Dr. Karin Scarpinato serves as Executive Vice President for Research and Professor of Biology at Kennesaw State University (KSU). A nationally recognized leader in research administration, Dr. Scarpinato has a longstanding commitment to advancing institutional research capacity, cultivating leadership, and promoting collaboration across the research community. She founded the national Women in Research networking group for Vice Presidents and Associate Vice Presidents for Research, creating a platform for professional exchange, mentorship, and the sharing of best practices. She also founded the Florida Research Development Alliance (Fl-RDA), serving as its inaugural president and establishing a statewide network dedicated to strengthening research development and institutional collaboration. Selected as an Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) Council on Research Leadership Fellow for the 2018–2020 cohort, she currently serves on the Council’s Executive Committee. Most recently, Dr. Scarpinato co-facilitated the “Senior Research Administrator Leadership Program” for the Society of Research Administrators International (SRA) and also participated in developing their LevelUp program. Prior to joining KSU, Dr. Scarpinato served as Senior Associate Vice President for Research at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where she provided leadership in strategic planning, research operations, and institutional research growth, contributing to FAU’s attainment of Carnegie R1 status. Previously, she held research leadership positions at the University of Miami, focusing on expanding extramural funding, strengthening research infrastructure, and enhancing institutional research capabilities. Before relocating to Florida in 2014, Dr. Scarpinato served at Georgia Southern University as Associate Dean for Faculty and Research and Associate Dean for Research-in-Residence. As a tenured Associate Professor of Biology, she maintained an active cancer research program while championing faculty scholarship, undergraduate research, and interdisciplinary initiatives. Earlier in her career, Dr. Scarpinato was an Associate Professor at Wake Forest University Medical School and Scientific Advisor to the Director of its Comprehensive Cancer Center. During her tenure, she co-directed a basic research program, secured competitive extramural funding, and contributed to the transformation of graduate education through the development of an interdisciplinary curriculum. Dr. Scarpinato’s current scholarly interests center on research administration, institutional research performance, and the application of data-driven approaches to improving research outcomes. Her work includes publications in research administration and a particular emphasis on organizational effectiveness, operational excellence, and emerging technologies. A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, she integrates process improvement methodologies into research administration to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and institutional performance. She also holds a certificate in AI Strategy and Leadership: Driving Data and Organizational Transformation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), reflecting her commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to advance the research enterprise.