The Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, Nancy Parker, has resigned, and an interim director has been named in her place.

Parker’s last day at WKU was April 1, according to the Office of Research and Creativity. When contacted for comment, Parker said that she was “in the midst of relocating to San Francisco,” and was unable to comment further.

Cheryl Davis, a biology professor, is currently serving as the interim associate provost for research and creative activity in the Office of Research. Davis said that the Office of Sponsored Programs is contained within the Office of Research, and when Parker resigned, she took the interim director position.

“On Sept. 1, I was named the interim associate provost for research and creative activity,” Davis said. “During this transition, I’ll also be serving as the interim director for the Office of Sponsored Programs.”

Davis said that Parker was relocating to San Francisco because her spouse took a job there, and that Parker was also seeking employment in San Francisco.

Davis also said that they hope to fill the position of director of sponsored programs sometime this summer.

“The plan would be to conduct a search using the normal channels to advertise a staff position,” Davis said. “We hope to search for someone this summer.”

According to their website, the Office of Sponsored Programs “encourages research, scholarly inquiry and creative activities by the faculty and staff through technically assisting in the acquisition of extramural funding.” Davis said that, more simply, the role of the office is to “assist faculty and staff in acquiring research and grants.”

“The director oversees a staff of currently six people,” Davis said. “The director supervises the staff and oversees the day to day activities. They also conduct workshops and training for faculty and staff.”

The director of sponsored programs is also the person that faculty and staff can contact in regard to federal, state and university policies for grants and research.

Davis said that she will continue to serve as a biology professor and interim associate provost for research and creativity at this time.