TTU - Key Persons
Adolfo has been employed as a Senior Safety Officer with EHS for 19 years. He currently serves in the Environmental Protection section where is primary responsibilities include ensuring university compliance to storm water regulations.
Alexandria was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas and has always been passionate about working with animals. She obtained her BS in Animal Science from Texas Tech University in December of 2022. She worked as a student assistant in the Animal Care Services Department from 2020-2022, and after graduating she joined the ACS team as a Lab Animal Attendant. Alexandria is currently in the Texas Tech STEM MBA Program and is set to graduate in December 2023. She has a cat named "Stellanova", a Mini Australian Shepherd named "Whiskey", and two chickens named "Elvis" and "Hermione". Alexandria takes great joy in her job and treats the animals under her care with compassion and respect.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President for Research, Responsible Research
Before joining Texas Tech in 2004, Dr. Young was professor of Psychology and of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University, where she served as associate dean for research and graduate programs in the College of Science. She is a former recipient of a NIDA Research Scientist Development Award, and her research and teaching focuses on behavioral pharmacology and applied cognitive psychology. Alice Young, Ph.D. is Associate Vice President for Research-Responsible Research in the Office of Research & Innovation and professor of psychological sciences at Texas Tech University and of pharmacology and neuroscience at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Young works with TTU Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and all TTU research compliance offices to develop programs in responsible conduct of research that support TTU research and scholarship.
Dr. Young received a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She earned a doctorate in experimental psychology from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and received postdoctoral training in pharmacology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Research Compliance Specialist
Alonzo, Marisol Research Compliance Specialist II Financial Conflict of Interest marisol.alonzo@ttu.edu (806) 834-1873
Amal Bouyanfif-Abidi serves as a Research Administrator I in the Office of Research Services. Her responsibilities include entering awards in ORS databases, drafting and processing awards, subawards, and amendments, confirming all compliance issues are completed, initiating extensions, and assembling award packets for Accounting Services. Amal also serves as the liaison between Texas Tech University and the awarding agency when any communication is needed.
Amal began working in the Office of Research Services in September 2022. Prior to joining ORS, she completed her PhD. in Plant and Soil Science at Texas Tech University in August 2019. Amal enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband Noureddine, their two sons Merwan and Nabil and their adorable dog Apollo.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President
- Assoc. Vice President, Office of Research Services
- Associate Vice President for Research
Amy Cook is an Associate Vice President for Research in the Office of Research and Innovation. She currently manages the Office of Research Services and administers special projects for the OR&I Division. Amy completed her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Texas Tech University in 1998 and received her Juris Doctor in 2002 from Texas Tech University School of Law. After a successful first career as a prosecutor and private practice attorney, Amy joined her alma mater in 2012. She is inspired daily by her husband and two sons.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Executive
- Executive Associate Office of Research & Innovation
Amy Mire serves as Executive Associate in the Office of Research & Innovation. She provides administrative support for the Associate Vice Presidents for Research as well as others within the department.
Amy joined the OR&I in September 2015 after working at the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library for five years. Prior to joining Texas Tech in 2010, Amy was a stay-at-home mother and substitute teacher. She earned her undergraduate degree in Anthropology with a minor in History from North Texas State University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Analyst for the Human Research Protection Program
- Senior Research Compliance Specialist
April Ortegon is a senior analyst for the Human Research Protection Program. She will educate the research community on IRB development, ethical conduct of human subject research, and federal regulations that govern the IRB. April will assist with pre and post reviews of the IRB.
Originally from El Paso, Texas, April received both her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Sociology and a Master of Arts in Sociology from Texas Tech University. Her research interests were secondary immigrant students and educational outcomes.
Previously, April worked as an analyst in Undergraduate Admissions for Texas Tech University. April has a passion for teaching and serving others, this is noted in her experience as an instructor for Women and Gender Studies, a teaching assistant for the Department of Sociology, and a tutor for the Marsha Sharp Center. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, volunteering for her church, and spending time with her fiancé and family.
Job Titles:
- Programmer Analyst
- Programmer Analyst IV
Aruna Gamanayake is a Programmer Analyst IV under Director of Programming for the Office of Research & Innovation. In this position, he is responsible for handling support requests for the institution web development and reporting applications. In addition he is responsible for ad hoc requests on generating comprehensive research reports for the university.
He earned his Masters in Computer and Information Science from Brooklyn College, City University of New York in 2012.
Prior to joining Texas Tech, Aruna worked as a Senior Developer for State Government projects and private sector organizations.
Ashley was born and raised in Rocky Point, Long Island, New York, and has always been pasionate animals since she was a little girl. Ashley grew up riding horses for over ten years. Ashley moved to Lubbock in the summer of 2018. Ashley and her husband Jeremy have 3 adorable dogs. They have 2 Dachshunds "Skooter" and "Wena" and an English Pointer named "Melody".
Job Titles:
- Dean 's Executive Associate
Job Titles:
- Ideation Program Manager Innovation Hub at Research Park
Job Titles:
- Program Director Research
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance
- Finance and Business Services
Job Titles:
- Senior Administrative Assistant
- Business Assistant
Bethany Wesner is Sr. Business Assistant in the Office of Research Services. She provides administrative support to the staff of the Office of Research Services. Bethany serves as an active public face for the ORS staff, completes travel applications, cares for office supply inventory, Cayuse, and answers general questions about office procedures.
Bethany began working in the Office of Research services in early 2022. Prior to joining ORS, she worked for the City of Lubbock. Bethany enjoys reading, taking part in church activities, and spending time with her family and two dogs Sissy and Sugar Bear.
