Staff

Director of Corporate, Foundation and Sponsored Research Support
Campus Phone: 920-832-6816
Email: amy.kester@lawrence.edu
Campus Address: Wilson House Room 308 Development

As an experienced grants professional, Amy has put boots on the ground in the middle of war zones, disaster sites, pandemic regions, crowded orphanages, and urban slums around the globe to help bring assistance to people in need. With over $15.1 million in funding awards, she has conducted field assessments and developed grant proposals for wide-ranging projects in the U.S., Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. Amy holds a B.A. from Macalester College (political science, with a philosophy minor) and a Master of Public Administration degree from U.W. Oshkosh. She joined Lawrence in 2013 and currently leads the department’s work to secure and manage gifts and grants from foundation and corporate donors as well as state and federal agencies. A self-described liberal arts junkie, Amy enjoys lifelong learning, traveling, reading, gardening, kayaking, spoiling her two pugs, and collaborating with people creating positive change in the world.

Associate Director of Corporate, Foundation and Sponsored Research Support
Campus Phone: 920-832-6554
Email: anna.r.simeth@lawrence.edu
Campus Address: Wilson House Room 307 Development

Since joining the Lawrence grants team in 2014, Anna has enjoyed partnering with faculty and staff on numerous grant projects to local and national funders. Topics vary from film festivals to fire safety, translations to renovations, science research to sustainability, and mental health to music education. She can help faculty and staff develop research or project ideas and support the editing, submission, administration, and reporting process. Anna would also be happy to talk to local businesses seeking deeper partnerships with Lawrence through student internships, athletic sponsorships, and community collaborations. She holds degrees in English, journalism, and interior design. Anna enjoys the silent sports, like skiing, kayaking, reading, and eating.

Associate Director of Corporate, Foundation and Sponsored Research Support
Campus Phone: 920-832-7446
Email: ariela.e.rosa@lawrence.edu
Campus Address: Wilson House Room 304 Development

A native of New York City, Ariela earned her Bachelor of Arts in English with a history minor from Lawrence before joining the grants team in 2016. She enjoys guiding and assisting faculty and staff through all steps of the grants process, including prospect research, developing project ideas, submitting proposals, and managing awards. A few times per year, you can find her teaching community members about how to use the Funding Information Network database to conduct prospect research. She looks forward to further building, maintaining, and strengthening partnerships with corporations, government funders, foundations, and community leaders. Outside of her grants role, Ariela is an avid amateur genealogist, maintains a blog on her ancestral discoveries, and enjoys spoiling her blind cat.