.edu
Phone: (404) 251-1237
Biography
Edwin Bemmel is the Associate Vice President for Research Grants and Contracts (RGC). He is responsible for the oversight of the central administration of post award activities, including all award set up, post award administration, and award close out activities on sponsored awards.
Prior to joining Emory University, Edwin worked at University of Miami (UM), Geisinger Health System (GHS), and Florida Atlantic University (FAU). During his tenure at FAU, he also worked as an Associate Controller, overseeing Payroll, Accounts Payable, Property Management, and General Accounting for about six years.
Edwin earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership, Higher Education from FAU. There, he also received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Accounting, as well as a second bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems. Edwin is a Certified Public Accountant.
Regulatory Affairs
Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs
Deepika Bhatia
Associate Vice President
Contact Information
Email: dbsivak@emory.edu
Phone: 817-851-4954
Biography
Deepika brings a wealth of knowledge in the realm of university research compliance and regulatory oversight. She joined Emory in November 2021 after serving as Director of Research & Compliance at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center. Prior to her role as Director, she has held additional leadership roles at UT Southwestern, including Assistant Director of Compliance Strategic Initiatives and Assist Director of Research & Academic Compliance.
Deepika will lead ongoing needs assessments of Emory's research compliance infrastructure in coordination and collaboration key stakeholders across the university campus. She will manage all research compliance units including Conflicts of Interest (COI), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Research Integrity (ORIC), and Export Controls (EC), and will be accountable for the development and implementation of a proactive, comprehensive, and integrated compliance strategy that supports the success of Emory's entire academic research enterprise. She will work closely with school and unit leadership, the new Chief Compliance Officer, Office of Compliance, and Office of Internal Audit.
Deepika holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics & Communications Engineering from the University of Madras, India, and a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas Arlington.
Institutional Review Board
Rebecca Rousselle
Assistant Vice President
Contact Information
Email: rebecca.rousselle@emory.edu
Phone: 404-712-0785
Biography
Rebecca is the Assistant Vice President for the Human Research Protection Program. In this role, she works to lead the administrative staff and support the approximately 100 Committee members in achieving the IRB's mission, to facilitate ethical human research. Her work also involves collaboration with other Research Administration offices on projects aimed at improving service to researchers.
Rebecca came to Emory IRB in 2008 as a Team Lead, then became Assistant Director before becoming Director. Previously she worked with the Harvard Medical School, School of Public Health, and University's IRB's on projects that also leveraged her prior work as a programmer for a Naval contractor in Newport, RI. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati and has been a Certified IRB Professional since 2015.
Environmental Health Safety Office
Scott Thomaston
Assistant Vice President
Contact Information
Email: scott.thomaston@emory.edu
Phone: 404-727-9510
Biography
Scott has over 36-years of experience as a health and safety professional and has served Emory University in the Environmental Health and Safety Office since its inception in 1989. This office provides comprehensive environmental health and safety services to Emory University and Emory Healthcare. Previous to serving Emory, Scott was an Industrial Hygiene Chemist with CIGNA Corporation, and an Environmental Scientist at Georgia Tech Research Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from the University of Georgia and a Master of Public Health from the Emory Rollins School of Public Health.
Strategy and Operational Support
Strategic Optimization and Training
Lisa Wilson
Assistant Vice President
Contact Information
Email: lisa.wilson@emory.edu
Phone: 678-766-9743
Biography
Lisa joins Research Administration from Clark Atlanta University where she served as Associate VP for Research and Sponsored Programs. In this role she was responsible for broad oversight of many research offices including basic research, sponsored program administration (pre & post-award, lab operations, and safety, research development, public-private partnerships in support of research, government relations, policy development, compliance monitoring intellectual property (IP) management, technology transfer, and the budget department. She is a certified project management professional who has a proven track record of success in many areas of research administration.
In her role as Interim Assistant Vice President of Strategic Optimization and Training, Lisa will be responsible for operationalizing a strategy across the award lifecycle, developing and implementing ORA staff training, coordinating stakeholder communication, and developing synergies across units to ensure integration, transparency, and efficiency. Her familiarity with the research lifecycle and professional training in project management uniquely positions Lisa to excel in this role and build a robust development and training program within Research Administration.
Lisa has a background in physics receiving a BA from Clark College in Atlanta and subsequently received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.