91´ÎÔª

Katherine Swan is the Director of Research Development at the 91´ÎÔª, where she draws on years of grant-writing experience to help faculty and research teams turn big ideas into funded projects. 

With a strong track record of supporting competitive proposals across disciplines, Katherine leads initiatives that advance UM’s research goals and national profile. She works closely with faculty to align their research with strategic opportunities and provides expert guidance on the development of high-impact proposals. Katherine also holds a certificate in change management, which informs her collaborative approach to building research capacity and supporting institutional transformation. 

Naomi DeMarinis is the Associate Director of Research Development at the 91´ÎÔª, where she helps faculty and research teams communicate their ideas with clarity, precision, and persuasive power. 

An experienced writer and editor, Naomi plays a central role in advancing high-priority proposals and initiatives that shape UM’s research portfolio. She leads strategic communications for the research enterprise and collaborates with scholars across disciplines to craft compelling proposals, elevate research visibility, and foster a culture of creativity and collaboration. 

Lauren Fritzsche is the Research Information Management System Administrator at the 91´ÎÔª, where she supports research and creative scholarship visibility and strategic decision-making through data-driven tools.

With a background in community engagement, program evaluation, and research, Lauren brings a compassionate and analytical approach to research administration. She leads the implementation of UM IMPACT, the university’s research information system, partnering with faculty, academic units, and library teams to promote engagement with the exciting research and creative scholarship occurring across campus.