Finance and accounting operations
10 grants management experts
These ten leaders have run grants management in-house, as directors of grants, sponsored programs or grant administration at the organizations that receive or award the funding. A reader can learn how organizations manage awards from application through compliance and closeout.
Professionals to explore
01—10Adrianne Fielding, MA
LinkedInExperience: Director of Grants and External Funding · AAMC
Director of Grants and External Funding at AAMC since May 2026, a role the profile says leads the centralized Grants Office and oversees all grant-related activities from pre-award through closeout. Former Director of Grants and Executive Operations (2023–2026), Director of Grants (2017–2023) and Grants Manager (2013–2017) at AAMC.
Ashley Blum
LinkedInExperience: Director of Grants and Compliance · Rewiring America
Director of Grants and Compliance at Rewiring America since January 2025, where the profile says this person leads development of the compliance infrastructure with a focus on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and monitors grant activities and expenditures. Former Organizational Director of Accounting Processes at YMCA of Greater San Francisco (2022–2025).
Christine Ragbir
LinkedInExperience: Director of Grant Accounting · Montclair State University
Director of Grant Accounting at Montclair State University since August 2022. Former Grant Accounting Manager there (2016–2022) and Senior Audit Associate at Grant Thornton (US) (2007–2011). The profile says the current role is responsible for the post award management of all Federal, State, and Private grants, contracts and subcontracts.
Cynthia Hope
LinkedInExperience: Director of Office for Sponsored Programs · The University of Alabama
Former Director of Office for Sponsored Programs (2004–2019) and Assistant Vice President for Research (2009–2019) at The University of Alabama, and Associate Vice President Research Administration at Georgia Institute of Technology (2022–2024). The profile describes over twenty-five years in higher education research administration, including fifteen years leading a combined sponsored projects office.
Jacque Li
LinkedInExperience: Director, Federal Grants & Contracts · Sponsored Programs Administration, Corewell Health (formerly Beaumont Health)
Director, Federal Grants & Contracts in Sponsored Programs Administration at Corewell Health since June 2021, a role the profile describes as the lead official overseeing federal and non-governmental grants and contracts and managing pre- and post-award activities. Former Manager, Federal Grants & Contracts at William Beaumont Hospital, Research Institute (2010–2021).
Julie Gunnell
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Federal Grants Pass-Through Operations · Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Senior Director, Federal Grants Pass-Through Operations at Boys & Girls Clubs of America since January 2011. The profile says this person manages the allocation and administration of over $50M in annual grant and sub-grant funding from the Department of Justice and leads a team of 14. Former Director, Federal Grants (2006–2011) there.
Kari Tetrault
LinkedInExperience: Director, Sponsored Projects · Institute for Systems Biology (ISB)
Director, Sponsored Projects at the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) since January 2025. Former Grants and Contracts Manager, Office of Sponsored Projects there (2016–2024) and Grants and Contracts Administrator at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (2010–2013). The profile says this person oversees the full lifecycle of sponsored projects, from proposal to closeout.
Maria Vergel
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director, Grants and Applied Research · University Health
Sr. Director, Grants and Applied Research at University Health since January 2015, and also listed as Director, Grants and Applied Research there since November 2010. Former Financial Analyst at University Health (2007–2009). The profile describes a special focus on oversight and compliance of sponsored programs and participation in audit reviews and responses from funding agencies.
Rupal Shah
LinkedInExperience: Director, Grants Management · Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
Director, Grants Management at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation since August 2024. Former Director, Operations, Research and Evaluation at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta (2022–2024) and Senior Grants Manager at The Colorado Health Foundation (2019–2022). The profile describes managing the entire grant lifecycle in grantmaking operations.
Shannon Kirkland
LinkedInExperience: Director, Contract and Grant Administration · NCQA
Director, Contract and Grant Administration at NCQA since March 2013, a role the profile says leads pre- and post-award administration for a growing portfolio of sponsored contracts and grants funded by federal, state, private foundation and commercial clients. Former Assistant Director, Contract & Grant Administration at NCQA (2011–2013).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's funding context to yours, since managing federal research awards at a university or hospital differs from running pass-through sub-grants at a nonprofit or making grants at a foundation. Also ask which stages they owned, such as proposals, post-award accounting, subawards or audits, because the job is split differently at each organization.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you divide pre-award and post-award work, and who owned compliance with funder rules?
- 02What systems and controls did you use to track spending against each award and catch problems before an audit?
- 03How did you work with program staff so that reporting to funders stayed accurate and on time?
Reaching grants management experts
How can I contact one of these grants management experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including AAMC, Rewiring America and Montclair State University, based on profile data retrieved on October 3, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach grants management experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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