By: Claire Quigle
Teresa Garringer, the Research Support Manager in the Grants and Research Services Center (GRSC), is committed to supporting research within the University of Iowa College of Education. In this position, she assists faculty and graduate students in navigating the grant submission process for federal, non-federal, and private foundation grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. She is also a certified research administrator.
Garringer’s dedication to supporting research was recently recognized when she received the Distinguished Research Administrator Award. Garringer received the award from the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Research. She was one of four people from the UI College of Education who received recognition.
This award recognizes staff members who perform exceptional service in support of research at the UI by exploring funding opportunities, assisting in grant proposal preparation, submission, post‐award administration, and operational support.
One nominator wrote, “Without Teresa’s extensive knowledge and expertise, as well as her tireless work, the COE would not be nearly as successful in obtaining grant funding, particularly the large, federal funds the COE has accrued over the years.”
The nominator went on to write that Teresa goes beyond the expectations of her job description to provide outstanding service. They wrote that her exceptional, direct work with researchers is the reason the UI College of Education faculty have been successful in securing external funding.
Garringer has been involved with research for 22 years. In 1999, she processed and monitored research testing for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in the Department of Pathology. She then transferred to the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Clinical Trials Support Core before coming to the GRSC office in 2004.
As the Research Support Manager, Garringer helps faculty understand all the regulatory and compliance issues for their applications. She helps to develop their budgets and complete required documents, as well as upload the proposals for submission. Garringer works with other institutions that are partnering with our faculty on proposals to ensure documents are correct and in compliance with the proposal requirements.
Another nominator wrote, “Teresa’s work directly influences faculty morale because they receive support and help with complicated budgets and deadlines which then improves their confidence in submitting grants. The impact Teresa has in this area is invaluable.”
One nominator wrote that Garringer's devotion to the preservation and enhancement of the UI’s research role and her outreach efforts contribute directly to the preparation of grant applications being ready for submission that is so critical to top-quality research. The nominator added that it is through her work in this sphere they have come to know and respect Garringer.
Garringer says she feels deeply honored to be nominated and then to receive the award.
“It is hard to put into words what I felt when I got the award," Garringer says. "I was ecstatic. I work with a lot of amazing faculty. They work really hard and have some brilliant research projects and I just really want to help them get funding. I really enjoy working with the faculty and feel that I am making a small impact in education,”