Meet the Team
Leadership
Krista Harnish
Senior Director
Kim Caroline
Pre-Award Manager
Contact Information
Phone: 470-451-8741
Email: kcaroli@emory.edu
Biography
Kim has been with Emory since 2000. Before joining PEDS RAS in September 2018, she gained expertise in pre award research administration and management by working in the Office of Sponsored Programs, School of Medicine, Emory College, and Rollins School of Public Health. Kim has a bachelor’s degree in English from Arizona State University and paralegal certification in Georgia. She enjoys visiting art museums and galleries, interior design and gardening.
Alexis Kimbrough
Post-Award Manager
Contact Information
Michele Papotto
Navigator / Post-Award Manager
Contact Information
Phone: 470-453-7974
Email: mpapott@emory.edu
Biography
Michele joined the PEDS RAS team in December 2020 as a Post-Award Administrator III. Prior to joining RAS, Michele worked at the School of Law where she served as Sr. Program Coordinator for the Barton Child Law and Policy Center and the Turner Environmental Law Clinic since 2002. At Barton and Turner, Michele developed and managed their operational budgets and sponsored program portfolios as well as handling clinic operational duties.
Michele is a native of South Carolina where she attended Furman University. Following graduation, she traveled to New York City to complete her Master’s at Teachers College Columbia University. She met her husband, Frank, while at Columbia and began her teaching career on Long Island. After 8 years of snowstorms, they relocated to Georgia to be closer to family. Michele taught in Lagrange, Georgia, before pivoting to her new career at Emory University in 1998.
Shakita Copeland
Clinical Trials Team Manager
Contact Information
Email: shakita.copeland@emory.edu
Biography
Shakita received her Bachelor's degree in Speech Communications from Georgia State University and her Master’s in Health Service Administration from Central Michigan University. Shakita has worked at Emory University since 2018. In addition to her RAS experience, Shakita also worked in OCR as a Clinical Research Finance Manager. Prior to joining Emory University, Shakita had a successful career at the Emory Clinic.
Pre-Award
Deb Armstrong
Pre-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Phone: 470-451-1946
Email: debarmstrong@emory.edu
Biography
Deb brings over twenty-four years of experience managing budget development, grant preparation and submission in university and healthcare settings.
Milagros Benitez
Pre-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Phone: 470-453-5323
Email: milagros.benitez@emory.edu
Biography
Milagros has been with Emory since November 2016, when she joined PEDS RAS. Before Emory, she worked with AT&T in both Puerto Rico and Georgia as a Sales Compensation Analyst. She has vast administrative and financial experience, gained from working in banking, technology, and the federal government. Milagros has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Sacred Heart University, in San Juan, Puerto Rico and a Master’s degree in Finance and Administration, from InterAmerican University, also in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Dixie Curley
Pre-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Phone: 470-451-1558
Email: dixie.l.curley@emory.edu
Biography
Dixie comes to Emory from the University of West Georgia where she spent nine years working in research administration and human resources. Prior to that, Dixie spent ten years working in emergency medical services. Dixie completed her undergraduate studies at the University of West Georgia, earning a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and engaged in environmental justice research in graduate school, also at the University of West Georgia. She is currently studying for the certified research administrator examination. As a research administrator, she has coordinated grant submissions to federal, state, and private sponsors, participated in award/contract negotiations, and administered proposal development training. Like most research administrators, Dixie stumbled into the field unknowingly and has found a real passion in helping others shepherd their research through the grant process. Dixie volunteers as a pet therapy team with one of her dogs and in her free time, she enjoys crochet, travel, and her local arts/crafts community.
Rhonda Gibson
Pre-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Phone: 470-452-5618
Email: rhonda.gibson@emory.edu
Biography
Rhonda has worked in the PEDS Division as a Pre-Award administrator since 2018. Rhonda developed expertise in both industry and federal-sponsored proposal submission by working at Georgia Tech Research Corporation and Clayton State University. Outside her work responsibilities Rhonda enjoys spending time with family.
Sanja Jakupovic
Pre-Award Research Administrator II
Contact Information
Phone: 470-654-1773
Email: sanja.jakupovic@emory.edu
Biography
Sanja received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Kennesaw State University in Georgia. She has worked on the Pediatrics Pre-Award team since June of 2021. Outside of work, Sanja enjoys spending time with loved ones and gardening.
