UofM Hosts Inaugural NORDP Southeast Regional Meeting
Held at the FedEx Institute of Technology, the meeting united Southeast institutions to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems
The University of Memphis Division of Research & Innovation proudly hosted the first annual National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) Southeast Regional Meeting on May 15–16 at the FedEx Institute of Technology. The event convened research development professionals from across the Southeast for two days of collaboration, networking, and knowledge-sharing under the theme: "Building Regional Innovation Ecosystems."
This inaugural gathering served as a vital extension of the conversations held during the 2025 national NORDP Conference, allowing participants to exchange best practices, form new partnerships, and deepen regional connections in research development.
The event began with a welcome dinner that highlighted the city’s vibrant food culture—including, of course, Memphis BBQ. On day one, attendees were welcomed by NORDP President Lisa Lopez, who set the tone for an engaging and forward-thinking program. Over the two days, participants engaged in sessions on topics ranging from advancing institutional equity to leveraging artificial intelligence in research development and administration.
The meeting drew attendees from across sectors—higher education, corporate partners, and community organizations—with wide representation from institutions including:
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- Meharry Medical College
- Tougaloo College
- Rust College
- Alcorn State University
- University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- LeMoyne-Owen College
- Mississippi Valley State University
- Jackson State University
- North Carolina A&T State University
- Howard University
- Tennessee State University
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of Alabama in Huntsville
- University of South Alabama
- Kennesaw State University
- Tennessee Technological University
- Medical University of South Carolina
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Vanderbilt University
- University of Mississippi
- University of Southern Mississippi
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of North Carolina Wilmington
- University of Georgia
- Louisiana State University
- Clemson University
- The Ohio State University
- University of Kentucky
- University of Florida
Looking ahead, the NORDP Southeast Region will continue to build on the momentum of this event with annual regional meetings hosted at various institutions and the launch of quarterly meetings to strengthen collaboration and regional capacity for research development.
The 2024 NORDP Southeast Regional Meeting was generously sponsored by the Tougaloo College Research and Development Foundation (TCRDF), McAllister & Quinn, InfoReady, the University of Memphis Research Foundation (UMRF) Research Park, and the FedEx Institute of Technology.
For more information about this event or other research initiatives at the University of Memphis, please contact research@memphis.edu.