The Florida Research Development Alliance (FL-RDA) consists of research development and research administration professionals from Florida universities, colleges, and other institutions engaged in research. Florida Alliance members share best practices for growing institutional research capacity and facilitate collaborations in order to foster multi- and interdisciplinary research efforts within the State of Florida.
Our Strategic Goal: Creating internal and external strategies to promote Research Development and related administrative activities that lead to further investment in Florida’s growing research enterprise.
History of the Florida Alliance
Innovation in higher education often emerges from unexpected places. For Florida’s colleges and universities, it began with informal lunch gatherings among research administrators from neighboring institutions. In 2016, Karin Scarpinato (founder and first president of the Florida Alliance) recognized the potential of these casual conversations and campus visits. She and her colleagues envisioned a more structured platform for collaboration, one that could extend beyond chance meetings. By leveraging their networks and inviting colleagues they met at conferences and across campuses, the group launched recurring phone calls as a grassroots effort, then known as the Florida Research Development Group (FRDG). Their vision was to bring together the collective expertise and resources of Florida’s higher education institutions to advance innovation in research, teaching, and community engagement.
In 2017, members convened their first large group meeting at the University of Central Florida to establish a shared mission of fostering collaboration and professional development among research development and administration professionals across the state. At this meeting, the inaugural executive committee (President, Vice President, Secretary) was elected, bylaws were adopted, and members voted to rename the organization the Florida Research Development Alliance (initially “FloRDA,” now “FL-RDA”). Since then, membership and institutional participation have steadily expanded. Based on the founding model, the Florida Alliance continues to host regular meetings with guest speakers and annual in-person conferences at member campuses, providing opportunities for professional development, knowledge sharing, campus tours, and networking to strengthen Florida’s research enterprise. From 2020 to 2022, conferences were held virtually to ensure broad participation during the shift to remote and hybrid work.
From 2022 to 2024, the Florida Alliance entered a period of new engagement, growth, and impact. In 2022, it launched virtual networking events for faculty researchers across the state, focusing on broad, Florida-relevant themes with strong potential for interdisciplinary collaboration (e.g., Space, Water). These events encouraged researchers to share interests and explore potential partnerships. That same year, the Florida Alliance was awarded an NSF Germination grant to develop a team science training program, pairing RD/RA members as “coaches” with research teams to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and best practices. Out of this training program came team science-informed activities, which are freely shared on the Florida Alliance site. In 2023, the Florida Alliance reimagined its annual member conference, shifting to a format centered on interactive sessions and member engagement. Also in that year, the Florida Alliance was the recipient of an NSF GRANTED convenings grant focused on growing access to the RD knowledgebase (report forthcoming). By 2024, it had expanded its influence beyond Florida, serving as a collaborator in the creation of similar networks in other states.
Through collaboration, innovation, and shared purpose, the Florida Alliance continues to shape the future of research development and higher education in Florida and beyond.
