January 8, 2016
Research administrators receive certification
K-State boasts two new Certified Research Administrators, or CRAs: Mollie Hodge, grants and contracts administrator in PreAwards Services; and Roger McBride, assistant director of Sponsored Programs Accounting. Both obtained certifications in December 2015, bringing the total number of CRAs at K-State to 15. Certification requires applicants to meet educational and experience criteria and to pass an examination. They must be recertified every five years.
K-State's CRAs help researchers with all aspects of projects, including development and administration, research compliance, legal and regulatory requirements, budget development, facility management and sponsor interfaces and more.
Certifications are offered by the Research Administrators Certification Council, which was formed in 1993. Members of the council are committed to continuing improvement of research administration and to assisting in education and training of others and come from a variety of settings, including higher education, private business, research institutes and foundations, governmental organizations, hospitals and national professional organizations.
K-State has more CRAs than any other Kansas institution. K-State ranks fourth among Big 12 and fourth among 2025 peer institutions in the number of research administration professionals who have achieved certification.