Sharon Gibbs Cooper is Director of Research Transparency. She previously served as Senior Faculty Specialist for UMD’s Institute for Governmental Service and Research (IGSR). In her new role, she supports 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.