SUNY ESF
Staff Directory

P: 315-470-6608
wjnichol@esf.edu

William J. Nicholson
Director of Sponsored Programs;
Acting Vice President for Research

As Director of Sponsored Programs, Bill coordinates and directs the activities of the technical staff of the Office of Research Programs. He assists the Vice President for Research with all phases of the administration of grants and contracts from sponsors external to the College. This includes general oversight responsibility for pre-award and post-award activities, including liaison with project directors, sponsoring agencies and organizations, and the Research Foundation of State University of New York. This position is central to the development of Memoranda of Understanding as well as finalization of contracts and grants.

P: 315-470-4877
lschwab@esf.edu

Lisa M. Schwabenbauer
Sponsored Programs Associate;
Interim Research Foundation Campus Operations Manager

As Sponsored Programs Associate, Lisa’s responsibilities include coordinating proposal submissions for a subset of the faculty that includes the Department of Sustainable Resources Management; the Adirondack Ecological Center; Administrative accounts including the McIntire-Stennis program; preparing expenditure and budget reports and assisting with post-award activity. Lisa also serves as the main point of contact for the new Pre-Award Compliance System (PACS).

P: 315-470-6707
sebenoit@esf.edu

Susan E. Benoit
Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs

As Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs, Sue’s responsibilities include coordinating proposal submissions for a subset of the faculty including members of the Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, as well as the Natural Heritage Program; training on pre- and post-award procedures; preparing expenditure and budget reports; assisting with post-award activity; award closeouts; project technical report monitoring; and maintaining and disseminating information on potential sponsors. 

P: 315-470-4873
kedwards@esf.edu

Kate Edwards
Sponsored Programs Associate

As Sponsored Programs Associate, Kate’s responsibilities include coordinating proposal submissions for a subset of the faculty that includes the Departments of Chemistry; Environmental Studies; Environmental Resources Engineering; Landscape Architecture; Chemical Engineering; ESF Open Academy; Office of Experiential Learning and Outreach; and Administrative accounts including Graduate Studies, Office of Sustainability, and Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity; preparing expenditure and budget reports and assisting with post-award activity.

P: 518-402-8949
fmmckinn@esf.edu

Fiona McKinney
Sponsored Programs Associate

As Sponsored Programs Associate, Fiona's responsibilities include coordinating proposal submissions for a subset of the faculty that includes the Natural Heritage Program; preparing expenditure and budget reports and assisting with post-award activity.

P: 518-402-8949
cliptak@esf.edu

Cheryl A. Liptak
Administrative Assistant

As Administrative Assistant, Cheryl assists with post-award tasks of reviewing and monitoring the close-outs of awards, and notifying the PI’s of award balances and reports due.  She is also responsible for monitoring the contracts and grants campus approval review process; sub-recipient monitoring; and tuition encumbering and charging. Cheryl assists with faculty RF Report Center and Conflict of Interest (COI) training. 

P: 315-470-6682

Anne R. Knapp
Clerical Specialist II

As Clerical Specialist II, Anne assists with many functions of the proposal process. This includes preparation and processing of a variety of required proposal forms including transmittal materials for faculty/project directors. Anne also provides assistance with post-award tasks, updating and revising data between ORP and Research Foundation database systems, tracking personnel and purchase order requisitions, forwarding monthly account statements, and assisting with sub-recipient monitoring and the effort reporting process (ECC).

P: 315-470-6606

TBD 
Senior Administrative Assistant

The Senior Administrative Assistant coordinates and supports all activities of the Vice President of Research, including the McIntire-Stennis Program, as well as coordination of research-oriented meetings and special events. (S)he also provides support to the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems and NYSTAR programs, and to the SUNY Center for Sustainable and Renewable Energy.

P: 315-470-4807
mstanton@esf.edu

Mary Anne Stanton
Administrative Assistant

P: 315-470-4739
phenson@esf.edu

Patricia Henson
Senior Clerical Specialist