WASHINGTON – Howard University recently announced the appointments of Lauren Ferrell as the new assistant vice president of pre-award services and Dana Hector as assistant vice president for research development and strategic planning. 

Ferrell and Hector are committed to advancing Howard University’s research mission and enhancing the support structures that enable our researchers to thrive. Their combined expertise and leadership will play a critical role in strengthening the University's position as a leader in research and innovation. 

Lauren Ferrell 

Ferrell brings over two decades of dedicated experience in research administration. She is passionate about empowering faculty, researchers, and administrators to achieve excellence in their work. 

Ferrell will head the implementation of the Cayuse research administration system, a transformative initiative aimed at improving proposal development, routing, and submission processes. She is committed to streamlining operations, enhancing collaboration, and fostering an inclusive environment that supports the University's expanding research portfolio. 

Ferrell previously served as associate dean for research administration at Harvard University. Ferrell was tasked with modernizing the research administration enterprise and developing a comprehensive roadmap for transformative improvements in services, processes, and policies. Her strategic planning focused on innovative tools and practices that aligned with evolving federal regulations and university policies, positioning Harvard for better performance and enhancing its capacity to secure funding for complex, large-scale research projects. 

Before Harvard, Ferrell held progressively complex roles at the University of Southern California (USC). Her accomplishments include serving as a principal contracts and grants administrator with signing authority on behalf of the university and negotiating a wide range of sponsored project agreements—including classified, University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), for-profit, and others. She also provided leadership and oversight of pre- and post-award administration for USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering, focusing on compliance and organizational change management. 

Ferrell has dedicated herself to creating spaces where diverse perspectives are valued, and collaborative excellence can thrive. She has been recognized for her efforts to promote inclusive academic communities and eliminate discriminatory practices and will continue to champion these values at Howard University. 

Dana Hector 

Hector will be responsible for enhancing Howard University’s research capacity through research development efforts and strategic initiatives. She brings deep expertise from pre/post-award management and will lead efforts to expand research development while focusing on policy review, workflow analysis, and other strategic initiatives under the direction of the associate and senior vice president of research.  

Hector is a certified research administrator who has served as Howard University’s executive director for research administrative services since 2009. As executive director, she managed the daily operations of the Research Administrative Services Office and was responsible for the University’s sponsored programs activities pertaining to pre-award, post-award, close-out and contract negotiation and execution. 

Hector, a Howard University graduate with a degree in finance, began her professional tenure at the University in 2000 as an accountant for restricted grants. She achieved several promotions and was named section chief of the restricted fund accounting satellite office before transferring to the Office of Research Administration.  

Prior, Hector worked for a health care management consultant firm gaining experience in writing cost proposals for federal and state government contracts as well as post award contract expenditure reconciliations. Hector has also worked as a consultant conducting fiscal and administrative site visit reviews of State/local funded grants and contracts.  

Both Ferrel and Hector are committed to advancing Howard University’s research mission. Their combined expertise and leadership will prove critical in strengthening the University's position as a leader in research and innovation. 

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