“I was once accused of going into research so that I wouldn’t have to work with people,” says Nancy Koroloff, who may be one of the friendliest “people persons” you will ever meet. Fortunately, as Associate Vice Provost for Research and Sponsored Projects, she works with more people than almost anyone on campus while continuing to do research under two grants of her own. Though Nancy has excelled in her many leadership roles, at heart she will always be a student, a teacher, and a researcher; having been all of these since starting her career at Portland State in the mid 1970’s.

At age three, Anastasia Barron learned to swim in the Gulf of Corinth and hasn’t stopped traveling since. Though she was raised in NW Portland, she has gone to school in Greece, worked on a movie in North Carolina, lived in Los Angeles, and on two separate occasions has had pieces of luggage accidentally sent to Russia (though she herself has never been). Nowadays, Anastasia works as the Public Information Specialist for ORSP where she maintains the database and serves as the administrative assistant for the Human Subject Research Review Committee and the Faculty Development Committee. Anastasia can be found at the front desk on the 6th floor of the Unitus building, at least until her next adventure…

Kam Barron started at PSU in 2003 as a temp and joined ORSP's staff in 2006. In her current role as Information & Grant Specialist, Kam helps researchers to submit proposals electronically, assists with budget development for proposals, oversees internal processing of awards & contracts, and maintains the Research Administration website. Always seeking ways to reduce paper usage and to increase efficiency, Kam is working towards electronic research administration by developing online forms to streamline internal processes. During non-business hours, you can find Kam exploring Oregon's backcountry with her canine companion, Max. In the case of inclement weather, Portland's pubs provide an excellent source of shelter and nourishing microbrews.

“My goal is to help research teams achieve their goals of maximizing the use of PSU innovation, by helping researchers strategically manage research to develop relationships necessary to transfer knowledge out of PSU to users” says Dana Bostrom, who in August 2007 joined Portland State as the Director of Innovation & Industry Alliances in ORSP. Dana also works extensively with the Portland State Business Accelerator, to help new, local businesses succeed. She has the heart of a true Northwesterner and has in her personal collection a piece of the Kingdome and ash from the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption.

Since September 2002, Anisa Chisti has been a Grant Accountant in the Office of Research Accounting where she is responsible for the Centers and Institutes on campus and the coordination and maintenance of the PSU Personnel Activity Reports. While it’s true that Anisa is a fabulous accountant, she’s an even better cook and has taught private cooking classes in Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Where do I sign up?

Jeremy Dalton started at Portland State as a Temporary Office Specialist in the Business Affairs Directors Office (BAO). After stops in Finance & Administration and University Relations he joined the new Innovation & Industry Alliances team in ORSP in January as the Industry & Communication Liaison. He is responsible for managing the Intellectual Property Database and works to connect PSU researchers with possible funding, licensing and opportunities for collaboration in both the public and private sector. He also works extensively on internal and external communications pertaining to research at Portland State. Previous stops along the path that brought Jeremy to Portland include being a probation officer for Salt Lake County and a ballroom dance instructor on Catalina Island.

Tina Frost joined ORSP in October 2006.  She has a BA in mathematics from Reed College and MS in Urban & Public Affairs from Carnegie-Mellon University.  She has managed a skid row organization and led a statewide network of non-profit groups working to end domestic and sexual violence. Tina has also worked in public transit, writing and managing grants for TriMet, and assisting transit agencies in Oregon, Washington and Alaska through the Federal Transit Administration. Tina enjoys hiking and playing the bass, fortunately not at the same time.

Cathleen Gal came to Portland State in 1988 as a student worker in Electrical & Computer Engineering. As a PSU student, she once represented the United States at an international collegiate Model United Nations conference, and received her BA in History in 1991. Now days, Cathleen serves as the Compliance Coordinator where she assists PSU researchers in minimizing the risks associated with their research involving human subjects, animals, radiation, chemicals, lasers… you get the idea.

Craig Haynes started working at Portland State as a student worker in the Office of Finance & Administration in June 2005. After receiving his BS in Accounting he joined RA as a Research Accountant where he works with budgets, audit effort reports, A/R reconciliation, compliance, and reports to granting agencies. While Craig enjoys running (he was a short distance phenom in his youth) he would just as soon sit on his couch and watch his favorite English football club Arsenal run around on the screen instead, or even spend the afternoon in his garden.

