The University of Maryland’s Division of Research has announced new operational innovation and integration roles and responsibilities for Pamela Lanford, Reka Monfort, and Sharon Gibbs Cooper.
Pamela Lanford Appointed Director of Research Operation, Innovation, Integration,and Policy
Pamela Lanford has been appointed as the new Director of Research Operations, Innovation, Integration, and Policy within the University of Maryland’s Division of Research.
In this new position, Lanford will serve as a central resource for integrating and streamlining processes across the Division of Research, with the aim of advancing the
effectiveness of the University's research enterprise within a framework of integrity and compliance. She will continue to provide oversight and direction of the University's animal research compliance program, and will serve as a key advisor on broader research policy and risk management.
As continuing Director of the Animal Research Compliance Office, she will oversee the activities of the Animal Care and Use Committee, ensure compliance with federal guidelines and regulations, and maintain continued accreditation with the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALACi). On behalf of the VPR, Lanford will engage with campus stakeholders to facilitate outreach, integration, and coordination of intra- and inter-institutional efforts concerning sponsored research initiatives and provide guidance and oversight regarding research facilities planning and instrumentation, including requirements for startup packages and grant proposals. She will advise UMD leaders concerning impacts of legislative actions and regulatory actions on policies, procedures, and compliance unit staffing levels, oversee the Research Support Oversight Committee, and advise the VPR on the activities of the Research Council.
Lanford has been affiliated with UMD for nearly 35 years, first as a graduate student and later as a faculty member. She completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Zoology in 1997, and, after post-doctoral work at Georgetown University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), she returned to the university in 2001 as instructor and coordinator in the biological sciences program and was appointed a member of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in 2008. Since 2010, she has served as program manager of the NSF-sponsored ADVANCE program, directed campus efforts to secure accreditation with AAALACi, served as Chair of the University Senate, and has held the position of IACUC administrator since 2014, providing regulatory support to UMD's investigators in biological and biomedical research. She holds professional distinction as a Certified Professional in IACUC Administration, is an ad hoc consultant to AAALACi, and has published and presented widely on issues related to the regulation of animal research regulation. Since stepping down from University Senate leadership in 2021, she has been Research Policy Advisor to the VPR and contributed to the crafting and/or revision of research-related policy.
Reka Montfort To Lead New Division of Research Office for AI Initiatives
A significant new component of the Division’s efforts toward operational innovation and integration is the establishment of the Division of Research Office for AI Initiatives. Reka Montfort, who has previously served as Director of Research Transparency and Outreach within the Division, will spearhead these efforts, providing strategic leadership in the Division for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across units, operations, and services. Montfort will develop a comprehensive AI Integration Strategic Plan for the Division, inventory and assess existing AI tools across campus, evaluate AI-driven solutions that advance equitable access and operational efficiency, and direct collaborative efforts with both on- and off-campus partners.
Montfort will continue to oversee the Division of Research’s policy review process, including the integration of AI tools into research policy analysis and review processes to enhance the identification, interpretation, and implementation of evolving federal, state, and institutional research regulation.
Montfort brings to this new initiative a depth of experience and knowledge from over 25 years at the University of Maryland. After completing her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology, Montfort joined the Department of Physics, where she ultimately rose to the position of Director of Faculty Affairs & External Relations, where, among other initiatives, developed and implemented an entirely electronic appointment, promotion, and tenure (APT) process, oversaw the hiring and promotion process for numerous tenured/tenure-track faculty, and developed web and intranet capabilities for the department. As Director of the University Senate, she oversaw the development and revision of over 500 legislative actions, including University-wide academic and administrative policies as well as numerous curricular revisions, task force activities, and other actions. In 2019, she moved all University Senate meeting operations to an online system, including implementing remote voting mechanisms, in less than a month, preserving institutional governance during the pandemic shutdown.
Sharon Gibbs Cooper Appointed Director of Research Transparency
Sharon Gibbs Cooper, who previously served as Senior Faculty Specialist for UMD’s Institute for Governmental Service and Research (IGSR), will serve in a new role within the Division of Research supporting the University and faculty with all research sponsor transparency-related requirements, in coordination with the Office of Research Administration, the Research Security Office, and the Disclosure Office.
In this new capacity, she will: help define transparency compliance requirements, such as current and pending and other outside support, conflict of interest, export control, and biographical sketches associated with federal funding applications; communicate transparency requirements to UMD leadership, faculty, administrators, and other stakeholders as appropriate; create and implement a training program for UMD personnel; and assist with audit transparency compliance, developing action plans and tools, and implementing changes. In her new position, Sharon will also identify opportunities for community engagement within College Park and across the State of Maryland, helping to develop relationships, plan, communicate, market, and execute projects and programs with stakeholders.
Prior to joining IGSR, Sharon served as the Director of Health Services for Health Right, Inc., and the Medicaid Managed Care Program Coordinator for the George Washington University Health Plan, where she helped develop policies and strategies to address systemic barriers. Her extensive management oversight experience includes federal and state compliance, talent development and training, patient advocacy, lobbying, women’s health, quality improvement, process reengineering, software implementation, and data analysis. Her public service career also encompasses advancing health equity and social justice at the community level. She serves on various local and county community advisory boards such as the Prince George’s County Health Equity Work Group, and Congressman Glen Ivey’s Reentry Advisory Board. Her volunteer experience also included serving as a federal grant reviewer for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Eye Institute (NEI). Sharon’s educational background includes a Doctor of Health Administration with a specialization in Health Care Quality and Analytics from Capella University, a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in Health Services Administration from the University of San Francisco, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration with an emphasis in Health Care Policy and Administration from the University of Southern California.