People

Vice Provost for Research and Chief Innovation Officer

214-768-2856

nair@smu.edu

Dr. Sukumaran Nair is an SMU Distinguished Professor and the founding director of the AT&T Center for Virtualization at SMU. Along with these roles, he has a history of involvement across departments and programs. Namely, he is the founder of the cyber security program at SMU and chair of the computer science and engineering department from 2008-2016.

Dr. Nair's research interests include software-centric telecommunication networks, software-defined networks, virtualization technologies, trustworthy AI, and cyber security. He has published extensively in the area of high assurance computing and networking. His research has been supported through funds from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Security Agency (NSA), National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and various industry leaders including Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, CAE, IBM, AT&T, and Google. Some of his recent awards include the Dallas 500 award and CIO/CTO award for Outstanding Tech Advocate from the D CEO magazine, SMU Ford Research Fellowship, IBM faculty award, and the Distinguished University Citizen award.

He received his B.S. from the University of Kerala, India in 1984, his M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana in 1988 and 1990, respectively.

Grant Management Specialist

214-768-7832

acontreras@smu.edu

Adriana is an SMU Class of ’87 graduate and returned to SMU in 2023 as a Sr. Program Specialist for College Access managing eight federally funded grants. Today, Adriana is Grant Management Specialist supporting the Pre-Award phase of grants. Adriana is of the mindset that we should never stop learning. Before coming back to SMU, Adriana worked as a Grant Administrator for the American Heart Association. She spent 20 years as an Implementation Project Manager at several leading retirement plan providers in the US.

In her spare time Adriana spends time gardening, sewing, cooking, baking, and learning something new!

Contract Management Specialist

aazagramalo@smu.edu

An attorney by training, Albert has worked most recently on e-discovery and compliance for a Dallas-based company. His experience also includes working on commercial and intellectual property litigation at a leading Spanish law firm and lecturing at Spanish law schools. Albert holds an LL.M. from The University of Chicago and J.S.D, LL.M., and LL.B. degrees from Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. He is admitted to the California Bar and the New York Bar.

Albert looks forward to serving the SMU research community by providing timely solutions to administrative and contractual complexities and exploring contract management efficiencies.

Director of Sponsored Projects and Contracts

214-768-4708

angelitat@smu.edu

Angie joined the Office of Research and Innovation in September 2022 as the Director for Sponsored Projects and Contracts. In this role, she is working on building a sustainable research office for SMU that functions as a direct support-line for faculty pursuing sponsored program activities, promoting growth and development of the SMU research enterprise. Angie liaises with various institutional offices to assist in related matters and collaborates across campus to explore opportunities for continuous improvement. Angie has 20+ years of experience in research administration in various roles, most recently as the Executive Director for Sponsored Projects at the UNT Health Science Center. She has a bachelor’s in human biology from Texas Woman’s University and a master’s in biology from the University of Virginia.

Grants and Contracts Coordinator

214-768-2033

bmkendall@smu.edu

Brianna is a Brown University alumna with a B.A. in International Relations. As the Grants and Contracts Coordinator in the Office of Research of Innovation, Brianna serves as the first point of contact for SMU’s network of researchers and supports multi-departmental efforts to gain R1 classification. Prior to joining SMU, Brianna resided in Calabria, Italy as a Fulbright Scholar and English Teaching Assistant. She has a vested interest in human rights work and has held positions at the Washington Office on Latin America, International Rescue Committee of Dallas, and World Affairs Council of Dallas. As a published documentary filmmaker and independent researcher, Brianna believes that the development of multidisciplinary skills helps reinvest in and build communities.

Associate Director, Technology Transfer & Commercialization

214-768-6871

DMonkman@smu.edu

David Monkman joins SMU as the Associate Director of the Technology Transfer Office, with an extensive background in technological innovation, research commercialization, and educational program development. His experience spans over 20 years and more than 15 countries, where he has been pivotal in commercializing early-stage technologies, establishing financial and entrepreneurial structures, and spearheading major international projects. At the World Bank, David enhanced technology transfer and market adoption, and he played a key role in founding the Entrepreneurship Hub in Lesotho. His efforts with the Mastercard Foundation supported microfinancing for thousands of microenterprises in Kenya. David's academic journey includes a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from the University of Arizona and a Master of Science from the London School of Economics, specializing in patterns of economic growth.

