I am Deputy Director of the Division of Neuroscience and Behavior at the the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). I've led and managed significant heath sciences research programs with a national and international reach. I steward a robust extramural research grant portfolio, encompassing studies into the neural and behavioral aspects of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), as well as associated chronic pain conditions, cognitive impairment, and recovery processes. I launched a preclinical AUD therapeutics discovery program responsible for pioneering work on GLP-1 agonists and ibudilast. I've also played pivotal roles in influential committees across NIH, which contributed to the strategic direction of initiatives in chronic pain and Covid-19 research. With a focus on operational excellence, I've led initiatives to enhance research grant administration, notably innovating solutions that significantly reduced administrative burden and errors in grant evaluation and payment. I studied psychology at the University of Minnesota with an emphasis on the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and Behavioral Pharmacology. At Vanderbilt University, I directed research on the impact of built environments on health, behavior, and quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities, research on adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome and developed a laboratory paradigm to measure hostile attributions in preschool children with a history of exposure to violence, abuse and neglect. I continue to be motivated by the profound impact NIH has on improving public health and seek opportunities to expand research and policy in the behavioral and health sciences sector. Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer.