College of Engineering

As a Senior Negotiator, Jill reviews RFPs for contractual issues and negotiates and processes grants, subawards, contracts, subcontracts, non-disclosure agreements, and various other research-related agreements. Jill has been a member of OSP’s Export Compliance Team since 2007 (conducts export reviews under the guidance of the University Export Compliance Officer) and Chair of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Committee since 2012 (overseeing the committee's efforts to review new FAR clauses and maintain PSU’s FAR Matrix). In addition, Jill has been a Penn State ACES Instructor since 2011. Jill also participates in OSP’s New Negotiator Training.

Jill joined OSP in 2005 as a Junior Negotiator after working at SAIC as a Subcontract Administrator. Jill holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Minor in the Legal Environment of Business from The Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business. Jill also holds a Master’s Certificate in Government Contracting from Villanova University.

• Jill also negotiates the following special agreements:
  • OSP (Texas A&M Experiment Station (UCAH NDA actions)

As a Contracting Officer, Jess serves the Penn State research administration community by reviewing requests for proposals, processing gifts and grants, and negotiating contracts, subawards, and modifications.  She has completed the ACES course and is a member of the OSP Policy Committee.

Jess began her professional tenure with Penn State at the College of Medicine. She served as the post-award supervisor for the grants team and was a super user during the SIMBA conversion. Prior to joining the University, she spent several years in hospital billing and coding with Penn State Health, worked as a health insurance customer service representative for Highmark, and was a Marketing and Public Relations Manager for a professional baseball team.

Jess earned two Bachelor’s degrees from Penn State, in Advertising/Public Relations and English.

Steve currently processes Non-Disclosure Agreements with additional responsibilities related to industrial contracts. Prior to joining OSP Steve was the Engineering Project Manager for Larson Transportation Institute in the College of Engineering at Penn State

• Steve also negotiates the following special agreements:
  • College of Engineering - Industry NDAs

Melissa’s research administration career at Penn State began in the Office of Research Information Systems (ORIS) which sparked her interest in the field. She now leverages over 12 years of  pre- and post-award research administration experience at the college level in her role as a Contracting Officer at Penn State. She engages with various sponsors in the Office of Sponsored programs to negotiate terms and conditions appropriate for an educational institution. Melissa is also a member of the Research Security Compliance Data Use Team.

Prior to her career in research administration, Melissa gained over ten years industry experience that encompasses project management, leadership in management roles, and creating new business models and infrastructure in small growing businesses. This experience has given her a solid base on handling change, growth, and pressure in dynamic business settings. Melissa currently chairs the SharePoint Committee where she is collaborating with colleagues on new document management systems and knowledge sharing processes.

Melissa has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Organization Development and Change from Penn State.

• Melissa negotiates the following:
  • Data Use Agreements (I-L)
  • Data Security Reviews (DUA & Non-DUA)
     
• Melissa also negotiates the following special agreements:
  • Pratt & Whitney (additional agreements not included in Mech Eng T-Z)

As a Contracting Officer, Kelly is responsible for reviewing requests for proposals, processing gifts and grants, and negotiating contracts, subawards, and modifications thereto. Kelly also serves as a member of the Subaward Committee.

Kelly joined Penn State’s Office of Sponsored Programs in 2021 with pre- and post-award research administration experience at the college level. Prior to her career in research administration, Kelly gained over thirteen years of experience in legal, compliance, and internal audit roles in the casino industry.

Kelly holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Stockton University, as well as Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor Degrees from Rutgers University-Camden.

Kelly negotiates subawards for the following units:

• Behrend College
• Capital College
• EMS (I-Z)
• Science

As a Contracting Officer, Lisa is responsible for reviewing requests for proposals, processing gifts and grants, and negotiating contracts, subawards, and modifications thereto. Lisa has completed both the ACES and the ACOR Fellows programs and is a RACC Certified Research Administrator (CRA), as well as a member of the OSP Export Compliance and Template Committees.

Lisa came to the University in 2014, starting in the Center for Integrated Healthcare Delivery Systems. She transitioned to the Office of Engineering Research Administration primarily focusing on post-award before joining the Office of Sponsored Programs in 2020. Prior to working at the University, she was a Director of Operations for a non-profit agency and a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) in the healthcare and hospitality industries.

Lisa has a Bachelor’s degree in Management Science with a concentration in Accounting & Information Systems from Lock Haven University and a Master of Health Administration degree from The Pennsylvania State University.

Lisa negotiates subawards for the following units:

• Earth and Mineral Sciences (A-H)
• VPR - Institutes of Energy and the Environment (IEE)

As an OSP contract negotiator, Lindsey reviews RFPs, processes gifts and grants, and negotiates contracts, subawards, NDAs, and modifications and amendments thereto. Lindsey currently serves on three committees within the Office of Sponsored Programs: the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Committee, the Federal Research Terms and Conditions Committee, and the OSP Diversity & Events Committee.  

Lindsey began her career at Penn State in 2006. Her early years were spent working as a Financial Assistant, entering Research Administration in 2018. Lindsey joined the Office of Sponsored Programs in 2020 as a Junior Negotiator and was subsequently promoted to full Negotiator.

Jamey began her career in OSP in 2019 as a Processor following completion of a research administration internship. She was promoted to Junior Negotiator in 2022 and to a Contracting Officer in 2023. In this role she reviews RFPs, processes gifts and grants, and negotiates contracts, subawards, and modifications thereto. Prior to working in the Office of Sponsored Programs, Jamey held positions in business management and banking.

Jamey also negotiates the following special agreements:

• Field Trial Agreements (AG)

As a Senior Contracting Officer, Karen is responsible for reviewing Requests for Proposals, processing gifts and grants, and negotiating contracts, subawards, and modifications thereto. She serves as co-chair of the Subaward Committee, co-chair of the Quality Assurance Committee, and is a member of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Committee. Karen is also presenter for Penn State’s ACES Certification and Education Series (ACES).

Karen joined the University in 2009 in the Office of Sponsored Programs before expanding her Research Administration experience as a Proposal and Award Generalist in the College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Engineering. She returned to OSP as a negotiator in 2016.

Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in Letters, Arts and Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University.

Karen negotiates subawards for the following business areas:

• Engineering (A-M)
• IST
• University Outreach

As a Senior Contracting Officer, JoZane reviews RFPs, processes gifts and grants, and negotiates contracts, subawards, and modifications thereto. JoZane joined the university in 1999 with the inception of the School of Information Sciences and Technology as a Staff Assistant to the Faculty. She transitioned to the IST Research Administration unit in 2003 and then joined the College of Agricultural Sciences Research Administration office in 2007. JoZane joined OSP as a Negotiator in 2015 and is now a Senior Contracting Officer. JoZane is a RACC Certified Research Administrator (CRA). JoZane has also taught Proposal Preparation for Penn State's ACOR Certification and Education Series (ACES).