Brianne joined UNM in 2008 as a student employee and has held various academic and staff positions within the university since that time where she was able to gain experience in finance, sponsored projects, human resources, and academics.  During her brief time away from UNM she worked as a Policy Analyst where she was able to gain experience and skills related to policy research, analysis, and development as well as contract review and negotiation, which adds value to her 4 years of directly related experience in OSP.   Brianne holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Criminology as well as a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of New Mexico.

Danai joined the Office of Sponsored Projects in January of 2024 as the Awards Team Supervisor.  Danai holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting.  She began her professional career as an Accountant in UNM HSC in Pediatrics, later transitioning to the Pre-Award team at HSC Sponsored Projects.  She went on to work as an auditor of Business and Film Credits for NM Taxation & Revenue, and was most recently a post-award accountant at Central New Mexico Community College.  Danai is passionate about building stable community resources and improving access to a variety of educational opportunities.  In her free time, Danai enjoys exploring a wide variety of artistic endeavors.

Miriam Sargent started her professional career in 2012 as a Financial Examiner for the U.S. State Department at the Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. In 2013, she relocated to Albuquerque to pursue undergraduate studies at UNM and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies, while dedicating herself to full-time work in face-paced environments.

She soon became the Director of Operations at Chick-fil-A, overseeing a diverse team of 85 employees and gaining invaluable experience in project management, inventory management, scheduling, food-safety protocols, mentoring directors, training, and onboarding. In 2022, after over a decade in the food industry, Miriam pivoted to explore research administration.

Amera joined the Office of Sponsored Projects in June of 2023 as a Sponsored Projects Specialist, Sr.  She has an MA and BA in English Language and Literature with honors from the University of Jordan, where she taught English Linguistics and Language and Communication skills at her alma mater as well as other accredited academic institutions, including a newly-minted university in Bahrain. There, she helped establish an English Department, produced various university publications, and served in committees including Quality Assurance and Students’ Affairs, successfully managing a diverse student body.

Her next rewarding career in translation, interpretation, and media analysis had her working for the U.S. Department of State and top businesses and NGOs, on topics including Fiscal Decentralization, Revenue Performance (Tax Administration and Policy), Budget Efficiency and Transparency, Risk Management, Fiscal Sustainability, and Structural Reforms.

Melissa joined UNM in 2005 as a student employee at the UNM Children’s Campus. During this time, she advanced to an administrative role as well as obtained her Bachelor of Science in Math Education, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and Master of Arts in Secondary Education. In 2013, she joined the College of Education, where she assisted teachers throughout the State of New Mexico with advancement in their education and career endeavors for 3 years. With experience working on grant-funded programs as well as overseeing financial aspects in both former UNM positions, she was hired with the Office of Sponsored Projects in 2016. Melissa initially was a proposal specialist, gaining experience in the research administrative arena with proposal submission and award setup. With a keen eye for detail, she joined the Contracts Team to best utilize her skills and excel in contract negotiation. She has advanced as a contract negotiator and now supervises the Contracts Team for OSP. She is also a Certified Research Administrator.

Shannon joined UNM in 2012 and has experience in both departmental and core office functions. She started at UNM as a student employee in the College of Education and Human Sciences and was hired on as staff in 2015 where she gained experience in academic advisement, understanding federal regulations pertaining to FERPA, and facilitating the University’s administrative policies through conducting internal audits of incoming freshman and transfer student course placements. In 2019, Shannon joined OSP as a Sponsored Projects Specialist on the Proposal Team where she gained additional compliance knowledge related to research administration. Now, as a Sr. Sponsored Projects Officer on the OSP Contracts Team, Shannon is able to synthesize her compliance experience and integrate her knowledge into the practice of contract review and negotiation. Shannon holds two degrees from UNM, a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management. Shannon is an out-of-state remote worker residing in Omaha, Nebraska, and although she no longer lives in the Land of Enchantment, she will always be a Lobo for life!

Matthew brings over 15 years of valuable work experience in operations within the private sector to his role at UNM. With a strong background in delivering exceptional customer service and overseeing efficient operations, Matthew is known for his optimistic management approach and ability to establish meaningful relationships with diverse stakeholders. His expertise encompasses a wide range of areas, including computer system integration, contract drafting and review, litigation logistics, contract management, compliance, negotiation, analytics, interpersonal skills, and business administration. In addition to holding a bachelor's degree from UNM, Matthew also possesses a NM State Bar Paralegal License, further enhancing his legal acumen and qualifications.

Manny began at UNM in 2009 as a marketing assistant student employee at the University Bookstore. He also worked as a Research Assistant and Project Assistant assigned to data management and educational programming focused on retention and support for undergraduate and graduate students. In late 2017, Manny returned to UNM as an undergraduate Academic Advisor for anthropology and history students through the College of Arts & Sciences. He transitioned to graduate academic advisement during the summer of 2021, focusing on graduate students in anthropology. Advisement prepared him to navigate university systems and communicate policies to stakeholders. Manny joined OSP’s Contracts Team in early 2024, where he applies his experience and skills into contract negotiation. He holds two degrees from UNM, a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology (Archaeology concentration) and Spanish, and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Management. He is currently working on a third degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre.