#  About ORA 

 



#  About ORA 

The Office of Research Administration enables the School's research and sponsored activity with expert, proactive, faculty-centered support across the full lifecycle of sponsored and research-related work. We reduce administrative burden and keep the School compliant, so faculty and principal investigators can focus on the research itself.

ORA is organized into three areas that report to the Chief Research Administration Officer:

- Research Management
- Research Development & Strategy
- Compliance and Risk Management

Most faculty work day to day with a single research portfolio manager, who can bring in colleagues from the other areas as a project needs them.



 

 

 

       ![Two Students walk the path in front of Nichols House](/sites/g/files/omnuum5546/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/2026-10/Hero_NicholsHouse001.jpg?itok=OZ3KnIUa) 

 

 



 

 



 

##  Chief Research Administration Officer 

 



  [### Tiffany Blackman

 ](/people/tiffany-blackman) [tiffany\_blackman@harvard.edu](mailto:tiffany_blackman@harvard.edu)Chief Research Administration Officer

 

 

 

      ![Headshot of Tiffany Blackman ](/sites/g/files/omnuum5546/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-10/TBB%20HEADSHOT%2010-2026.jpg?itok=CEIi_fnR) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

##  Research Management 

 



  [### Tiffany Cott

 ](/people/tiffany-cott) [tiffany\_cott@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:tiffany_cott@gse.harvard.edu)Director of Research Management

 

 

 

      ![Headshot of Tiffany Cott](/sites/g/files/omnuum5546/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-10/tiffany_cott_for%20website.jpg?itok=gKRMZaUe) 

 

 

 

   [### Brooke King-Harris

 ](/people/brooke-king-harris) [brooke\_king@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:brooke_king@gse.harvard.edu)Senior Research Portfolio Manager

 

 

 

 person 

 

   [### Meelynn Wong

 ](/people/meelynn-wong) [meelynn\_wong@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:meelynn_wong@gse.harvard.edu)Senior Research Portfolio Manager

 

 

 

      ![Headshot of Meelynn Wong](/sites/g/files/omnuum5546/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-10/Headshot%20M.Wong_.png?itok=8TZQb3Bm) 

 

 

 

   [### Nicole Routhier

 ](/people/nicole-routhier) [nicole\_routhier@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:nicole_routhier@gse.harvard.edu)Senior Research Portfolio Manager

 

 

 

 person 

 

   [### Eliza Xenakis

 ](/people/eliza-xenakis) [eliza\_xenakis@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:eliza_xenakis@gse.harvard.edu)Research Portfolio Manager

 

 

 

 person 

 

   [### Kevin Walsh

 ](/people/kevin-walsh) [kevin\_walsh@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:kevin_walsh@gse.harvard.edu)Research Portfolio Manager

 

 

 

      ![Headshot of Kevin Walsh](/sites/g/files/omnuum5546/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-10/kevinwalsh_headshot%20Oct%202026.jpg?itok=Qzq2mA1C) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

##  Research Development and Strategy 

 



  [### Faina Gould

 ](/people/faina-gould) [faina\_gould@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:faina_gould@gse.harvard.edu)Director of Research Development and Strategy

 

 

 

      ![Headshot of Faina Gould](/sites/g/files/omnuum5546/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-10/Headshot_Faina%20Gould.png?itok=K1mYKVyn) 

 

 

 

   [### Sunil Shakya

 ](/people/sunil-shakya) [sunil\_shakya@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:sunil_shakya@gse.harvard.edu)Operations and System Manager

 

 

 

      ![Headshot of Sunil shakya](/sites/g/files/omnuum5546/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-10/Sunil_shakya_Headshot.jpg?itok=WUXfptqk) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

##  Compliance and Risk Management 

 



  [### Irina Grigoryeva

 ](/people/irina-grigoryeva) [irina\_grigoryeva@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:irina_grigoryeva@gse.harvard.edu)Assistant Director, Compliance and Risk Management

 

 

 

      ![Headshot of Irina Grigoryeva](/sites/g/files/omnuum5546/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-10/Irina_Headshot_2.jpg?itok=sVkATChd) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

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##  Who to Contact and Where to Start 

When in doubt, start with your portfolio manager. They will bring in the right person.

SortIf you need help withStart withA proposal, budget, award, report, or closeout; service agreements under a grant; or other grant transactions

Your research portfolio manager

A data use agreement (DUA), NDA, or consulting and related services agreement

Chief Research Administration Officer or Assistant Director of Compliance & Risk Management

Finding funding or a limited submission

Director of Research Development & Strategy

International work, export controls, disclosures, or RECR

Assistant Director of Compliance & Risk Management

Submitting a new request or checking its status

Operations & Systems Manager, or the *ORA request form*

Your portfolio assignment or an unresolved issue

Director of Research Management

A School-level or policy matter

Chief Research Administration Officer