After 25 years of service in the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP), Kristie Thompson is retiring, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and leadership that has reshaped research administration at the University of Utah.
Thompson began her journey in 2001 as an administrative assistant at a time when the role was deeply embedded in paper-based processes—and filled with an alphabet soup of acronyms. She recalled those early days: “I felt like I was learning a new language.”
Just a year later, her talent and dedication earned her a promotion to project coordinator. In 2003, she became a grant and contract officer, later known as a sponsored projects officer. Her leadership continued to grow as she became the team leader for health sciences grants, then associate director for the grants team and ultimately, associate director of operations.
Throughout her career, Thompson stepped forward during moments of institutional change. Some of her proudest accomplishments include contributing to the PeopleSoft Implementation, the U’s core financial and research database, in both 2005 and 2012, as well as helping build eProposal in 2011, the electronic proposal summary system OSP uses today.
“The systems I’ve helped develop have made data readily available…what used to be a lot of work is now just the touch of a button,” she said.
Thompson also played a central role in guiding OSP through its transition from paper forms to electronic workflows. This shift, she noted, wasn’t always seamless. “The biggest challenge was working with people who were change-averse and not understanding the benefits of electronic systems,” she said.
The retirement of the long-used paper document summary sheet was a milestone that represented years of hard work. “It was the culmination of a lot of work, but it was worth it. Having a system that interfaces with other software is huge!”
This move to electronic systems revolutionized research administration at the U, enabling tools like Research Portal and supporting data-driven insights that ultimately led to the creation of the research analytics team.
“These systems have allowed OSP, Grants & Contracts Accounting, and principal investigators and department staff to be more efficient and to share information more easily,” she said.
When asked what she hopes people remember about her contributions, Thompson said, “That I always tried to do my best for the people that came to me for help…I gave it my all.”
Her commitment to supporting others—whether they be researchers, administrators, or her own team—has been a defining feature of her career. She also offered heartfelt advice for those entering the research administration field today: “If you enjoy helping people, you’re in the right spot. That will always be the most important part of our job.”
As Thompson embarks on this next chapter, the U celebrates her remarkable contributions and wishes her all the best in retirement. Thank you for 25 years of dedication and for helping shape the future of research administration at the U.