Strategic Business and Financial Operations

We provide the scaffolding that supports our teams as they work to achieve CTE’s vision to change lives through knowledge that matters.

Meet the Team

Lisa Reed
Senior Associate Director
Strategic Business and Financial Operations Team
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Lisa Reed leads the Strategic Business and Financial Operations Team, which includes financial and administrative oversight and processing, strategic operations, business development, project management, and outreach and engagement. She has developed and maintains the center’s streamlined processes for budget and proposal preparation, resource allocation, and procurement, and oversees pre- and post-award grant and contract management and compliance for more than 25 grants annually. 

As a member of the executive leadership team, Lisa helps to drive strategic initiatives, shape the organizational structure, and assess new business opportunities. She also acts as the liaison between CTE and the JHU School of Education on all HR, IT, and administrative activities. Lisa joined CTE in 2015 and has over 30 years of experience leading financial and administrative services in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors.

Meg Corasaniti
Senior Grants and Contracts Analyst
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Meg Corasaniti, Senior Grants and Contracts Analyst, supports sponsored grants and contracts functions while working closely with the director of finance and operations to provide comprehensive financial and administrative service for CTE and its staff. She is enthusiastic to be part of a team that is working to bring better educational opportunities to students.

Jennifer Grams
Project Administrator
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Jennifer Y. Grams, Project Administrator, manages the development and implementation of projects within the Early Childhood Comprehensive Assessment System (EC-CAS). She also assists the CTE team with identifying, evaluating, and responding to new business opportunities. Jennifer has served in a number of roles throughout her career, including research and policy analyst, marketing consultant, and project manager in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. She is a dedicated advocate for children and families and has a particular interest in the intersection of education and public policy.

Gail Jones
Budget Analyst
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Gail Jones has worked for JHU for over 20 years, focusing on administrative policies and processes that govern procurement and budget management. Her responsibilities include multiple budgetary reconciliations, providing university documentation to vendors and independent contractors, and assisting CTE faculty and staff with onboarding of external partners and vendors. She also coordinates, performs, and oversees the budgeting and financial activities related to JHU accounts of CTE.

Mary Lemon
Senior Administrative Coordinator
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Mary Lemon, Senior Administrative Coordinator, supports the business and technical efforts of CTE faculty and staff around program activities, grant submissions, written communications, and online support operations. She brings over 20 years of experience working for JHU and was instrumental in the development of the first university-wide employee orientation. Mary hails from Baltimore City — home of the best steamed blue crabs on the East Coast — and in her free time, she enjoys music, cooking, and entertaining friends and family.

Sherry Richburg
Program Coordinator
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Sherry Richburg, Program Coordinator, has a multifaceted background and educational achievements that exemplify her unwavering dedication to excellence in administrative and research coordination within the realm of education policy. Before assuming this role, Sherry showcased her expertise as the Research and Project Coordinator with the Institute for Education Policy. Her professional journey also includes a successful tenure within the Assessment, Accreditation, and Technology program at the School of Education, where she excelled in the role of Administrative Coordinator. 

Paulette White
Grants and Contracts Analyst
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Paulette White supports sponsored grants and contracts functions while working closely with the director of finance and operations to provide comprehensive financial and administrative service for CTE and its staff. She is excited to be part of a team that is working to bring better educational opportunities to students.