This administrative team, led by Audrey Kydd, consists of a core team of six highly-skilled, long-term tenured professionals who collaborate seamlessly to manage grants from pre- to post-award. While based in the Center for Gerontology & Healthcare Research, these individuals also support the Center for Long-Term Care Quality & Innovation. And while the total number of team members has not changed, the number of grants and faculty that they support continues to increase annually and now reflects $15M in annual funding supporting 38 researchers -- 250% more funding and 150% more researchers compared to 10 years ago. Last year, the team submitted 78 funding applications; they currently manage 140 active grant accounts.

Providing high-quality customer service to such a large number of researchers and funders requires incredible efficiency and attention to detail, as well as superb communication directly with faculty and when liaising with other offices in the School of Public Health and the University. Importantly, the processes that the team has in place ensure that internal and external funding agency deadlines are met with complete, accurate, and timely information. This is in part because the team functions as a cohesive, coordinated group with cross-training amongst individuals to provide seamless support, even when any one person has a competing deadline or is out of the office, and systems in place for everything from prompting researchers for needed information ahead of deadlines to processing invoices.

An outstanding example of the team's efficiency and success is the 2018 submission and 2019 execution of a U54 grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). At $53.4 million, this grant is not only the largest in the University's history, but it also resulted from an incredibly complex submission that included six working group cores (each with separate requirements and materials) and 37 subcontracts and consultants. Preparing this submission required sustained, coordinated effort throughout the summer of 2018, all while continuing to provide pre- and post-award management and support to numerous other researchers. The submission had no errors -- almost unheard of when submitting a grant using the NIH submission system -- and ultimately resulted in the University receiving this award, which will have a transformational effect on pragmatic research to improve care for people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

For the past 20 years, Dilania Inoa, ‘99, has quietly led the Swearer Center’s engagement in elementary schools, most intensively at the William D’Abate School in Olneyville, where she manages close to 200 Brown undergraduates who serve at the school each week. D’Abate is a K-5 school with just over 400 children. In 2016-17, 94% of D’Abate families qualified for free or reduced lunch and 39% received ESL or bilingual education. Yet, the school’s students typically score at or near the top of the district on reading and math standardized tests, in part due to Brown’s involvement.

The after-school program at D’Abate is free, open to all students, and enables parents to stay at work until 5:30. More than 200 D'Abate students in the program receive an afterschool snack, recess, homework help and academic and social-emotional experiences. Working in teams of three, Brown students develop creative, interactive and engaging after-school curricula that is aligned to the school day. They provide groups of no more than 18 D’Abate students with quality programming in math, science, English, social studies, visual and performing arts, chess, student council, soccer and more.

Dilania makes this all possible. She creates authentic relationships with students and families at D’Abate. Simultaneously, she builds deep mentoring relationships with Brown student volunteers, preparing them through multiple trainings to build lesson plans, develop classroom management skills, and understand the context of public education in Providence. Dilania goes above and beyond, serving on D’Abate’s School Improvement Team, attending Parent-Teacher Organization meetings, supporting teacher professional development and more. Last year, Dilania built new connections in Olneyville with a Spanish speaking community theater organization and One Neighborhood Builders. Beyond D’Abate, Dilania contributes to a stronger Providence, and has served on the Providence School Board and the RI Commission for National and Community Service.

Dilania has a natural ability to connect with people and graciously balances many relationships with her generous, caring, and kind nature, as well as her high standards. She is a trusted advisor to generations of Brown students. Dilania’s dedication to exceptional programming at D’Abate, combined with her compassion, have resulted in a highly regarded and valued partnership for the Swearer Center and Brown.

Each week,125 Brown students provide free, high quality afte school programming at D’Abate through a Swearer Center Community Corps group called BEAM - Brown Elementary Afterschool Mentoring. Another 60 Brown students provide in-class support to teachers through the Swearer Classroom Program.

Dilania is a highly respected link between the University and the Olneyville community. The school's principal often publicly remarks on the ways that the after-school program supports D’Abate’s academic and attendance goals. Under Dilania’s mentoring, Brown students gain deep self-awareness and cultural humility and D’Abate families have the opportunity to thrive.

Jamie is the leader I strive to be. As Department Manager, she leads a team in Theatre Arts and Performance Studies (TAPS) and does a phenomenal job of that. I’m not writing, however, to sing the praises of her department management skills, but rather her drive and ability to inspire her peers.

In the short time she has been at Brown, Jamie has done more for the University than many of us have done in a decade. In this crazy year, Jamie has taken on projects large and small to try to increase efficiency, build community, and make sense of the changing data that is flowing to us every day.

Jamie, with her great work ethic and keen mind, is often chosen to be part of pilot projects. Even though that means more work for her, she takes them on with full gusto to assist other departments. Most recently she was tapped to pilot the new budgeting request process, tasked with looking back at actual spending and predicting a huge array of activities, hiring, and spending for the next three years. She also generously alerted me to areas that might be more difficult and suggested solutions, saving me precious time and energy.

The value of having Jamie as a trusted, knowledgeable colleague is immeasurable. Through phone calls and emails, she’s helped me work out problems, follow correct procedures, and think through very complicated problems. I would be lost without her generous, funny, and kind presence on campus. I dare say that there are many other departments that would be almost as lost without her to turn to as well. I would love to reward her for those qualities that help us succeed behind the scenes.