Staff
If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please contact the Office of Research
Development and Strategic Initiatives at researchdev@kennesaw.edu.
Dr. Evelina Sterling
- Director of Research Development & Strategic Initiatives
- Associate Professor of Sociology
Email: esterlin@kennesaw.edu Phone: (470) 578-2268
-
Dr. Sterling became director of the Office of Research Development and Strategic Initiatives
in spring 2019 when the unit was created within the Office of Research. Dr. Sterling’s
main role is to support productive and engaged faculty and grow research at Kennesaw
State University through various programs and resources. Specific programs that Dr.
Sterling oversees include the OVPR Research/Scholarship Seed Grants, the Summer Research Fellows Program, the PI Academy, faculty learning communities around research, interdisciplinary
networking opportunities, grant-writing workshops, and new faculty initiatives.
Dr. Sterling joined KSU in 2014 after a 20+ year career as a public health researcher.
She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Georgia State University, a master’s degree in
public health from the Johns Hopkins University, and a B.S. degree in Biology from
Mary Washington College. She is also a master certified health education specialist
(MCHES).
Dr. Sterling’s expertise includes women’s and reproductive health, maternal and child
health, rural health, mental health, substance use disorders, chronic diseases, medical
ethics, and health equity. She has published dozens of articles on these topics as
well as co-authored six consumer health books. She currently has funding from the National Institutes of Health to focus on chronic disease self-management
among African- American men. She also just completed a grant-funded project from the Georgia Health Foundation to address the needs of pregnant women who use
opioids in rural North Georgia.
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Ms. Amanda DesLauriers
Email: adeslaur@kennesaw.edu Phone: (470) 578-3689
-
Ms. DesLauriers has worked in the Office of Research at Kennesaw State University
since 2017. She first served as a pre-award grants and contracts specialist in the
Office of Sponsored Programs Administration. In spring 2021, she began her tenure as assistant director in the Office of Research Development and Strategic Initiatives.
Ms. DesLauriers is responsible for guiding KSU faculty members through the proposal
development process as they pursue external funding for their research activities.
Among her duties, she disseminates funding information, performs outreach activities
to the campus, works with faculty to identify potential funding sources and develops
individualized strategic plans to obtain external funding. Ms. DesLauriers earned
a BA degree in History and French from Marquette University and an MA degree in History
from Western Michigan University.
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Mrs. Tamia McFarland
Email: tmcfar10@kennesaw.edu Phone: (470) 578-3650
-
Mrs. McFarland joined the Office of Research in 2021 as an administrative assistant
for the Office of Economic Development and Community Engagement and the Office of
Research Development and Strategic Initiatives. She has four years of administrative
experience, including organization and correspondence. Mrs. McFarland holds a Bachelor
of Business Administration in Management from Columbus State University. She is credited
with establishing a distinguished Air Force Junior Reserve Training Corps unit at
Jonesboro High School from 2011-2015. In April 2015, she was awarded the Air Force
Association Award for her efforts.
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