Wendy Eckert Email & Phone Number

Johnson City, Tn, Us

Johnson City, Tn, Us

* Work in partnership with the VP Research and campus leaders to expand ETSU research capabilities, gathering and analyzing data to inform decision-making and planning, identifying challenges and growth opportunities, developing signature programs, and planning and executing on financial, human, and infrastructure support to assure success.* Direct extramural sponsored activities for main and medical campuses, developing appropriate policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, sponsor guidelines, award terms and conditions, and institutional policies while striving to minimize administrative burden.* Direct administrative activities across the grant lifecycle, supporting faculty in identifying and securing funding, advising on legal and sponsor requirements, interpreting and applying award terms and conditions, negotiating contracts, reporting, program auditing, and balancing risks and benefits to making exceptions to standard policies to advance research and strategic goals.* Advise ETSU’s business office on sponsored projects compliance and fiscal management, consulting on F&A rate development, HERD reporting, financial audits, and regulatory requirements such as allowability of costs.* Implement InfoEd® eRA system, leading staff through ‘lean’ process mapping, directing system configuration to streamline workflow, designing forms to automate data collection and reporting, communicating change to the campus community, conducting testing and training for stakeholders, managing project tasks and deliverables.* Organize and host annual, regional Appalachian Student Research Forum to showcase 200+ undergraduate and graduate students’, medical residents’ and fellows’ research, securing venue and keynote speaker, arranging for catering, overseeing marketing and registration, assigning judges and distributing awards.

Orono, Me, Us

• Ensured UM compliance with federal laws pertaining to and impacting research, monitoring and staying current on state and federal laws and codes, interpreting and applying regulations and sponsor guidelines to develop policies, procedures and administrative guidance, serving as Authorized Institutional Official and Export Compliance Officer. • Increased interest in, and submissions to foundation sponsors, identifying, circulating and matching researchers to opportunities, liaising with program officers, coordinating grant-seeking activities across campus offices, running internal competitions, and reviewing and preparing proposals. • Reduced UM’s risk of non-compliance and audit findings, developing and delivering through varied media ongoing comprehensive grants management training, educating the research community on topics such as animal subjects and fiscal accountability, and integrating responsible conduct of research instruction into the graduate curriculum.• Improved office morale and efficiency, applying facilitation and mediation skills to open lines of communication and paths to collaboration, and employing LEAN analysis to assess current, and design and document new processes to streamline workflow and enhance customer service.• Enhanced the visibility of UM research, launching ORSP’s Annual Research Highlights, to bring research alive for the public and State Legislature, and designing and administering ORSP’s website with timely, comprehensive, accessible content referenced and used by other research universities and institutions across the U.S.

Orono, Me, Us

• Drove sound decision- and policy- making, advising, researching, analyzing and presenting data, writing reports and position papers, collaborating with and securing stakeholder buy-in to affect change.• Optimized fiscal resources to achieve strategic goals while fulfilling ongoing programmatic obligations, setting and measuring performance indicators, forecasting cash flows and outlays, and formulating spending plans to maximize returns on ≈$12M in state bond appropriations.• Insured viability of VPR units through multi-year budget curtailments by auditing operations and identifying synergies, proposing alternative structures such as recharge centers, and crafting incentives to retain faculty.• Improved office morale directing the VPR staffing and performance program, overseeing hiring and training, mentoring and providing professional development opportunities, and conducting teambuilding activities.

Orono, Me, Us

• Elevated accountability and increased transparency in accounting, and reporting utilization for State R&D bond appropriations, setting protocols to account for expenditures and establishing rubrics to measure returns on investment on criteria such as jobs created and grants leveraged.• Ensured sound management of ≈$4.4M in E&G and ≈$8M in bond appropriations, analyzing cash flow, prioritizing commitments, recommending timing of new initiatives and reallocation of funds, and successfully securing ‘unfunded’ salary and benefit increases during budget cuts.• Navigated fifteen research units smoothly through multi-year ERP transition, teaming up with Finance and HR to establish coding rules and position management, and to develop pre-launch workshops and ongoing training.

Orono, Me, Us

• Presented unified message serving as office spokesperson, distilling communications from, and articulating academic priorities and policies to the campus community. • Maintained integrity of academic affairs’ budgets of ≈$40M comprised of E&G, gift and endowment funds, reviewing and approving transactions, reconciling accounts, and directing the fiscal budgeting processes.• Implemented EVPP strategic projects such as the UM Diversity Initiative, leading teams in decision-making processes, setting objectives, resource allocations, timelines and milestones, and monitoring and evaluating methods and outcomes. • Assured EVPP conformity with labor laws, union contracts and university policies, reviewing and advising on personnel actions such as faculty promotions and tenures, investigating grievances, and arbitrating disputes.

Orono, Me, Us

- Ensured University compliance with EO/AA policies and federal and state non-discrimination laws in recruitment and hiring, monitoring and instructing committees on search processes, and reviewing recruitment and hiring documents.- Maintained client confidentiality and anonymity serving as a neutral third party in investigations of discrimination and sexual harassment complaints; interviewing clients and recommending resolutions.- Improved staff capabilities to access, generate, use and manage data, information and resources by procuring and maintaining office information systems.

• Transformed struggling small business into a thriving nationally recognized enterprise with three locations, founding a sailing school, establishing a yacht brokerage, and cultivating corporate partnerships with hotels, resorts and incentive travel companies.• Achieved A+ safety record serving 1200 plus customers annually, conducting customer background checks, vessel seaworthiness and safety inspections, implementing compliance and emergency protocols, and building collaborative relationships with U.S. Coast Guard, local fishing, and charter boat operators.• Ensured operational efficiency and continuity of business functions, planning and executing strategic directions, designing marketing plans and materials, reporting to investors, hiring and supervising personnel.

Master Of Science (M.S.), Resource Economics & Policy

B.S., Business Administration

Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies

Ged, Oh

Ged, Philippines