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Aiding Research Activity a Major Commitment

Maria Blake recently left San Jose State University to join CSU, Chico's Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) staff as a development specialist. Maria is currently working with faculty in the Colleges of Agriculture and Behavioral and Social Sciences and with the School of Graduate, International, and Sponsored Programs. She holds a bachelor of science degree in zoology from UC, Davis.

While working for NASA at the Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Maria saw how much research requires the tenacity to pick oneself up after an unsuccessful funding submission or research project and try again. She also noted how much research needs to be a lifetime commitment that "feeds the soul," especially at institutions such as SJSU and CSU, Chico, where teaching and research often compete for time and resources.

Because of her various OSP experiences in accounts payable, systems administration, and development, Maria is able to see the whole process from proposal creation through management of the funded project. She views OSP staff as people who understand the rules under which funded researchers work, but who form a "partnership of problem solvers" to help faculty and staff accomplish their goals within those rules. Her love of the job comes from dealing with projects that are unique and challenging, and from helping researchers develop their ideas into successful projects.

Some development responsibilities have changed with Maria's arrival. Please note the following:

• Maria Blake's responsibilities in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences include the Departments of Child Development, Economics, Health and Community Services, Political Science, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Sociology and Social Work. She also works with the College of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Initiative.
• Juri Brilts continues to work with BSS faculty in the Departments of Anthropology and Geography as well as with the Colleges of Humanities and Fine Arts and Communication and Education, the Center for Economic Development, institution-wide initiatives, Information Resources, and Student Affairs.
• Bob Bakke's responsibilities are the College of Agriculture, the State Initiative, Faculty Development, and Continuing Education.
• Diane M. Johnson remains the development specialist for the Colleges of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology, Business, and Natural Sciences, and the Survey Research Center. She is also the training coordinator for the Office of Sponsored Programs.

Diane Johnson, Office of Sponsored Programs