Job Titles:
- Research Compliance Specialist I IACUC
Bianca Sasser was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas. She is a proud Texas Tech graduate twice over. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2013 and her M.A. in Sociology in 2015. Her thesis research centered around attitudes toward interracial dating and marriage. After graduation, she joined Operations Division Planning & Administration as a Space Planning Analyst. Most of her time was spent managing the Raider Rooms on campus. She later became a part of the Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering department as an Academic Administrative Coordinator. She worked specifically with graduate students in the program. Bianca is also an avid reader and enjoys true crime podcasts. She has one dog, a chihuahua-dachshund mix named "Rusty".
Job Titles:
- Registrar, Office of the Registrar
Job Titles:
- Unit Manager / Research Facilities
Job Titles:
- Manager Research Facilities
Job Titles:
- Lead Benefits Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Executive Director of Marketing Strategies Office of Research & Innovation
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Engagement Coordinator Research Park / Innovation Hub
Job Titles:
- Student Services
- Unit Assoc. Director
Job Titles:
- Senior Director Research Facilities Research Facilities
Job Titles:
- Senior Director
- Senior Director of GLEAMM
Dr. Argenis Bilbao is the Senior Director of GLEAMM. He has valuable experience in the areas of power systems, renewable energy sources, microgrids, power semiconductor devices, power electronics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML). He worked at the Sandia National Laboratory on data acquisition software for commercial scale wind turbine controls. In the area of power semiconductor devices, he has performed extensive research on ultra-high voltage silicon carbide power MOSFETs and IGBTs for the Department of Defense and Wolfspeed.
Job Titles:
- Senior Position Management Analyst
Job Titles:
- Assistant Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Director Office of Responsible Research
Job Titles:
- Department Chair
- Teacher Education Department
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Chief of Staff for the Vice President for Research Office of Research & Innovation
Job Titles:
- Programmer Analyst IV Office of Research & Innovation
Job Titles:
- Director, College Assessment and Accreditation
Job Titles:
- Senior Business Assistant
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator Office of Research & Innovation
Job Titles:
- Licensing Associate Office of Research Commercialization
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Vice President
Heppert, Joseph A. Vice President Office of Research & Innovation research.innovation@ttu.edu (806) 742-3904
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Senior Associate Vice President for Research, Horn Distinguished Professor Office of Research and Innovation
Job Titles:
- Lead Administrator Office of Research Development & Communication
Job Titles:
- Associate VP for IT & Chief Information Security Officer
Job Titles:
- Director, ORDC Office of Research Development and Communications
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President of Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Senior Licensing Associate Office of Research Commercialization
Dr. Heppert is currently Vice President for Research & Innovation at Texas Tech University. Previously, he served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Kansas (KU). He chaired the KU Chemistry Department from 2005-2009 and was the founding director of the University's Center for Science Education from 2001-2009. He is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society, and currently serves as chair the American Chemical Society's Committee on Budget and Finance.
Dr. Heppert's initial research focused on organo transition metal chemistry. This research resulted in the isolation and characterization of the first class of air stable terminal transition metal carbide compounds. Dr. Heppert has also been active in projects to improve science teaching and science teacher preparation. He is past chair of the American Chemical Society's Committee on Education. In this role he testified before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Science and the National Science Board on science education policy issues.
Dr. Heppert received a B.S. in Chemistry from San Jose State University in 1978, where he participated in heavy elements research at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He was awarded a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1982, studying under Donald Ganies. He completed postdoctoral training at Indiana University under the direction of Dr. Malcolm Chisholm. He joined the chemistry faculty KU in 1985 and moved to Texas Tech University in 2017.
Job Titles:
- Department Chair
- Special Education Department
Job Titles:
- Lead Position Management Analyst
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Development
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean for Academic Affairs ( ADAA )
Job Titles:
- Senior Training Specialist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Associate Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Office of Research & Innovation
Job Titles:
- Senior Training Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director, Responsible Conduct of Research
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Administrator
Job Titles:
- Lead Position Management Analyst
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President for Environmental Health and Safety, Environment Health and Safety
Job Titles:
- Talent Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Media Relations Coordinator Office of Research Development & Communications
Mire, Amy Executive Associate Office of Research & Innovation amy.mire@ttu.edu (806) 834-4929
Job Titles:
- Web & Social Media Manager
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Compliance Specialist Office of Human Research Protection Program
Porter, Charlie Lead Administrator GLEAMM charlie.porter@ttu.edu (806) 834-1358
Job Titles:
- Media Relations Coordinator Office of Research Development & Communications
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Compliance Specialist Office of Human Research Protection Program
Job Titles:
- Research Compliance Specialist I
She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas Tech University in 2000, and a Master of Science in Bioethics from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2022. Rebecca brings a variety of experience from her work in multiple industries including municipal, medical, non-profit, and transportation sectors. Recently retired from a management position in the airline industry, Rebecca was drawn back to her alma mater to combine her education and experience with her passion for compliance and research ethics. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, growing organic vegetables, and photography.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Admin. Business Assistant
Job Titles:
- Director, Strategic Research Intelligence Office of Research Development & Communications
Romo, Cui - Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Admin. Business Assistant
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean for Research and Faculty / Staff Development ( ADR )
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Intellectual Property Office of Research Commercialization
Job Titles:
- Lead Administrator Animal Care Services
Stonum, Paul Veterinarian Animal Care Services paul.b.stonum@ttu.edu (806) 834-7373
Job Titles:
- Senior Position Management Analyst
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Admin. Business Assistant
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Office of Research & Innovation
Job Titles:
- Media Relations Specialist
Job Titles:
- Senior Administrative Assistant
Job Titles:
- Senior Benefits Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Programmer Analyst IV Office of Research Services