Clark named director of Sponsored Programs

By Susan Lang

Denise J. Clark, former assistant and associate director of Cornell's Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), has been named director of that office by Robert Richardson, vice provost for research. She assumed the new position Feb. 10,

Clark replaces Jack Lowe, who was named executive vice provost for research last spring and held both positions until Feb. 10.

"Denise is exceptionally well-qualified to represent Cornell and its faculty as the director," said Lowe. "She has the respect of her professional counterparts and really understands what the research enterprise is all about."

Clark came to Cornell in 1986 as an accounts coordinator for Statutory Finance and Business Services. She joined the staff of Sponsored Programs as a grant and contract officer in 1989, became the assistant director in 1994 and associate director in 1997. In her new position, Clark, who has a B.S. from Utica College of Syracuse University (1984), will direct OSP and provide a broad system of support to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and the research community at large.

OSP is responsible for facilitating the university's efforts in obtaining and administering sponsored projects by providing professional and administrative support to faculty and staff in their efforts to obtain external funding to support research and extension projects. OSP assists with proposal preparation and review for compliance with sponsor requirements, federal regulations and university policies. In addition, OSP negotiates and accepts awards, negotiates and approves subcontracts and acts as a liaison with the sponsors.

In fiscal year 1999, OSP submitted 1,875 proposals totaling $396 million. During the same period, the university received 1,643 awards totaling $249 million. In the same fiscal year, the university's research expenditures totaled $343 million. Sponsored research programs represent approximately 81 percent of all research expenditures at Cornell. OSP also maintains a resource service center in the university's Day Hall.