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Mario Medina

Institutional Programs Meet the Reviewers-Advisors Mario Medina

Mario Medina, PhD, CRA

Number of Years in Research Administration: 25

Institutions: University of Texas Health Sciences Center, University of Texas at San Antonio, East Carolina University and University of Kansas Medical Center

  

Mario R. Medina, Ph.D. currently serves as Director, Sponsored Programs Administration, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he is responsible for operations of the pre- ,post-Award and contracts administration .His previous experience includes managing in research, clinical, teaching and outreach in financial management portfolios of funds (Federal, State and Other sources). He has served in many leadership roles in the Administration of Sponsored Research at academic, research, and medical universities and at centers and institutes throughout his career.

He has been in research administration for more than 25 years. Has served as Senior Associate Director of the Office of Research Administration at East Carolina University (Central Administration Academic/Medical). He retired from the University of Texas’ Health Science Center at San Antonio as an Administrator at the Long School of Medicine, providing departmental leadership administering multiple departments, including Pharmacology and Cellular and Structural Anatomy and Neurosciences (Basic Sciences). He was the Director Research Administration (Central Administration) at the University of Texas at San Antonio (Academic). He has administratively led large (Clinical) programs in Psychiatry at the University of Texas -Medical School, as well as leading in the administration of drug research development in Pharmacology research projects while collaborating and supporting multiple departments at the Medical School. In this role he has overseen the financial and administration of Grants and Contracts, research programs throughout the campus (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Diabetes, Parkinson’s, Drug Addiction (Substance Abuse, Opioid Treatment) Psychiatric Disorders, Antidepressants, Aging Research) and primarily collaborating with multiple clinical departments throughout the University as well as the University Hospital and Veteran Affairs Hospital. He led staff by providing administrative guidance to Research Faculty in aspects of financial management of grants and contracts.

Mario has worked in the development of university strategic plans at leadership levels. He has led operational oversight for the administrative areas of Sponsored Programs, Finance, Human Resources, Payroll, Student Accounts, Campus Operations, Institutional Research, and Technology functions. His role has often been in leading management efforts that are responsive to the overall academic priorities and initiatives. His efforts have played a key role in developing effective strategies in building capacity in data management and finance operations. He has developed critical operational and financial policies, systems, and initiatives essential to creating an effective business model.

He has been elected and appointed on many committees / task forces as well as to the Board of Directors at the National Council of Research Administrators (NCURA).

Mario earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and his master’s degree in professional accountancy from Texas A&M University. Mario earned a PhD in leadership studies from the School of Business at Our Lady of the Lake University, successfully defending a research dissertation entitled “A Study of Authentic Leadership in the Relationship to Organizational Citizenship Behavior Among Research Administrators at Research Universities.” He is also a Certified Research Administrator.

Mario was elected National Treasurer for National Council of Research Administrators in 2011-2012. He was selected by Presidential appointment to serve on NCURA’s Board of Directors from 2017-2018. Mario was the recipient of the Julia Jacobsen Distinguished Service Award in 2018.