Licensing Manager, Technology Transfer & Commercialization

214-768-6889

DEngel@smu.edu

Douglas Engel is a highly accomplished Solution Architect and Systems Engineer with a proven track record in the telecommunication industry. Holding a Master of Science in Advanced Data Analytics from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Doug has demonstrated a profound ability to innovate and lead in complex technological environments. His career, marked by international experience and a strong focus on network architectures and protocols, has seen him successfully engage in diverse roles, including development, delivery, optimization, and support of both wired and wireless IP networks and network subsystems. Doug's expertise extends to IT security and cloud environments, illustrating his versatile skill set in addressing modern technological challenges.

In his most recent role as the Senior Sales Engineer at Sandvine, Doug's work revolves around optimizing the network experience for mobile service providers, leveraging Sandvine's portfolio to enhance subscriber quality and reduce network infrastructure costs. Before joining Sandvine, Doug's role as a Consulting Engineer at Plixer, LLC, showcased his strengths as a Machine Learning and Deep Learning Subject Matter Expert. His earlier tenure at AT&T as a Principal Solution Architect underlined his strategic capabilities in product focus areas like Mobility Network Pre-Paid and Messaging Solutions. This role also emphasized his dedication to security, particularly in overseeing external vendor-hosted solutions. Doug's extensive professional journey is marked by significant contributions to companies like IXIA, Allot Communications, and Anritsu, where he consistently advanced network technologies and played a pivotal role in driving sales and customer satisfaction. His remarkable achievements reflect his proficiency in technical consulting, systems engineering, and sales support, making him an asset to any team and project.

Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost for Research and Chief Innovation Officer

214-768-4437

kolofsson@smu.edu

Kristina Olofsson is originally from the Republic of North Macedonia. She has a bachelor’s degree in criminology and security studies. Before moving to the US, she lived and worked in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, pursuing a career in business administration. She brings with her 10 years of experience working for international organizations. Kristina worked for the University of North Dakota, School of Medicine, and Health Sciences, providing a high level of administrative support for the VP for Health Affairs/Dean and the Dean’s office.

Kristina has a 3-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer dog named Duke. Away from work, she likes to read books and spend time outside with friends, hiking, or at dog parks. Fun facts about her: she is good at martial arts and has visited 14 countries.

Director of Technology Transfer

214-768-6412

marco@smu.edu

Dr. Marco Marchetti is a successful executive with a demonstrable history of development leadership and management success in fast-paced software development programs, through collaboration with multi-site, cross-functional teams and external partners, including development of patentable Intellectual Property. Well versed in requirements defining patentable IP and Claims structure to support the IP application.

Dr. Marchetti has worked at a major telecom company where he is co-inventor on several patents and supported patent litigations as an Expert Witness in that space. He has taught graduate courses in SMU’s computer science and engineering department and has co-authored several publications in telecom networks and enterprise security. Dr. Marchetti subsequently joined a French-based startup in the VoIP security space as Director of Professional Services and later moved to help create and commercialize a new business with a Canadian company leveraging Iridium’s two-way satellite data modem to provide a low-cost device offering safety and communication to National Park Rangers and other remote Loan Workers. Prior to joining SMU’s Office of Research and Innovation, Dr. Marchetti worked for a small Richardson-based company as Senior Program Manager responsible for delivery of various products in 4G and 5G, including the transition to Virtual and Container-based product development.

He received his B.A. from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and M.A. and Ph.D. from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

Director of Operations and Infrastructure

mmoua@smu.edu

Mary Moua is the Director of Operations and Infrastructure for the Office of Research and Innovation. Mary joins SMU from UT Southwestern, where she held a leadership position in the Department of Cell Biology as the Department Administrator. Previously, she served as the Assistant Director of the Center for Global Health - a World Health Organization Collaborating Center - in the Colorado School of Public Health located in Aurora, Colorado.

