1. Brenda S. Thomas
348 Thomas Lane, Jersey Shore, PA 17740 / H: 570.745.3470/ C: 570.916.1199/ brenda.thomas@bucknell.edu
SUMMARY
Experienced grants administrator offering a wealth of knowledge in sponsored research administration: sub-
awards and contracts, prospect research, proposal preparation, grants/project management, reporting and
stewardship, as well as counseling and editing for faculty and staff grant writers.
HIGHLIGHTS
 Grant writing, editing, & administration
 Prospect research
 communication with funding agencies
(public and private)
 Negotiating, monitoring sub awards &
contracts
 Organizing site visits
 Conducting proposal writing workshops
 Program planning and implementation
 Public relations
 Creating newsletters and marketing
materials
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
 Secured and/or assisted in obtaining grants at local, regional, state and federal levels.
 Streamlined tools for delivering funding search results to faculty and staff thereby improving
communication and efficiency.
 Received state, national, and international recognition for programs under my directorship.
 Served as an evaluator for numerous grant review panels (local, regional, state levels).
 Experience as both grants administrator/program officer and grant writer/seeker.
EXPERIENCE
8/2011 – Current Associate Director, Office of Sponsored Projects
Bucknell University – Lewisburg, PA
Responsible for securing external funding for faculty research and projects, campus
initiatives and programs; organizing site visits for corporate and foundation program
officers; administration of sub awards and contracts. Experience with all aspects of a
Life-cycle grants office.
Duties include: grant writing, editing, and administration; serving as liaison between
public and private funding agencies and university faculty; prospect research and faculty
funding searches; negotiating sub awards and contracts; conducting proposal writing
workshops for faculty and staff, reporting and stewardship.
6/2002 – 8/2011 Arts in Education Director
Bradford County Regional Arts Council – Towanda, PA
Responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the PA Council on the Arts'
partnership initiatives: PA Partners in the Arts (re-granting) and the Arts in Education
Program (artist residency grants). Duties included: grant writing and grants
administration, grant counseling for artists, arts organization staff, and community
members seeking grant funds; creating application forms, program evaluation forms;

2. promoting artists and projects; writing newsletters and designing promotional
materials.
5/1999 – 6/2002 Executive Director
Williamsport-Lycoming Arts Council – Williamsport, PA
Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Arts Council: marketing, public
relations, membership and patron development/retention, organization and motivation
of community enrichment committees, creation and production of a monthly
newsletter. Additional duties included: management of support staff, serving as
program director for several re-granting programs, arts in education programs, and
project director for the Susquehanna Valley Festival of the Arts.
5/2000 – 6/2000 Instructor
Lackawanna Junior College – Towanda, PA
Instructor for Art 103, a survey level art history course for undergraduate students.
Duties included lesson planning and presentation, counseling of students, exam
preparation and grading.
8/1997 – 8/1999 Operator
AT&T – Williamsport, PA
Toll-free directory operator. Worked nights while attending graduate school.
Responsible for providing customers with toll-free listings.
8/1997 – 5/1999 Teaching Assistant
Pennsylvania State University – State College, PA
Teaching assistant while attending graduate school; duties included lesson preparation,
teaching survey level courses, student counseling, grading exams, slide room work (slide
prep, cataloging, filing).
7/1992 – 7/1997 Swing Shift Manager
McDonald’s Corporation – South Williamsport, PA
Responsible for managing crew, supervision of the restaurant, opening and closing the
restaurant, calculating daily deposits, estimating monthly sales to order appropriate
product. Part-time employment (30-35 hours/week) while pursuing BA degree.
EDUCATION
Current MS Program: Research Administration
Emmanuel College – Boston, MA
Currently enrolled in Emmanuel’s on-line MSRA program
1999 MA Program: Art History
Pennsylvania State University – State College, PA
Completed course work toward MA in Art History with minor in Women's Studies.
MA Thesis incomplete - family circumstances necessitated full time employment.
1995 BA Program: Art History
Lycoming College – Williamsport, PA
Graduated Magna Cum Laude with departmental honors
1992 BA Program: Art History

3. Juniata College – Huntingdon, PA
Completed freshman year; transferred to Lycoming College
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2011 – Present SCAFRO
 Annual meetings
 Regional meetings
 Presenter at 2012 workshop for Corporate Relationships
 Active member on list-serve
2014 – Present National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA)
 Annual meetings
 Sub Award workshops
 Sub Award online course
2014 – Present Colleges of Liberal Arts Sponsored Programs (CLASP)
 Annual meetings
 Active member on list-serve
COMMUNITY SERVICE
2011 – Present Bucknell University
o BE Well – health & wellness planning committee
o DAR SERVE – Development & Alumni Relations committee for professional
development, community service & engagement, networking (chair for one year)
o Advocate for Bucknell’s Women’s Resource Center - Sexual Assault &
misconduct hotline
o Women at Bucknell – advocacy group to address women’s issues on campus
o Mentor for new staff
o Grant review panelist – First Community Foundation
2001 – 2011 Bradford County Regional Arts Council
o Judge for multiple Art Shows
o Grant review panelist (PA Council on the Arts; PA Humanities Council)
o Mentor/advisor for student interns
Personal
o PTO
o Coach/assistant coach for little league softball
o Assistant coach for travel softball team
REFERENCES
Carmen Gillespie
Professor of English
Bucknell University
One Dent Drive
Lewisburg, PA 17837
570.577.2123
Carmen.gillespie@bucknell.edu
Karl Voss, Assoc. Dean of
Faculty & Interim Exec. Director
for OSP
One Dent Drive
Lewisburg, PA 17837
570-577-3293
Karl.voss@bucknell.edu
Dorothy Johnson, CRA, CFRA,
CPA
Accounting Manager – grants
Bucknell University
One Dent Drive
Lewisburg, PA 17837
570-577-1691
Dorothy.johnson@bucknell.edu