Staff Advisory Council

Sandy Justice
USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus Office of Research
Senior Research Administrator

How long have you been at the Sarasota-Manatee campus?  
Just over 2 years

What do you like most about your job? 
I most enjoy working with faculty to develop comprehensive, competitive grant proposals. It is so fun to participate in the grant development process, crafting meaningful funding requests and to collaborate with professors on compelling grant applications that will, when funded, move their field forward.

What’s the best thing about working at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus? 
There is so much to value about working at the Sarasota-Manatee campus. Here, where the faculty-to-student ratio is extraordinary, providing our students with a private-university experience at a public-university cost. I have been increasingly impressed by the “students first” mission that resonates in every hallway -- Welcome tiles in many languages on the floors reflecting our inclusive community, the Incredi-Bull Critical Thinking posters in the classrooms, and in our faculty and staff pride of place on Wear Green Wednesday.  

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?  
When Bill Gates was asked what he most feared, he responded that he didn’t want his brain to stop working. Lifelong learning is the key! Based on what I have read, cognitive stimulation (brain exercises) can help promote neuroplasticity. On my learning goal list: (1) Learn to crochet, which is both a practical skill and long admired creative art; and (2) Learn to play the piano. There is an elegant beauty in music that is easy to appreciate.

Favorite job you ever held?  
This one! Establishing a full service research office and cultivating the research culture on this campus continues to be fun and rewarding. In the last two years, I have been privileged to establish programs and initiatives that drive grant activity such as seed funding for pilot projects and equipment grants. The faculty participation at grant writing workshops are positive and motivating. It is a joy to work with smart and professional research interns and to see so much energy and enthusiasm at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus Student Research Showcase. This is a great place to be! The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus staff and faculty have a shared commitment to our students and to the Sarasota-Manatee community. It is through our shared mission that, together, we can realize the vision for USF students to become global citizens, creative innovators and future leaders.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Not that a mother of two teenagers has a ton of "free time" – but on those rare occasions, I indulge in reading. Currently I am reading The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor. I am always looking for good book recommendations. If you are looking for a good read, check out Becoming by Michelle Obama and The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates.

What’s your favorite restaurant/hidden gem in the area?  
That would be a tie: the Rosemary & Thyme on Orange Avenue (amazing food and convenient to the Sarasota Opera House) and Pier 22 for a delicious dinner complimented by a wonderful view of the water.

Most memorable experience/day you’ve had on the job.   
In 2019, the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus Staff Council designed staff recognition awards, including the Distinguished Staff Award. This is an award created by and selected from the Sarasota-Manatee campus professional staff. The talented and dedicated professional staff on our campus are colleagues that I value and respect. At the award ceremony in April, I felt fortunate to be standing among those nominated. This day stands out as most memorable day because I was genuinely surprised, and deeply honored, to have won. To me, this was more than a prize as it confirmed a shared value for what we are all collectively building: a robust research enterprise for our home campus. Our "pride of place" is also reflected in the increasing number of Certified Research Administration (CRA-USF) at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus.