FL‑RDA has become my go‑to resource for all things RD‑related. Just as importantly, FL‑RDA has fostered relationships that extend beyond the professional arena.
I advise new members to take full advantage of the monthly, regional, and annual meetings. These gatherings provide invaluable opportunities to make connections, exchange ideas, and learn how colleagues are navigating similar challenges. Over time, these relationships become your informal “RD advisory board” — a trusted network you can turn to for perspective, feedback, and support.
Winning two NSF grants, doubling our membership, tripling our sponsorships, being used as a model to guide other state and regional professional RA/RD networks…FL-RDA has come a long way in the last several years and is being recognized on the national stage.
FL-RDA’s strengths are emerging and standing out relative to other professional organizations. Though we are an RD-forward organization, our membership spans RD, RA, and other professional roles. We are developing a niche in the virtual faculty teaming and statewide interdisciplinary collaboration space. Our annual conference is not a series of presentations, but rather a series of discussions. Overall, we are collegial group of connectors well-placed across the state, ready to be tapped to grow the research enterprise.
Since being brought on board by Karin Scarpinato in 2016, I have truly valued the camaraderie, collaborative spirit, and meaningful connections I’ve experienced within FL-RDA from the very beginning.
What sets this group apart is its unwavering commitment to sharing knowledge—a quality that has been especially impactful for me as both a research administrator and a research development professional. In a field where professional development opportunities can often be costly, FL-RDA’s dedication to providing consistently accessible, free, or low-cost resources is remarkable and deeply appreciated. Ultimately, the energy and engagement we invest in this community come back to us many times over, and I remain profoundly grateful for all that FL-RDA continues to offer.
FL-RDA is the first and only professional organization I’ve been part of. Having served on the planning committee since the very first meeting has been both rewarding and exciting, and it’s been meaningful to grow alongside the organization over the years.
I’m proud of how much the organization has grown and the level of commitment it’s built over the past 10 years. It’s amazing to see FL-RDA evolve from just a small group with an idea to connect across Florida into a network of over 200 members with years of shared knowledge. Being part of that growth and seeing the impact along the way has been very rewarding.
I am most proud of the professional relationships that have developed across the state. Prior to the formation of this FL-RDA, many of these connections simply did not exist. Because of these relationships, we have been able to advance our collective ability to support faculty in ways that would not have been possible otherwise.
My advice to newer members is to get involved—serve on a committee and look for opportunities to add value. The strength of the organization depends on the engagement of its members
FL-RDA has been a meaningful part of my professional journey. It grew out of something very simple—informal lunches more than a decade ago with colleagues like Karin Scarpinato, Maureen Pelham, and others across South Florida who were navigating similar roles at their institutions. What started as a way to connect and share experiences became something much more impactful, thanks in large part to Karin’s leadership in bringing structure and expanding the group across the state.
What I’m most proud of is that FL-RDA has stayed true to its original spirit: collegial, generous, and grounded in a shared commitment to advancing research development. It’s been a pleasure to be part of that community.
What excites me most is that FL-RDA has outgrown its founders and that is exactly what it was supposed to do.
When I left the presidency and eventually left Florida, I honestly wondered whether the momentum would sustain. It has, and then some. The 2025 membership campaign doubling the organization’s size, the growing research administration contingent, the reach extending to institutions and professionals who never used the label “research development,” all of that tells me the founding instinct was right.
The future I am excited about is one where FL-RDA becomes the connective tissue for Florida’s entire research ecosystem, including the faculty, the administrators, and the institutional leaders who need each other to compete at the national level. That network is within reach. The infrastructure is already there.