Faculty Affairs, Research & Innovation

What We Do

The Division of Faculty Affairs, Research, and Innovation serves the faculty of Baruch College by offering comprehensive support throughout their professional careers. We collaborate with the Provost, school Deans, and Department Chairs to manage faculty personnel actions, spanning all the stages of the academic career, and work directly with faculty to provide research support in matters related to compliance and funding.

The four departments within this division: Office of Academic Administration (OAA), Faculty Affairs, Office of Research Compliance and Outreach (ORCO), and Sponsored Programs and Research (SPAR), each play a distinct role in supporting faculty success. OAA manages faculty personnel actions, Faculty Affairs oversees faculty development and training initiatives, ORCO ensures research compliance, and SPAR facilitates sponsored research. Collectively, the unifying mission of this division is to connect faculty with essential resources and opportunities, including funding, workshops, training, and networking, to foster their professional growth and achievement.

Through events such as New Faculty Orientation, Fall Faculty Convocation, Faculty Research Symposium, and thematic workshops on topics like Tenure and Promotion and Personal Statement Writing, we champion the professional advancement of faculty. By offering dedicated support to individual researchers and Baruch’s Centers and Institutes, as well as the three strategic research clusters (Data Science, Climate Studies, and Entrepreneurship & Innovation), we cultivate intellectually enriching exchanges and drive research excellence. Additionally, through initiatives like the Faculty Mentoring Network and Adjunct Community Space, we are committed to fostering a vibrant sense of community.

Who we are

Raquel B. Fich, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, Research and Innovation

Zolicia Abotsi, Director of Sponsored Programs and Research (SPAR)

Maria Burgos, Director of the Office of Academic Administration (OAA)

Norene Leddy, Director of Faculty Affairs

Keisha Peterson, Director of Research Compliance and Outreach (ORCO)

Sherina John, Administrative Coordinator