University Park, Pa. — Research Professor Camelia Kantor, director of strategic initiatives at Penn State’s Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and SSRI affiliate, has been selected as a 2026 Future of the Field honoree by the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI).
SRAI’s Future of the Field recognition program aims to highlight up-and-comers in research administration demonstrating leadership among their peers and institutions in innovative ways that advance the field.
“I am honored to receive SRAI's Future of the Field recognition,” Kantor said. “Research administration is no longer simply about supporting research. It is increasingly about shaping strategy, building capacity and creating the conditions for transformative science to thrive. I believe the future of our profession lies in investing in people, fostering collaboration across disciplines and institutions, and developing innovative pathways for the next generation of research leaders. What inspires me most is the research administration community itself. I am grateful to be part of a national and global network of colleagues committed to advancing excellence, sharing knowledge and strengthening the research enterprise for future generations.”
Recipients of the Future of the Field recognition are nominated by their global peers, and honorees are selected by a committee that evaluates candidates with emphases on career history, demonstration of exceptional professional growth and significant contributions made to the advancement of research administration.
“We at the Huck Institutes and Penn State have been fortunate to benefit from Camelia's skills in strategic planning for research and developing cross-disciplinary and multi-institutional partnerships,” said Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology and director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. “Through her leadership on the NSF-funded STAIR project, Camelia is developing the training and frameworks to support and train the next generation of research administrators across the country and the world. Camelia is incredibly deserving of this award.”
Kantor and other SRAI honorees will be recognized at the organization's annual meeting in October. For more information on SRAI, visit its website.