Open to opportunities

Afrika Powell

@afrikapowell

Senior research administration and operations professional specializing in compliant budget oversight and enterprise systems support.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m seeking a full-time operations role where I can lead compliant financial oversight, streamline daily operations, and partner cross-functionally. I’m also open to flexible or part-time administrative opportunities that value strong execution.

I’m a Senior research administration and operations professional with a track record supporting complex academic and healthcare environments. I manage financial operations and budget oversight for multiple research programs, monitoring ledgers to ensure Academic & Research compliance with university and sponsor guidelines.

In my current role, I coordinate daily administrative and operational functions across three faculty-led laboratories. I prepare monthly financial reports and budget projections, support grant proposals, scientific reports, and publications, and serve as the primary liaison between faculty labs and university administrative units for onboarding, reimbursements, space management, and access coordination.

Previously, I led operations as a Practice Manager overseeing four clinical departments and more than 200 staff—improving workflow efficiency, managing departmental budgets, and identifying cost and productivity improvements. Earlier experience as an Academic Advisor and Executive Assistant strengthened my ability to analyze data, support stakeholders, coordinate high-stakes schedules and documentation, and deliver strong service and outcomes.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Sr. Research Financial Admin

Current

University of Chicago

May 2024 - Present (2 years 1 month)

Managed financial operations and budget oversight for multiple research programs, monitoring ledgers and ensuring compliance with university and sponsor requirements. Coordinated daily operations for three faculty laboratories, produced monthly financial reports and forecasts, and supported grant submissions, procurement, and faculty-liaison workflows.

Budget Oversight Research Compliance Grant Administration Procurement Oracle Workday Banner Tableau Microsoft Excel Stakeholder Management

Practice Manager

Rush University Medical Center

Jan 2022 - Jul 2023 (1 year 6 months)

Oversaw operations for four clinical departments and 200+ staff, improving workflow efficiency and operational coordination across multiple clinics. Managed departmental budgets, monitored performance metrics, led recruitment, and implemented service and quality standards that drove 96% patient satisfaction across three clinics.

Clinic Operations Performance Metrics Workflow Optimization Staff Supervision Recruitment coordination Service standards Clinical Satisfaction

Academic Advisor

Purdue University Northwest

Oct 2019 - Jan 2022 (2 years 3 months)

Advised a caseload of 427 undergraduate students across multiple campuses on academic planning, degree progression, and career pathways. Conducted academic audits, analyzed student performance data to recommend course scheduling, and supported retention and graduation initiatives.

Academic Advising Degree Audits Retention Strategy Student Support Initiatives

Executive Assistant

Purdue University Northwest

Aug 2015 - Oct 2019 (4 years 2 months)

Provided executive administrative support to the Dean and five department chairs, managing calendars, faculty search coordination, and academic scheduling for departmental events. Administered departmental budgets and contracts, supported accreditation documentation, maintained a secure graduate student database, and coordinated the Executive MBA graduation ceremony.

Executive Support Calendar Management Contract Administration Records Management Event Coordination