Annette Shenkir serves as an Associate Vice President for the Texas A&M University–Division of Research. Her responsibilities include business activities for the Vice President for Research. Her role as a representative on both the Academic Business Operations Committee (ABOC) and the Texas A&M Research Administration Committee (TRAC) allows her the opportunity to bridge the gap between FAMIS usage and the management of sponsored projects. Ms. Shenkir’s goal is to share and gather as much information as possible to make the modernized FAMIS as beneficial for sponsored projects as possible, for both the Principal Investigators and the business users.
She supported the decision to move forward with FAMIS modernization over some of the other options that the A&M System considered because the implementation of Workday for human resource and payroll functions was challenging.
As a user of FAMIS for many years, Ms. Shenkir looks forward to the new opportunities of the modernized version. The lack of training on FAMIS and Canopy has been an obstacle for many years; new employees’ training opportunities will be very beneficial. Also, she expects that all A&M System members will use the modernized FAMIS consistently. All system members are currently expected to work in a more holistic, collaborative way.
Ms. Shenkir has faith and confidence in the A&M System members leading this initiative and their positive approach to taking feedback from the group members. Based on the information the executive sponsors receive, the project is on schedule. Ms. Shenkir wants to let the stakeholders know that the next phase of the project will be the most critical for FAMIS users. Member input is needed on recommended changes and adjustments to maximize the consultants’, partners’ and project leadership team’s efforts in this change process. The effort to gather these recommendations is her most important role on this committee.