Society of Research Administrators International names Abby Guillory and Roxanna Lopez in ‘Future of the Field’ Recognition

By María González

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – OCT. 13, 2023 — The Division of Research at UTRGV is pleased to congratulate Abby Guillory, MLIS, CRA , Assistant Vice President for Research Enhancement, and Roxanna G. Lopez, MBA, MPA, CRA? , Research Integrity Manager, for their election as Future of the Field honorees by the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI).

SRAI's 'Future of the Field' recognition program aims to highlight emerging leaders in Research Administration who demonstrate leadership among their peers and institutions in innovative ways that advance the field.

Guillory expressed her gratitude, stating, "It is an honor to be nominated and recognized alongside such outstanding research administrators.”

“I am truly grateful to be part of this global community that empowers research administrators worldwide to facilitate groundbreaking discoveries and innovation," ?Guillory added.

Both Guillory and López were selected by a committee of their Research Administrator peers after the program received well over 100 nominations from around the globe. Applications were evaluated based on candidates' career history, demonstration of exceptional professional growth, and significant contributions to the advancement of Research Administration.

López expressed her gratitude for being selected as an SRAI Future of the Field Honoree and noted that this recognition marks one of her greatest accomplishments in her research administration career.

She remains committed to her role as a Research Integrity Manager, stating, "I’m committed to learning and growing in my current role, where I manage conflicts of interest in research and sponsored projects and promote a culture of research integrity.”

“Along this journey, my goal is to utilize my pre-award experience and newfound knowledge in research integrity to become a versatile research administrator and propel the research administration profession forward," López said.

Dr. Can (John) Saygin, Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College at UTRGV, offered his congratulations to Guillory and López, stating, “Abby and Roxanna play crucial roles within the Division of Research and UTRGV, elevating our research enterprise to new heights.”

He continued, "I extend my congratulations to them for this well-deserved recognition and commend their commitment and expertise in research administration, which have been crucial in driving us toward our Research Excellence destination goal."

The ‘Future of the Field’ honorees will be formally recognized at SRAI’s Annual Meeting tomorrow, on October 14, in Seattle, Washington.

About SRAI: The Society of Research Administrators International is the premier global research management society, providing education, professional development, and the latest comprehensive information about research management to professionals from over 40 countries. For more information, please visit www.srainternational.org/who-we-are.