Director & Research Integrity Officer
Year Started at JMU: 2003
strongcd@jmu.edu
Contact Info
Responsibilities
- Provides strategic leadership for JMU’s research compliance programs, ensuring ethical and regulatory standards across the research enterprise.
- Serves as the university’s Research Integrity Officer (RIO), overseeing research ethics, safety, security, and integrity initiatives.
- Manages compliance committees and policy development for the Research, Economic Development, and Innovation (REDI) division.
- Promotes a culture of integrity and continuous improvement through training, guidance, and collaboration with faculty, staff, and students.
Education
- M.R.A., University of Central Florida
- B.S., The University of Tennessee
- A.A., Pellissippi State Technical Community College
Certifications
- Certified Research Administrator (CRA®)
University Service
- Financial Conflict of Interest Committee (COIC)- Ex-Officio
- University Compliance Committee
- University Policy Committee
- Academic Affairs Policy Committee
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Working Group
- Data Manager Data Stewardship and Information Security Working Group
- Task Force on Transparency in Publicly Funded Animal Testing Facilities (ACUP)
- Radiation Safety Committee
- JMU Safety Committee
Professional Memberships
- Biosafety Administrators Association (BSAA)
- Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R)
- Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI)
Background
Carolyn Strong received an Associate of Arts from Pellissippi State Technical Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The University of Tennessee, and a Master in Research Administration (MRA) from the University of Central Florida.
She joined James Madison University in 2003 and spent ten years in the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration. In May 2013, she was tasked with establishing the Office of Research Integrity, where she now serves as Director. In this role, she also serves as the university’s Research Integrity Officer (RIO), providing leadership in promoting and safeguarding ethical research practices.
Carolyn is a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) and a Certified IRB Manager (CIM) with extensive experience in higher education research compliance. She provides strategic oversight for JMU’s research compliance infrastructure, encompassing regulatory, ethical, and operational responsibilities across the university’s research enterprise. Her portfolio includes leadership in areas such as research ethics, safety, security, and integrity, ensuring alignment with federal, state, and institutional standards.
In addition to her responsibilities as Director and RIO, Carolyn leads the newly established International Research and Engagement Services (IRES) unit, which supports global research initiatives and encompasses research security and export control compliance.
She also serves as the data manager for the Research, Economic Development, and Innovation (REDI) division and represents REDI on the University Policy Committee (UPC), where she manages and coordinates all division-related policies.
Carolyn actively contributes to numerous compliance committees and task forces and is committed to fostering a culture of integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement in research at JMU and beyond.
