The Research Administration Improvement Network

Help & Consultation

Lynn Cooil

Lynn has more than 20 years of university experience and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Most of her experience is in management at the departmental and college level, where among other duties she was responsible for project administration and assisting in the training of co-workers. Prior to coming to USF, she was employed at Vanderbilt University.

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Robin Lynn Jones

Robin has over 17 years of combined experience in the areas of Training Management and Instructional Systems Design. She has developed and delivered instructor-led and web-based training programs for USF faculty and staff on a variety of subjects, including Effort Reporting and PI Awareness and developed the online desk manual for central research administrative processes. Before retiring as US Central Command's, Command Training Manager, Robin received an Associate of Applied Science, Educational and Instructional Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. She co-facilitates the TRAIN Education and Training, Reporting and Department Business Process Standardization Workgroups.

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Elizabeth W. Foster

Elizabeth has 25 years of leadership experience in the field of adult education, professional development, curriculum design, and training delivery. Before joining USF, Elizabeth worked in the State of New York holding various professional positions at Health Research, Inc., the State University of New York Research Foundation, and Cornell University. She also successfully owned and operated a private consulting firm for the last 15 years, specializing in new and innovative training programs for health, human and social service professionals.

Elizabeth’s career achievements in the academic field include design, development and implementation of award winning, state-of-the-art training initiatives for the New York State workforce. She is a member of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Human Services from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh.

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Brenda J. Simmons

Brenda has held several professional positions in the private sector; she has worked at Salomon Brothers, Community Care Network, and Lockheed Martin where she has been involved in the training of her colleagues. Combined, she has over 14 years of experience working in the areas of finance, administration, and operations. Brenda worked as a Sponsored Research Administrator in the Division of Sponsored Research and prior to joining the DSR, she worked as a Grant & Contract Specialist at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Brenda’s research administration experience includes providing support to faculty and staff in grant proposal preparation and submission (electronic and paper). She has expertise in proposal development, budget preparation, project reconciliation, and expense analysis.

Brenda completed her Bachelor of Science degree (major Business Management) at the University of Phoenix (Tampa Campus) and Masters in Business Administration (concentration in Finance) at Argosy University.

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