A familiar face within the WVU Office of Sponsored Programs will soon be leaving.
Katie Schneller will step down from her role as director later this month to be able to spend more time with family. Her last day at the University is Nov. 16.
Schneller has worked at OSP for more than 14 years, beginning as a pre-award grant specialist. She would go on to also serve as pre-award program coordinator and pre-award associate director before being named to lead the office in April 2022.
“This has been an immensely difficult decision for me, personally and professionally, but I do want to say that I have very much enjoyed building relationships with all of my WVU colleagues over the past 14 years,” she said. “I want to thank each one of you for your continued collaboration, and for all of the moments we have shared during my time at WVU.”
Katie Stores, associate vice president for finance, operations and research administration at the Research Office said Katie is a phenomenal human being. “Her knowledge, kindness, dedication and heart will be sorely missed,” she added. “She is a friend and colleague to all who know her, and we aim to maintain close ties as she explores new personal and professional opportunities.”
In the meantime, the Research Office is working diligently to identify an interim leader as the search for a permanent director is completed. An announcement of the interim leader is forthcoming.
The primary mission of the OSP is to provide support to the University community in the acquisition and administration of externally funded projects for research, teaching and service. The department consists of three sub-departments, which includes pre-award, award initiation and management and award negotiation.