Candace McCloud
Pre-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Phone: 470-217-3807
Email: cmcclo3@emory.edu
Biography
Prior to joining PEDS RAS, Candace McCloud served as the Pre-Award Research Administrator for DOM RAS. She has been with Emory since 2016. From August 2016 to March 2020, Candace worked as a public health program associate for the Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast (RISE) at Emory School of Public Health. In this role, Candace assisted with qualitative and quantitative research, interdisciplinary project management, public health program implementation and dissemination around reproductive health. Her passion for research stems from her desire to make a positive impact on the scientific community. Candace earned her bachelor’s degree at Spelman College in Psychology with a minor in Public Health. After attending undergrad, she attended Morehouse School of Medicine where she received her Master’s of Public Health. Outside of work, she enjoys creating new memories with her daughter, traveling, and photography.
Angela McCoy
Pre-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Phone: 470-451-1650
Email: ammccoy@emory.edu
Biography
Angela is a graduate of Georgia State University. She started with Emory in 2006 at (Yerkes) Emory National Primate Research Center where her first grant/proposal experience was a center grant. She joined PEDS in 2019. She enjoys traveling.
Yolanda Verrett
Pre-Award Research Administrator I
Contact Information
Phone: 404-727-3036
Email: yolanda.verrett@emory.edu
Biography
Yolanda received her Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, in Industrial and Systems Engineering. Prior to joining Emory Yolanda worked fifteen plus years in various engineering roles. Yolanda joined the Department of Pediatrics as part of the Pre-Award Research Administrator team in October of 2021. Yolanda feels this may be her most rewarding position and is proud to contribute to the continued advances Emory makes in the pursuit of healthy children. Yolanda loves watching and attending sporting events, dancing, traveling, socializing with her book club, and spending quality time with her family.
Pre-Award Clinical Trials
Alicia Laake
Clinical Trials Pre-Award Administrator I
Contact Information
Email: alicia.laake@emory.edu
Biography
Alicia Laake is a Pre-Award Research Administrator in the School of Medicine at Emory University. She manages pre-award activities for an assigned portfolio within the Pediatric Research Administration Services unit using knowledge of Standard Operating Procedures related to pre-award functions. She advises Principal Investigators on budget adjustments and revisions necessary to meet the sponsor requirements. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Oakland University she proceeded to gain research administration experience through her various roles within a Pharmaceutical Company, a Clinical Research Organization, and at a non-profit Hospital. Alicia later joined Emory University with over 9 years of clinical research administration experience. Outside of her work responsibilities she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and continues an active role in volunteer opportunities offered through her children’s schools, clubs, and activities.
Jyotsna Saxena
Clinical Trials Pre-Award Administrator III
Contact Information
Phone: 470-453-2190
Email: jyotsna.saxena@emory.edu
Biography
Jyotsna received her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from University of Delhi, India. She worked for a Pharmaceutical company before joining Emory University. Her varied experience is in the departments of Budgeting, Product safety and Site management. The work involved developing relationships with sites and maintaining electronic Trial Master Files (eTMF) files as per protocol requirements for being always audit ready. She developed her skills in understanding details of the protocol, medical coding and completing forms to be submitted with extremely tight deadlines. She joined Emory University in 2019 and is responsible for developing and negotiating budgets for Industry funded Clinical Trials. Jyotsna enjoys Yoga and hiking in the mountains with her husband in free time.
Contessa Walker
Clinical Trials Pre-Award Administrator III
Contact Information
Phone: 470-451-8752
Email: contessa.davis@emory.edu
Biography
Contessa works closely with the clinical trials team on hundreds of proposed and active clinical trials. Contessa has been with PEDS RAS since 2021 and a part of the Emory family since 2016. She has experience as a research administrator as well as a clinical research coordinator. As a clinical research coordinator, she worked on several studies ranging from cardiovascular health to adolescent sexual health. As a grant administrator, she has managed a diverse portfolio including clinical trials, federally funded grants, fellowships, and foundations. Prior to joining Emory University, Contessa completed her undergraduate studies at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology. After undergrad she attended Morehouse School of Medicine where she attained her Master’s degree in Public Health and cultivated her passion for research and grant development.
