About Research Communications
The Office of Research Communications conveys the value of research conducted at Carolina to the university community, the citizens of North Carolina, and interested and invested parties across the nation and world. The office provides communication services to the Office of Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) and its administrative units, supports the communication efforts of the OVCR’s centers and institutes, maintains resources for the Carolina research community on the UNC Research website, and publishes the award-winning UNC Research Stories magazine.
Staff

Layla Dowdy
Director
- Develops communication strategies for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
- Leads ORC in the creation of content that promotes the value and impact of research at UNC
(919) 962-7765
lhdowdy@email.unc.edu

Darren Abrecht
Webmaster
- WordPress administration for the UNC Research and UNC Research Stories websites
- Web production support
- Online content strategy support
(919) 962-6137
darren@unc.edu

Carleigh Gabryel
Strategic Communications Manager
- Content management and creation for the Inside Research and Carolina Investigator newsletters
- Writing, editing and communications support for OVCR directors and research staff
(919) 445-0488
cgabryel@unc.edu

Ben Kaminsky
Web Producer
- WordPress support for the UNC Research and UNC Research Stories websites
- WordPress administration for UNC One Clinical Research website

Alyssa LaFaro
Research Communications Manager
- Senior editor, writer, videographer, and photographer for UNC Research Stories
- Social media content producer and strategist
- Research communications internship program manager
(919) 962-6136
amlafaro@email.unc.edu

Megan Mendenhall
Photographer/Videographer
- Photographer, videographer and writer for UNC Research and UNC Research Stories websites
- Social media content producer
(919) 962-7765
mkm4unc@live.unc.edu

Corina Prassos
Graphic Designer
- Designs print and digital collateral for UNC Research and UNC Research Stories
- Social media content designer
Centers and Institutes Communicators
The Office of Research Communications works with a number of communicators embedded directly in their respective OVCR centers and institutes:
Kelly Weaver
Director of External Affairs & Communications
Center for Galapagos Studies
(919) 445-0763
weaverk@email.unc.edu
Beverly Garcia
Managing Director
Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
(919) 966-6088
beverly_garcia@unc.edu
Katherine Neer
Director of Communications & Marketing
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute
Caroline Mozingo
Communications & Outreach Manager
Highway Safety Research Center
(919) 962-5835
mozingo@hsrc.unc.edu
Carol Shirley
Public Health Communications Specialist
Injury Prevention Research Center
Emily Williams
Director of Communications
Institute for the Environment
(919) 962-0965
emilywilliams@unc.edu
Luna Vanaman
Integrated Marketing and Communications Manager
Odum Institute
919-269-3603
mailto:emilunav@unc.edu
Stephanie Suber
Director of Communications & Outreach
Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI)
(919) 445-9640
subers@renci.org
Lindsay McCall
Program Coordinator
Sheps Center for Health Services Research
(919) 966-8628
lmccall@email.unc.edu
Contact Us
Office of Research Communications
123 West Franklin St., Ste. 600B
Carolina Square – CB #4106
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-4106
UNC Research Stories
(919) 962-0130
comms@research.unc.edu