Staffing Changes in the Office of Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance Office (SPARC)

Assistant Vice President for Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance Kelly DelFattiKelly DelFatti, assistant vice president of Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance (SPARC), has announced her departure from Lewis & Clark. Kelly is leaving L&C to pursue an exciting new opportunity as senior grant program manager at Portland General Electric, as PGE works to leverage federal grants to support clean energy and manage costs.

Kelly has been instrumental in building L&C’s infrastructure related to grant proposal submission, grant administration, and research compliance. She started at L&C in 2002 and became L&C’s first sponsored projects officer in 2003. In 2019, Kelly was promoted to assistant vice president as SPARC’s role expanded to serving all three schools at L&C.

“Lewis & Clark is deeply indebted to Kelly for over two decades of commitment to our faculty and students,” said David Reese, the vice president responsible for SPARC. “She built the SPARC office into what it is today and has been instrumental in the success of countless students and faculty members. We wish her well as she takes on new challenges at PGE.”

Dean Bruce Suttmeier adds, “I have seen the incredible value Kelly has brought to many faculty members in their research endeavors and have myself benefited from her wisdom and hard work on my own grant submissions. She’s been the best of colleagues and will be greatly missed.”

Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Julia UnangstFortunately, Julia Unangst is able to step in as the interim assistant vice president of SPARC. Julia joined Foundation Relations and Strategic Philanthropy in the Advancement Office in October 2019. Julie works closely with faculty and staff at all three colleges to secure grant funding from private foundations and provides financial management on the College’s private grants. Before moving to Advancement, Julia worked in the SPARC Office for three years, beginning in October 2016. There she managed two large programmatic grants, engaged with research compliance activities, and assisted in the pre-award process. Julia also spent seven years as the director of summer sessions in the College of Arts and Sciences from 2008-2014. She received her BA in English Literature from the University of Arizona and her MA from Portland State University.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have somebody with Julia’s experience and skills able and excited to take on this role as we develop and implement a longer term transition plan,” Reese said.

In addition, on June 1, Nicole Brockway will join Julia and Jessica Sweeney in the SPARC office as a financial research administrator. Nicole is a familiar face on campus; she has been working as the microscopy (and research) technician in the Weissman Laboratory for nine years. She has a BS in Molecular Biology and worked at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Portland State University before coming to L&C in 2015. Nicole brings a variety of amazing skills and experience to the SPARC team, particularly with regard to post-award financial and research compliance activities.

In sharing her news with the campus, DelFatti said, “Even though I am excited about my new position, and know SPARC will be in great hands, I’m having a hard time imagining not coming to Lewis & Clark every day. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many amazing colleagues, many of whom have become friends, for so many years. Lewis & Clark is a really remarkable place, one that will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Julia’s appointment as interim VP of SPARC will begin May 20, and Kelly’s last day on campus is expected to be May 24. During this transition period, please use the team email, sponsres@lclark.edu, to enable SPARC to serve you most efficiently.