Contessa is happily married to her husband of five years and they have two sweet boys. In Contessa’s free time she enjoys home DIY projects, working out, traveling, hosting family gatherings, and going to sporting events. Contessa loves the work that she does at Emory’s RAS department because she is passionate about the positive impact that research can have on the world. As a research administrator, she feels she has an opportunity to contribute to that positive impact by assisting investigators to successfully submit accurate budgeting for clinical trials and federally funded research proposals. She believes that it takes community effort to make real change in the nation’s health and is honored to contribute how she can in her role as a clinical trial specialist in PEDS RAS.
Post-Award Clinical Trials
Christopher Baca
Clinical Trials Post-Award Administrator II
Contact Information
Email: christopher.shawn.baca@emory.edu
Biography
Chris is currently pursuing a degree in Marketing at Georgia State University. This is his first role in the research administration industry as his previous career was in the petroleum and Gas Station industry. Throughout his previous career which spanned 15 years, Chris held a number of positions including Sales, Warehouse management, purchasing, accounting, and service manager. On his off time he enjoys playing volleyball, traveling, trying new breweries, and playing with their dog Milo! One thing that a lot of people don’t know about Chris is that he thoroughly enjoys watching pro wrestling and has been watching since he was two years old.
Merryl Billingsley
Clinical Trials Post-Award Administrator III
Contact Information
Email: merryl.edrice.billingsley@emory.edu
Biography
Merryl Billingsley is a seasoned research professional whose experience in clinical trials spans more than 25 years. Over the course of her career, she progressively gained experience in project management and grants administration working on complex federal and industry sponsored research awards. She launched her career in clinical research working in the section of Cerebrovascular Disease at Rush University Medical Center on studies focused on stroke, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Her efforts continued with programs at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine in the Center for Stroke Research supporting research in minority and special populations. She transitioned from academia joining Radiant Development, a full-service CRO. There as Senior Project Manager, she was responsible for the oversight and management of large multi-center clinical research and medical device trials.
Prior to joining, Emory University in 2022 Merryl was a member of a team of consultants that developed and implemented supplier development programming for corporations with initiatives to assist diverse suppliers. Outside of her professional endeavors, she actively participates in mentoring programs and initiatives aimed at empowering underrepresented individuals and promoting equal opportunities in the field of research. She is graduate of Clark Atlanta University.
Tina Horton
Clinical Trials Post-Award Administrator II
Contact Information
Email: tina.l.horton@emory.edu
Post-Award
Sheronda Anthony
Post-Award Research Administrator II
Contact Information
Email: sheronda.natrice.anthony@emory.edu
Biography
Sheronda is an accounting professional with over 20 years of finance and accounting experience. Her professional experience has been in state and local government, non-profit, and healthcare industries, all of which have allowed her to support communities through fiscal services. She earned her Bachelor of Accounting degree from Georgia State University, and her Master of Business Administration from Strayer University. Sheronda’s pastimes include dining out and being a year-round sports mom.
Robin Hite
Post-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Email: robin.hite@emory.edu
Biography
Originally from Indiana, Robin received her undergraduate degree with a double major in Music Business and Music Performance from DePauw University and graduate degree in Arts Administration from Indiana University Bloomington. Robin has over 30 years of experience in grant writing, management, and administration. Prior to joining Emory University in April 2023, Robin worked as a Senior Sponsored Programs Analyst in the Research Institute at AdventHealth Orlando. Other than living in Florida, Robin enjoys showing her dogs (Keeshonden) in AKC conformation events.
Kimberly Jones
Post-Award Research Administrator II
Contact Information
Email: kimberly.f.jones@emory.edu
Biography
Kimberly Jones is a financial professional with nearly two decades in various accounting and compliance roles. She has worked in corporate healthcare accounting and in government finance & compliance positions. Kimberly has a BA in Accounting from Clark Atlanta University and in 2019 obtained Master’s in forensic accounting from Rider University in NJ. Kimberly is a knowledgeable, detail-oriented leader who strives to strengthen client relationships. Kimberly enjoys going to parks, painting, and baking with her two children. Kimberly is excited to be part of Emory University Pediatric RAS family and is looking forward to Emory RAS professional development and bringing a compliance background to the team.
