Written by:
Karen B. Cotton MA, MS 

Manager- Research Marketing and Communication

The Office of Research, Innovation and Sponsored Programs (ORISP) and the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) collaborated to present the first Principal Investigator (PI) Boot Camp. 

Laurette Foster of CTE and Karen B. Cotton of ORISP planned the PI Bootcamp, which was three power-packed days of information on successful grantsmanship and exploring various ways of using technology and social media for research.  

Those attending participated in interactive lectures, panel discussions, directed readings, and small group sessions.  Sessions included on-campus proposal development resources such as research compliance, undergraduate research, export control, reading proposal solicitations, and the multitude of resources available at the John B. Coleman Library.

External professional speakers guided participants through the process of using social media to expand their circle of influence and for informing the world about the innovative research they are doing.    At the end of the three day PI Bootcamp, which was made possible by funding from Title III Federal Programs, most participants created a Twitter account and are ready to use social media as part of their goal of professional branding as researchers.  David Vuletich, from the Education Advisory Board (EAB) shared information on speaking to persons who are not subject matter experts to help them understand the importance of their research.

PVAMU Presenters included:
Cajetan M. Akujuobi, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Sponsored Programs
James Palmer, Interim Provost and  Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Awadh Binhazim, Associate Vice President of Research Administration
Grace Abolaji, Manager, Undergraduate Research
Donna Elmore-Cole, Office of Sponsored Programs
Kimberly Gay, Head of Reference, John B. Coleman Library
Crysta Mendes, Research Compliance/Export Control

External Presenters:
Natasha Turner – Community Relations Manager
Tolise Dailey University of Colorado- Boulder
Vanessa Wade, CEO-Connect the Dots PR
Dr. L. Crumpton-Young, VP – Tennessee State University
David Vuletich –  Education Advisory Board

PVAMU Success Panel included:
Yolander Youngblood – Biology
Mark Tschaepe – Philosophy
Ms. Tracey Moore – Digital Media Arts