A message from Penny Gordon-Larsen, Vice Chancellor for Research
Dear colleagues,
I’m pleased to announce that Jessica Grant has been selected to serve as permanent director of the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science. Grant has served as interim director of the institute since June 2024 and was chosen through an external competitive hiring process conducted this spring. We are grateful to the campuswide committee of faculty and staff that helped lead this search.
Grant has expert knowledge, strong leadership skills, and contagious enthusiasm for the Institute’s mission. We are fortunate to benefit from her deep experience designing and managing social science research projects for federal and state government agencies, universities, private organizations, and foundations in previous roles.
As director, Grant will be responsible for overseeing research, outreach, and grant-development activities of the institute. She will continue to build strong, collaborative relationships with departments, schools, and other centers and institutes on campus, as well as institutions and organizations outside the University. Grant will also have primary responsibility for the day-to-day activities of the institute as well as representing Odum at inter-institutional and campus level meetings.
Prior to joining the Odum Institute, Grant worked within RTI International’s Survey Research Division for over 13 years, her most recent role being a research survey scientist and administrative manager in the Public Health and Clinical Research program. She has expertise in quantitative and qualitative modes of data collection and has worked extensively managing survey research projects for federal and state government agencies, universities, private organizations, and foundations.
Grant received an MA in sociology at Fayetteville State University while working as the survey research center coordinator at Fayetteville State’s Research Center for Health Disparities. She received a BA in sociology and women’s studies from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Grant has done an exceptional job in her role as interim director during a challenging time and we look forward to seeing what she will accomplish as Odum’s permanent leader. Her appointment was effective April 28.
Please join me in welcoming Jessica to this new role.