The Director of Research Initiatives works with the Vice President of Research to design strategies to advance awareness, relationships and collaborations to facilitate unique interdisciplinary research initiatives at Brown University.  The director does this through a strategic process that includes working with faculty in academic units, centers, programs and institutes to identify emerging interdisciplinary areas, convening key university and partner stakeholders to explore ideas, collaborations and opportunities to pursue new integrated research and education models, and building a roadmap to sustainability for approved areas.

As a writer and strategist, Kathleen spent over 20 years exploring collaborative models across disciplines, sectors and organizations to expand and diversify funding opportunities and shared infrastructure opportunities. Kathleen has mainly served in start-up roles in the university, non-profit, and corporate settings on Eastern, Midwestern, Southern and Western coasts. In her career, she has built a creative toolset that includes brand strategy and implementation, business development, online and offline marketing strategies, and private and public fundraising in a diverse array of environments including health, education, urban planning, cooking, and publications.