Our Staff

Ted directs the University’s program of grants and sponsored research and manages the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). He develops policies and procedures to ensure the University is in compliance with federal and state regulations. He represents the University in liaison with external funding agencies, and negotiates sponsored grant and contract agreements with federal and non-federal sponsors. He develops strategic plans, and implements programs to promote the continued growth of research and sponsored programs activities at the University. Prior to joining Montclair State in February 2012, Ted was the Associate Director of Pre-Award Services at Worcester Polytechnic Institute for seven years. Prior to WPI, Ted held administrative positions at Clark University and Harvard University Medical School. Ted earned a bachelor’s in Liberal Arts from Harvard University Extension School in 1993, and received a master’s in Public Administration from Suffolk University in 1998. Ted gained his “Certified Research Administrator” (CRA) designation in 2015. He is an active member of the National Council of University Research Administrators and has presented on various topics related to research administration regionally.

Catherine Bruno is the Post-Award Officer in the Office of Sponsored Programs at Montclair State University. In her role, Catherine assists faculty in managing their grants by providing guidance in all aspects of their award from reviewing award and contract agreements to coordinating final report submissions. She serves as the liaison to funding agencies on issues such as no-cost extensions and issues that require prior approval. She is responsible for the subaward process including drafting of subaward agreements to other institutions, review and negotiating of agreements from other institutions, and monitoring of subaward deadlines. Catherine also manages Montclair State’s Internal Awards process by preparing and distributing the guidelines and applications, providing support to the faculty serving on the University Committees and serving as the fiscal agent on the internal awards budgets. She also manages OSP’s operating budgets. Prior to joining the University in August 2008, she was the Manager of Grants and Services to Cultural Organizations at the Westchester Arts Council in White Plains, NY. There she managed eight grant programs that awarded over $2 million in grants annually and served as the liaison to cultural organizations providing technical and capacity-building assistance. During her career, she was also a Grant Assistant for the New Jersey Historical Commission, an agency in the New Jersey Department of State, assisting in the administration of more than $6 million in grants to historical organizations throughout New Jersey. Catherine earned an MBA from Monmouth University in 2004 and received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Administration from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 1998.

Kate Dorsett has been a member of the OSP team since February 2018. In her role as Sponsored Programs Administrator, she assists with various aspects of reporting and post-award administration. In addition, Kate coordinates Montclair State’s Internal Awards program by preparing and distributing the guidelines and applications, providing support to the University Research Committee, and managing and monitoring the internal awards budgets. Kate previously served as a Grants Specialist with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in Washington, D.C., where she managed a $2 million annual grant portfolio. Kate has a BA in Mathematics and Secondary Education and an MA in Higher Education Administration from Boston College.

Dana Natale is a Research Development Specialist for the Office of Sponsored Programs at Montclair State University. As such, she assists faculty interested in preparing competitive proposals to federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as foundations and corporations. In addition, she provides training to faculty and staff and acts as the liaison to funding agencies. Prior to joining the OSP, Dana spent four years supporting experiential education and campus-community partnership development at Montclair State University. As Assistant Director and Special Projects Coordinator for the Center for Community-Based Learning, she created a development plan and funding protocol, wrote grants, conducted research and coordinated a variety of campus-community partnership projects. Before coming to Montclair State, Dana worked in research coordination and development positions for a number of non-profit organizations and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Research projects that she has undertaken and assisted in have been published in High Plains Applied Anthropologist, Journal of Palliative Medicine, New England Journal of Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education. Dana holds an MA in Anthropology and a BA in Psychology.

Valerie Trupp is a Senior Pre-Award Officer for the Office of Sponsored Programs at Montclair State University. As a member of OSP’s Pre-Award team, she supports faculty in preparing competitive proposals to federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as foundations and corporations. Prior to joining Montclair State University, was Valerie was a Grant and Contract Specialist at Rutgers Newark. Valerie has over 25 years of grants experience with institutions of higher education including U.M.D.N.J., N.Y.U., and Rutgers. Valerie has a BFA in Theatre from the University of Utah, an MBA in Management from Keller Graduate School of Management, and earned a CRA from Research Administrators Certification Council.

Sam joined the Office of Sponsored Programs in August 2012. As a member of OSP’s Pre-Award team, he supports faculty in preparing competitive proposals to federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as foundations and corporations. In addition, he is responsible for the department’s many outreach efforts, to include the management and dissemination of grant funding opportunities; editing and publishing of OSP publications; management of OSP’s website and social media presence; and presenting at OSP trainings and events. Prior to joining ORP, he held positions in both publishing and accounting. Sam has a BA in English from Rutgers University.