Mary has more than 16 years of experience working in a university setting and specializes in finance, budgeting, human resources, procurement, and grant management. She received her master’s degree in health services administration, with a certificate in health care quality and patient safety from Regis University, Colorado. Her growing involvement and leadership in academics align very closely with her commitment to the health and well-being of the community and nation.

Mary is excited to engage with SMU and its community. She is inspired daily by her husband and daughter. In her free time, she likes to cook, sew, read, volunteer, and enjoys the outdoors.

Director of Compliance

214-768-6428

mtravis@smu.edu

Mary Travis is the Research Compliance Director for the Office of Research and Innovation. Mary brings years of experience managing research regulatory programs involving human subjects, animal subjects, biosafety, and other research compliance areas. After serving as the Research Integrity Director at the University of Denver (DU) for eight years as well as in various director-level positions for a national hospital system, a nonprofit research center, and most recently an academic institution, Mary brings years of experience working with investigators to ensure that their research compliance is faultless and well documented. Over the last two years, Mary was directly involved in positioning DU to achieve an R1 classification in 2021.

Mary graduated from the University of Oregon with studies focused on education and public health, and she has worked in health and research for her entire professional career. She has been actively involved in developing innovative programs to improve processes but also believes in creating a collaborative relationship with investigators and establishing open communication to ensure success for SMU research compliance.

Research Compliance Administrator

214-768-6798

duarted@smu.edu

Danielle Duarte joined the Office of Research and Innovation in October 2023 as a Research Compliance Administrator. In her role, she manages compliance and administrative support across our research programs, ensuring the standards necessary for the success of research at SMU. With a B.S. in Healthcare Administration Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas, Danielle brings a unique blend of skills to her role. Prior to joining SMU, she served as a Marketing Coordinator, contributing to data-driven marketing strategies. Danielle also serves proudly in the U.S. Navy, holding the position of Medical Department Head for her expeditionary medical reserve unit, where she supports medical readiness.

Grant and Contract Management Specialist

214-768-6422

canguiano@smu.edu

Charisse is a graduate of SMU’s Dispute Resolution master’s program and values creating spaces for diversity and equity in education. She believes grants are a gateway into understanding culture, facilitating change and innovating for the future. Prior to her current role, she spent 3.5 years serving as the Senior Program Specialist. There, she managed grant operations for SMU’s federally funded TRIO programs serving first-generation and low-income students in the DFW Metroplex. Charisse left SMU and joined the UT Houston’s School of Public Health as the Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist for the Dallas campus. She enjoyed her time at UT and learned a lot regarding grant administration but is very excited to return to SMU and support the Road to R1 efforts with the amazing Research and Innovation team.

Grant and Contract Management Specialist

blyoung@smu.edu

Benisha is the Grants and Contracts Coordinator in the Office of Research and Innovation. She started at SMU in 2018 in the Office of Research and Graduate Studies. Benisha briefly worked as the Academic Operations Coordinator for the physics department prior to returning to the Office of Research and Innovation. She has held various positions at other higher education institutions including Testing Center Specialist, HR and Admissions Associate, Instructor, and College Recruiter. In 2015 Benisha obtained her master’s in adult and higher education with a concentration in student personnel from the University of Central Oklahoma. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, writing, playing video games, and woodworking. Benisha proudly serves as the Vice President of the SMU Black Faculty & Staff Association and a member of the Black Unity Forum.

Provost Faculty Fellow

214-768-6123

llipsmeyer@smu.edu

Dr. Lin Lin Lipsmeyer is Professor and Department Chair of Teaching and Learning in the SMU’s Simmons School of Education & Human Development. Prior to coming to SMU, Lin was Professor of Learning Technologies and Director of the Texas Center for Educational Technology at the University of North Texas. Lin received her doctorate in Instructional Technology and Media from Teachers College Columbia University.

Dr. Lin Lipsmeyer has conducted interdisciplinary research in learning sciences, cognition, and innovative technologies. Her research has resulted in over 110 scholarly publications including journal articles, books, and book chapters. In addition, she has been PI, Co-PI, or researcher on numerous NSF and foundation grants bridging learning sciences, artificial intelligence, and STEAM learning. Lin also serves as the Development Editor-in-Chief of one of the top journals in education and educational research, the Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D).