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NIU’s Dara Little recognized for research administration excellence

October 22, 2015
Dara Little

Dara Little

The Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) has recognized NIU’s Dara Little with its Distinguished Faculty designation.

Little serves as NIU’s assistant vice president for research and sponsored programs. She was honored with the award earlier this month at the 2015 SRA International Annual Meeting in Las Vegas. Little was the only U.S. research administrator to receive the designation this year.

The designation is based on a competitive peer review process that assesses an individual’s original contributions to the field of research administration.

Distinguished Faculty members serve the society as expert consultants or speakers to present professional workshops, educational courses and professional development programs.

“NIU is very fortunate to have Dara on staff,” says Gerald Blazey, interim vice president of NIU’s Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships. “She brings a great deal of professionalism and progressiveness to the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships.”

Little is an accomplished research administrator with more than 15 years of progressive research administration experience in higher education. Her areas of responsibility include NIU Sponsored Programs Administration operations, policy guidance and development, as well as being an authorized institutional official.

Society of Research Administrators International logo“Dara has a proven record of accomplishment with supporting sponsored funding priorities by balancing compliance and administrative requirements with faculty research needs,” according to the awards story in the SRA International online newsletter.

SRA International is the premier global research management society providing education, professional development and the latest comprehensive information about research management to 4,500 members from more than 40 countries. The organization acknowledges individuals who inspire others and serve as a model for the profession of research administration.