We are excited to announce the addition of two exceptional individuals to our leadership team at CTSI. These new directors bring a wealth of experience and expertise that will further elevate our organization’s capacity for innovation and growth.
E. Mendy Dunn announced as the new Director of Operations acting as Chief Operating Officer of the CTSI
We are pleased to announce that “Mendy” Elizabeth C. Dunn, MSN, RN has been named the Director of Operations and will serve as the Chief Operating Officer at the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).Dunn will assume her new role as CTSI Operations Director after serving as Associate Director of Clinical Research. Dunn’s appointment as COO is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the organization’s mission of accelerating scientific translation to prevent and cure human disease. As the administrative and operational lead at CTSI, Dunn plays a key leadership role in UF-FSU’s CTSA award and its clinical research infrastructure.
Prior to CTSI, she served as the Administrative Director of Nursing Research at UF Health Shands where she provided leadership in the development, implementation and evaluation of nursing research and activities. She has 20 years of expertise in healthcare including work as a clinical trial manager with trial portfolios that included coronary artery disease, oncology, neurology, wound care, and infectious disease.
“Mendy Dunn brings a wealth of research experience, an intricate understanding of our health care system, and a vision for the full realization of the benefits of clinical and translational research. We look forward to working with Mendy as a welcomed member of the CTSI executive leadership team.” – Duane Mitchell
It is a credit to the hard work of our faculty and staff that over the past decade our programs, services and initiatives have made a real difference in accelerating research to improve human health. We look forward to seeing the CTSI’s achievements under new leadership as we continue our second decade and our fourth round of CTSA funding.
Please join us in welcoming Mendy Dunn to her new role.
“I am honored to serve in this new capacity and look forward to supporting investigators across our research enterprise as they seek to safely and efficiently speed the translation of science to better the lives of all.” – Mendy Dunn
LaWanna Duncan announced as the new Director of Finance acting as Chief Financial Administrator of the CTSI
After an extensive and highly competitive search, we are pleased to announce the appointment of LaWanna Duncan our new Director of Finance. As the Director of Finance, LaWanna will serve as the Chief Financial Administrator for the University of Florida’s (UF) Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) with responsibilities of overseeing all financial operations, budgeting, and strategic financial planning. She will play a crucial role in optimizing resource allocation, ensuring financial transparency and compliance, and providing insightful financial analysis to support informed decision-making across the organization. LaWanna’s leadership will be instrumental in driving the financial health and sustainability of UF CTSI, enabling us to advance our mission of fostering groundbreaking research and innovative healthcare solutions.
Prior to accepting this offer to join our team, LaWanna held positions of Director of Finance for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Director of Finance and Administrative Services for the UF College of Medicine’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. During her time at UF, she has demonstrated an exceptional ability to manage complex financial operations, streamline processes, and facilitate strategic financial planning. In addition to her extensive professional experience, her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Education in Administration and Policy, both from the University of Florida.
With a 25+ year tenure of experience across the university, LaWanna brings dynamic skill set and a strong track record of financial leadership with her to this role. Her expertise in financial management, coupled with her understanding of the intricacies of academic and research environments, will make her an asset to our already dynamic finance team. “We are excited to have LaWanna Duncan join the CTSI administrative leadership team and help guide the institute through this transformative era of exciting growth and change in biomedical research. The vast opportunities that lie ahead for CTSI to make a substantive impact on improving health outcomes will require judicious allocation and management of resources. LaWanna’s honed fiscal expertise will be instrumental in the achievement of our strategic goals and we very much loom forward to working with her in this regard.” – Duane Mitchell
Please join us in welcoming LaWanna Duncan to her new role! We are confident that her talents will elevate the CTSI’s mission of translating clinical research into real-world impact.