Tim Sparklin, Director of the Office of Research
Protections and Compliance (ORPC), in the Office of Research and
Creative Achievement (ORCA) will be retiring from UMBC after 39 years of
USM service with over 30 years at UMBC.
An in-person Open House Event will be held in the 7th Floor of the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery from 2PM-5PM on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.
Tim
obtained his BA in Sociology from UMBC in 1981 and his Masters of
Social Work from UMB in 1983. So his connection to USM actually started
as a freshman in 1977 (over 45 years)!
Tim's family connections to UMBC run even deeper. Two of Tim's children
graduated from our campus, his wife Kim spent two years at UMBC working
her way to obtaining a Bachelor's of Nursing at UMB. He also has two
siblings and two nieces who received degrees from UMBC.
Tim
started working at UMB as a Research Assistant in the Maryland
Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. From 1983 – 1985 he
provided assistance on a trauma and motorcycle helmet use study prior to
Maryland enacting its helmet laws in 1992. Tim was promoted to Program
Analyst, then in 1987 to Grants and Contracts Administrator (when he
was bit by the Research Admin bug).
He
then came to UMBC in 1992 to become a Grants Manager for what was then
called the College of Arts and Sciences, where, his value was quickly
recognized. Tim was promoted to Research Services Administrator before
coming to ORCA to run UMBC’s Human and Animal Research Protections
Office (HARPO) in 2004.
In
January of 2011, Tim led HARPO in a rebranding effort to recognize the
growth in UMBC’s research and compliance areas needing support. In 2010
we had 375 human and 37 animal support actions. The office was renamed
the Office of Research Protections and Compliance (ORPC). ORPC support
expanded to include Institutional Biosafety, Conflict of Interest,
Export Control, Responsible Conduct in Research and Research Integrity.
And, by FY21 ORPC with just 2.6 staff processed nearly 2,000 compliance
actions (down from 2,400 in FY20), and supported nearly 2,700 trainings
(individuals trained in the various areas of compliance).
As
Director of ORPC Tim provided administrative oversight and the
strategic direction of ORPCs centralized resources to ensure UMBC
conducted its research activities in a manner consistent with federal,
state and institutional regulatory requirements. In this role Tim
served as the primary liaison with federal regulatory agencies and
provided periodic updates and recommended actions to senior management
as issues demand institutional response.
Not
only did Tim significantly expanded ORPC’s areas of compliance support,
he totally revamped the web site, implemented a new electronic
compliance support system (Kuali Compliance), went paperless, moved the
office, provided key support for the new ILSB vivarium, and implemented
countless procedures, policies and general guidance documents to
streamline and clarify the constant changing regulations associated with
this field. And, as if this was not enough, Tim has conducted
in-person training for graduate and undergraduate students in the area
of Responsible Conduct in Research. These are only a few of the many
accomplishments during Tim’s time with UMBC and USM. And, during that
entire time, Tim has been consistently recognized by UMBC faculty, staff
and his USM peers for his skills and knowledge, and genuine willingness
and desire to help support research and creative achievement.
Throughout, Tim epitomized what customer support means.
Tim
had also been very active in shared governance at UMBC, serving as
President and Past President of the Professional Staff Senate. Tim has
also been involved in multiple industry related organizations such as
the Society of Research Administrators International (SRA), where he was
a member of their Board of Directors, and held the positions of
President Elect, President, and Past President of the Northeast Section
from 2021-2014. Tim has also shared his experience and knowledge
through multiple presentations and Panel discussions. Besides SRA, Tim
was a member of the National Council of University Research
Administrators (NCURA), the Laboratory Animal Welfare Training Exchange,
the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, Public
Responsibly in Medicine and Research, a member of the University of
Maryland, Baltimore IACUC, and the Association of University Export
Control Officers. Tim was often called upon by sister campuses to
assist with their protections and compliance programs and to answer
specific questions.
Tim’s
unwavering drive to support UMBC in a positive supportive manner won him
multiple accolades from his team, the researchers he served, and senior
leadership. His unique ability to balance the overwhelming regulatory
requirements with the level of reassurance that minimizes the burden on
our research community and not a “police state” is unique. Faculty
often commented on ORPC’s support, stating things like, “I am consistently astonished by how helpful, informed, patient, and responsive”…ORPC is …ORPC “asks great questions, handles emergency requests gracefully”...and generally makes it “possible for me to do better research.”
In
Tim’s personal life, Tim loves to garden. His house in Catonsville is a
treasure trove of multiple variety of trees and plants he and his wife
Kim of (40 Years) maintain. Tim has three sons and two grandchildren,
which in retirement he expects to spend a great deal more time. Tim
recently commented that he hopes to chillax, and maybe travel to Ireland
and Scotland.
Tim has
always brought a sense of calm and steadiness to the office. While we
will all miss Tim, please join us in wishing him nothing but happiness
as he embarks on his next journey.
Tim’s last day on campus is Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Please join us in celebrating his retirement and wishing him well.
