NICHELLE R EDWARDS
HE
MAIL
- 443.478.3975
Senior Grants Administrator
Professional Summary
Top-performing, detail-oriented, senior level manager, with more than 15 years of experience,
in all aspects of research administration, budget & fund development, review, set-up, and
tracking. All this, in fast-paced academic, medical school and non-profit settings. Boasting a
proven track record of consistently meeting sponsor/donor reporting deadlines. Having a
detailed knowledge of federal funding and the Office of Management and Budget processes and
all-inclusive circulars, including the A-133 audit process. Proven ability to succeed working both
independently and in group settings, having served in key leadership roles where responsibility
for annual reporting, compliance, and fiscal oversight outcomes has been critical. Possessing
the technical knowledge and hands-on experience to lead business efforts, which support donor
stewardship, research administration, departmental, and institutional guidelines by forming
strategic partnerships, and managing budgets and contracts. Serving as the key communicator
of critical research outcomes to staff and senior leadership, assisting in the improvement of
internal and external collaborations.
Areas of Expertise
Team Leadership
Staff management/team building
Customer Service oriented
Negotiations
Program Development
Public Speaking/Presentations
Critical Thinking
Electronic Proposal Submissions
Funding Allocation
Budgeting & Forecasting
Strategic Planning
Reporting Systems
Contract Agreements
Leadership training
Relationship Building
Exceptional interpersonal communication
Effective leader
Staff training/development
Consistently meet goals
Policy development
Fundraising
Deadline-oriented
Computer Skills: Microsoft Office, Power Point, ProposalCentral, DbExtra, Lawson, Banner,
Sharepoint, Commons, FastLane.
Professional Experience
Sr. Manager, Research Funding
08/2008 to 09/2015
American Cancer Society Atlanta, GA
Established and managed the Office of Special Funding, serving as the single point of contact
for peer reviewed applicants seeking support, prioritizing requests for funding along with the
NVPs office. Developing SOPs establishing best practices for oversight, review, tracking and
providing an audit trail of all research restricted funds received and awarded. Manage staff
during peer review process, reviewing and assessing project budgets. Interpreting, reviewing
and providing feedback as necessary on programmatic budgets. Effectively communicate with
diverse stakeholders across multiple departments/divisions increasing revenue and donor
stewardship. Improve partnerships with faculty and their respective institutions increasing
annual and final reporting outcomes, improving program evaluation utilizing detailed data
analysis techniques.
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Key Accomplishments:
Administered and developed streamlined processes in the area of special funding that
allowed for growth of future collaborations with major gifts staff and other fundraisers in
the field (nationwide)
Planned and executed electronic routing of special funding forms simplifying existing
processes
Developed a secure website (intranet) for transmittal of information between divisions
and Corporate Center
Developed queries for the dissemination of research data to senior leadership, board
members and other fundraising professionals
Increased/encouraged staff development and growth opportunities through professional
training programs, seminars, performance management and mentorship.
Program Coordinator
02/2008 to 07/2008
American Cancer Society Atlanta, GA
Oversight and administration of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) funding,
a collaborative initiative between ACS, Cancer Research UK (CRUK), and the Framework
Convention Alliance (FCA), a partnership formed to impact and reduce global tobacco growth
rates outside the continental US and the resulting Cancer pandemic. Served as the single point
of contact working with each NGO, applying for and receiving funding. Reviewing and
interpreting their eligibility to receive funding. Issued award funding working closely with legal,
monitored and maintained accountability of funding and reporting.
Key Accomplishments:
Facilitated and secured program project funding with the Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control grants advocacy program between non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and ACS
Procurement efforts resulted in $450,000 of funding throughout my tenure
Built and maintained working relationships with advocacy groups to positively impact the
effort to reduce the worldwide burden of smoking and its global impact on cancer rates
Spearheaded cross-functional initiatives to achieve the overarching goals of this
program of work
Trained, coached and mentored international program staff to ensure smooth
adoption of contract requirements and goals
Senior Grants & Contracts Development Officer (Asst. Director)
07/1997 to 12/2007
Spelman College Atlanta, GA
Provided leadership using extensive knowledge of grants and contract management rules and
regulations, technical expertise, and analytical skills to manage all federal funding. Serving as
the lead technical resource to all faculty and staff necessary to establish and implement
uniform grants administration policies (2 CFR 200), responding to complex compliance related
questions, advising on grants and contractual matters throughout the life cycle. Liaising with
program officials at federal and other agencies and reviewing pre-award, post-award, and subagreement documents for accuracy, consistency, and compliance. Signing and electronically
submitting proposals promptly. Served as the SME advising faculty on the budgeting and
proposal development process assisting them in constructing competitive submissions.
Responsible for the development and presentation of promotional materials to a variety of
N. Edwards - Page 3
faculty, staff and senior leadership, of which effectively moved the mission of the College
forward.
Key Accomplishments:
Increased research productivity by 350 percent to support growth of the Colleges
funding efforts
Assisted in procuring $8.8 million to establish and expand the Center for Biomedical and
Behavioral Research from the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities
Aided in procuring $5 million from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to
increase the number of minority women who hold Ph.D. degrees in biomedical research
by the creation of a teaching/learning environment
Served as the lead negotiator in procuring funding from the Morehouse School of
Medicine/NSF to establish a Health Careers Program to increase the pipeline of minority
doctors who go on to serve in underserved areas
Led negotiations with the National Science Foundation to provide the Atlanta Systemic
Initiative with more than $550,000 for a mentoring program for high school science and
math faculty and girls
Prior Work Experience -1994 to
Research Development Officer
1997
SUNY Health Science Center (Downstate Medical Center) Brooklyn, NY
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration/Master of Business Administration
(candidate):
Loyola University Chicago, IL
Risk Management
Organizational Diversity
Values-based leadership
Bachelor of Science: Computer Science/Accounting
New York University - New York, NY
Computer Science/Accounting
Coursework in Management Information Systems
Training
Leadership Certificate Program, Society of Research Administrators
The Conference for Women, SkillPath Seminars
How to Write a Competitive Contract Proposal, NCI/NIH Workshop
Contract Negotiation Program, Georgia Tech
What Matters Most Workshop, Franklin Covey
Grant Writing Workshop, QEM
Grantsmanship Workshop (Fundamentals/Research, Basic, Clinical), Morehouse
School of Medicine
N. Edwards - Page 4
Professional Affiliations & Volunteer Activities
National Association of Professional Women
National Council of University Research Administrators
Society of Research Administrators
National Grants Management Association
Panelist, Historical Contributions of Women and Their Inventions - Women's Inventors
Forum, National
Association of Business & Professional Women's Club, Inc.
Presenter, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Clark Atlanta University Graduate Student
Association
Senior Troop Leader, Girls Scouts of America
Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity
Staff Volunteer Lead, Making Strides Atlanta Pop-up Shop (outperforming shop 2014)