This Fall, Bill Helsley will celebrate his tenth year at PSU. Currently he serves as ORSP's Lead Grant Specialist. Also, Bill is an alumnus who earned a BS in Accounting. Having worked in both pre-award and post-award offices, Bill is the "go-to guy" for Research Administration at PSU. In addition to helping faculty with grant proposals, he also helps Oregon's wildlife. He is a Falconer and holds an Oregon Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit for Raptors, Reptiles & Amphibians.

Martha Kierstead came to PSU when the contracting position was created in ORSP in 1998, in what has proven to be a busy and productive decade in the PSU research community. As the Lead Contract Officer, she manages the workflow of the research contracts team.  She drafts and negotiates research contracts with a wide variety of sponsors and subcontractors - large and small, private and public.  After graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in Art History, she managed an art gallery, and was the Marketing Director for the Eugene Symphony.  Gardening is her preferred form of therapy.  Her most recent class, though not at PSU, was an introduction to Italian.  Ciao!

Few people on campus know the changes Portland State has gone through better than Alan Kolibaba, whose first staff position was as a cashier in Neuberger Hall in 1977 and received his Bachelor’s in Speech Communication shortly thereafter. Alan is now the Assistant Vice Provost for Research Services where he helps administer interdisciplinary research centers and institutes, including multi-year, multi-institutional projects in nanotechnology, transportation, and sustainability. He is also working hard to implement electronic Research Administration (eRA) at PSU. With his signature mustache, irreplaceable institutional knowledge, and love for English, Irish and Scottish country dancing, Alan has endeared himself as a definitive “go-to” person for many around PSU.

Diane Mikkelson first came to PSU as a student, completing her BA in History in 1979. After spending several years travelling with opera and theater companies as a theatrical make-up artist, she returned to Portland State in December of 1992 to work at the Regional Research Institute (RRI). Being a seasoned veteran of the dramatic arts proved invaluable in preparing her for the daily theatrics involved in her current position as Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, Bill Feyerherm.

It’s folks like Wanda Packard that make Portland State such a great place to work. She started in Auxiliary Accounting in 1982, joined Departmental Accounting in 1994, and has been with Research Accounting since 2000 as a Fiscal Coordinator where she “tries to coordinate all those rowdy little fiscals that run around this place.” When asked about her experience herding sheep with her dogs, Wanda replies, “Actually my dogs have herded sheep with virtually no assistance from me but they let me come along.”

Joan Ribeiro joined RA as a Grant Accountant in October 2004 where she is responsible for expenditure/revenue/compliance monitoring, preparation and submission of periodically required financial reports and schedules, and the ever present “other duties as assigned” function. She loves spending time outdoors, and she enjoys watching – not being in – a good rodeo.

Grace Siegel has lived and worked in places as far away as Montreal and France, which makes us all the more fortunate to have her working as a Grant Accountant here at Portland State where she has been monitoring grant expenditures, revenue and compliance and preparing financial reports for the office of Research Accounting since September 27, 2004.

Shirley Thompson has been with Research Accounting since March of 1997. As Accounting Technician, her activities include reviewing travel reimbursements and invoices related to Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) and subcontracts, and expertly navigating her way through everyone’s favorite PSU Viking, our dear friend Banner. During her time here Shirley has taken 3 classes at Portland State: two Accounting classes and one tennis class.

Karen Thomson started in ORSP September of 2006. Prior to joining ORSP, she was a corporate attorney at a local high tech company. She has a BS with Honors from PSU and a JD from Lewis and Clark Law School. Karen is one of three contract officers in ORSP. She works with sponsors and subcontractors drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements relating to research. She also serves on the Copyright Working Committee. Karen is one of those rare breeds, a native Oregonian. She was born in Prineville and grew up in the Medford area. At least once a year she returns with her husband and son to her Central Oregon roots to smell the sagebrush, visit the owls at the High Desert Museum and ride horses.

Since April 2005, Colyn Ward has been an indispensable part of Research Operations at Portland State in her role as RA Office Specialist. She sets up new awards, processes stipend payments and student tuition credits, and helps keep the lines of communication open between the Research offices and countless other units all over campus. Be sure to say “hi” next time you see her smiling face around campus.