Leigh Moody
Post-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Email: leigh.goodson.moody@emory.edu
Biography
Leigh completed her undergraduate studies at Clemson University, and received her Master’s degree in Organizational Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Leigh started her research administration career in K12 education by administering large federal education grants in a school district in South Carolina. Prior to coming to Emory, Leigh was a Grants and Contracts Officer II in Georgia State University’s College of Education and Human Development. In her role in the Department of Learning Sciences, she gained valuable experience in federal and foundation grants and contracts, in addition to serving on the university’s Staff Council and department’s DEI Committee. Leigh is mom to two sons, ages 22 and 20. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen with all sorts of cuisines and exploring the city with her two very boisterous dogs.
Lydia Moore
Post-Award Research Administrator I
Contact Information
Email: lydia.r.moore@emory.edu
Biography
Lydia hales from Upstate New York, where she spent 9 years with the Office of Research and Project Administration at the University of Rochester, before relocating to Florida. While at the U of R, she was able to gain experience in grants, both pre- and post-award, as well as work hands on with MTAs, CDAs, and DUAs. She is passionate about research administration and is looking forward to managing her own portfolio within the RAS Pediatrics department. Besides working in research, Lydia is a freelance literary editor, with credentials from Berkeley. When not working or editing someone’s novel, Lydia enjoys baking, candy making, a good book, her pets, and the wildlife in her own backyard.
Teinelle Philpotts
Post-Award Administrator III
Contact Information
Email: teinelle.philpotts@emory.edu
Connie Rivers
Post-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Email: connie.rivers@emory.edu
Biography
Connie joined PEDS RAS in August 2020 as a Post-Award Research Administrator as part of the RADx Team. She is a graduate of Oglethorpe University, with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and completed her Master’s in Public Administration in February 2021 at Keller Graduate School of Management. Connie was interested in joining PEDS RAS because she saw an opportunity to utilize her grant management skills to assist those who are dedicated to providing medical care to infants and children, for they are our future. Connie’s hobbies include playing soccer, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Maurice Sanders
Post-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Phone: 470-453-9364
Email: maurice.sanders@emory.edu
Biography
Maurice received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from North Carolina Central University, as well as his Master’s in Public Administration from Bowie State University, in Maryland. Maurice has gained a wealth of experience in research administration in roles such as a Grants Specialist at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry, Fiscal Coordinator at Virginia Commonwealth University-Center on Human Needs, Staff Accountant- Dumbarton Oaks/Harvard University-Washington, DC, and as a Grant Accountant-Goodwill of North Georgia. Maurice joined Pediatrics RAS in June 2020. Outside of work, Maurice enjoys being an active member and co-captain of his tennis team as well as dining at the many Atlanta eateries.
Tinisha Scott
Post-Award Research Administrator II
Contact Information
Email: tinisha.lanae.scott@emory.edu
Biography
Tinisha received her Bachelor's degree in Public Policy from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, and her Master's degree in Public Administration from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia. Tinisha worked in Accounting and Finance for several Universities in Georgia for ten years before joining Emory's Research and Administrative Services Department of Pediatrics. At Emory, she developed her financial and analytical skills while being introduced to non-federal and federal-sponsored studies. Outside her work responsibilities, Tinisha enjoys traveling and making new memories with her daughter and family.
Shirley Taylor
Post-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Email: shirley.s.taylor@emory.edu
Nadia Williamson
Post-Award Research Administrator III
Contact Information
Email: nadia.williamson@emory.edu
Biography
Nadia Williamson is a dedicated and driven Research Administrator, Post Award III with 10 years of experience in grant management. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Georgia State University, and then went on to complete her MBA at the University of West Georgia. Nadia has worked in the Department of Pediatrics for two years and absolutely loves being an integral part of the research and science that Emory Professors execute daily . In this role, Nadia has been able to further develop immense knowledge in both industry and federal-sponsored studies. Nadia enjoys being social, outdoor activities, traveling, raising her children and anything beauty or fashion!