The Southern Research Institute last week said that it has hired Jacqueline Rams as director of government relations.
In her new role, Rams will report to John Secrist, president and CEO of SRI. She will initially focus her efforts on securing and increasing federal funding for research programs in drug discovery and development.
Rams has held a number of business development positions for companies such as Jacobs Engineering, AIG Consultants, Burns & Roe Enterprises, and Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure. She holds a BS in chemistry from Mt. St. Agnes-Loyola College.
Felix Strevell, former CEO and executive director of the State University of New York-affiliated Institute for Entrepreneurship, last week admitted to having committed fraud by using institute funs for unauthorized purchases and salary increases, the Times Union of Albany reported.
According to the report, Strevell used funds from the Institute for Entrepreneurship to pay for a trip to Disney World, arranging trips for his father to China, and securing a $95,000 pay raise.
Strevell could face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for those and other instances of fraud against the Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Strevell joined the institute in 1999 and quit in July 2001 amid investigations into the institute’s finances. The not-for-profit institute was founded as an arm for SUNY to seek public grants and private donations to expand academic research and the formation of university spin-out companies.