MARY ANN DEOM
Associate Director
Sponsored Programs
Office of the Vice President for Research
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: “I supervise all grants specialists and grants officers in the Office of Sponsored Programs. I’m also responsible for uniform application of policies and procedures, training OSP staff, monitoring and updating the OSP Web site, and developing and coordinating training for faculty and staff.
“I also maintain a caseload of about 290 proposals annually and am the university’s liaison for the Federal Demonstration Project. This is a cooperative initiative between federal agencies and institutions receiving federal funds to reduce administrative burdens associated with grants and contracts.”
TIME IN CURRENT POSITION: “I’ve been associate director since July 1, 2005, but have worked in sponsored programs since February 1999.”
A TYPICAL DAY: “There is no ‘typical day’ because every day brings new challenges. I might meet with investigators and departmental staff or solve agency and policy issues. Often I correspond with other agencies and colleges involved in various ways with sponsored programs to coordinate and initiate programs and grants.”
OTHER UGA EXPERIENCE: “Since coming to UGA, I worked at the University Health Center and the former Southeastern Center for Cognitive Research in the psychology department.”
MOST REWARDING PART OF MY JOB: “Grants getting funded, especially when I see how hard the principal investigators work to obtain external funding to support their research.Also, I love receiving positive feedback regarding my staff from the people they serve.”
MOST CHALLENGING PART OF MY JOB: “Managing my time and getting things done in a timely manner while still being available to faculty and OSP staff at a moment’s notice.”
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE: “Before moving to Georgia, I worked in retail management for Neiman Marcus in St. Louis. I experienced very interesting and exciting aspects of the fashion industry.”
IF I WASN’T DOING THIS JOB, I WOULD MOST LIKE TO: “Be involved in community service work, traveling or getting back into the fashion industry.”
OFF-THE-JOB INTERESTS: “I enjoy interior decorating, reading, tennis, cooking, and raising a teenage daughter.”
A BOOK I’D RECOMMEND TO OTHERS: John Adams by David McCullough.
FAVORITE MUSIC: “Classical. It’s good to listen to at work-a soothing and nice background when things are hectic around me.”
THE PERSON I MOST ADMIRE: “Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She was selfless until the day she died.”
THE ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME MOST ABOUT TODAY’S WORLD: “The state of the environment.”