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IRB Members and Meetings

IRB Meeting Schedule

Typically, the IRB meets during the last full week of each month (while classes are in session). The IRB does not meet during the summer; However, the committee continues to review Exempt and Expedited applications during the summer.

The full IRB must meet to review and discuss all Convened applications. Please submit any research project involving human subjects that are NOT eligible for exempt or expedited review at least 6 weeks prior to your proposed start date. Projects which fall under an exempt or expedited review category can be submitted any time during the academic year or during the summer months and will be reviewed regularly.

In the event an application requires review by a convened board, applicants and faculty sponsors (if applicable) will be invited to attend the IRB meeting and will be notified of the results within one week of the meeting date.

2026-2027 IRB Members

IRB Chair, 2025-2027:

Dr. Mikel Hand, Ed.D. - Professor of Nursing

College of Liberal Arts:

  • Yang Yang, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Advertising and Public Relations, 2025-28
  • Taylor Petty, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, 2025-28
  • Adam Sizemore, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Sociology, 2026-29

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education:

  • Arthur Chlebowski, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Engineering, 2024-27
  • Timothy Mattison, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Education, 2025-28
  • Alyssa Weatherholt, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Sport, 2025-28

Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions:

  • Charlotte Connerton, Ed.D. - Associate Professor of Nursing, Chair of BSN in Nursing, 2025-28
  • Bailey Rankin, DNP - Assistant Professor of Nursing, Chair of Graduate Nursing Programs, 2024-27
  • Michele Chaleunphonh, OTD, OTR/L - Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, Doctoral Capstone Coordinator, 2026-29
  • Jessica Mason, OTD, OTR/L - Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, Chair of Occupational Therapy, 2026-29

Romain College of Business:

  • Jessica Felix-Martinez, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Marketing, 2024-27
  • Jiaying Liu, Pd.D. - Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, 2025-28
  • Prasenjit Ghosh, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Ag Business, 2025-28

Other University Representatives:

  • Steven Stump, MBA - Director of the Center for Applied Research, Outreach and Engagement 
  • Peter Whiting, MLIS, MPA - Scholarly Communication Librarian, David L. Rice Library
  • Anna Coleman - Director of Romain College of Business Advising Center, University Division

Community Representative:

  • Frances Dumas-Hines, Ph.D. - Director of Performance Management, EVSC

Ex-Officio Members:

  • Rebecca Deeg, MPA - Senior Grant Administrator, Sponsored Projects and Research
  • Amy Chan Hilton, Ph.D. - Director, Sponsored Projects and Research

2025-2026 IRB Members

2025-2027 IRB Chair:

Dr. Mikel Hand, Ed. D. - Professor of Nursing

College of Liberal Arts:

  • Dr. Yang Yang, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Advertising and Public Relations
  • Dr. Taylor Petty, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
  • Dr. Melissa Stacer, Ph.D. - Professor of Criminal Justice, Director of Master of Arts in Criminal Justice

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education:

  • Dr. Arthur Chlebowski, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Engineering   
  • Dr. Timothy Mattison, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Education
  • Dr. Alyssa Weatherholt, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Sport

Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions:

  • Dr. Ryan Butler, DNP - Associate Professor of Nursing
  • Dr. Charlotte Connerton, Ed.D. - Associate Professor of Nursing, Chair of BSN in Nursing 
  • Dr. Bailey Rankin, DNP - Assistant Professor of Nursing, Chair of Graduate Nursing Programs

Romain College of Business:

  • Dr. Jessica Felix-Martinez, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Marketing
  • Dr. Jiaying Liu, Pd.D. - Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems
  • Dr. Prasenjit Ghosh, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Ag Business

Other University Representatives:

  • Steven Stump, MBA - Director of the Center for Applied Research
          Department: Outreach and Engagement 
  • Peter Whiting, MLIS, MPA - Scholarly Communication Librarian
          Department: David L. Rice Library
  • Anna Coleman - Director of Romain College of Business Advising Center
          Department: University Division

Community Representative:

  • Frances Dumas-Hines, Ph.D. - Director of Performance Management, EVSC

Ex-Officio Members:

  • Rebecca Deeg, MPA - Senior Grant Administrator, Sponsored Projects and Research
  • Amy Chan Hilton, Ph.D. - Director, Sponsored Projects and Research

Chair:
Urska Dobersek, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Psychology
      Specialty: Psychology

Members:

  • Daniel Bauer, Ph.D. - Professor of Anthropology
          Specialty:  World Languages and Cultures
  • Ryan Butler, DNP - Associate Professor of Nursing
          Specialty: Nursing
  • Arthur Chlebowski, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Engineering
          Specialty: Engineering
  • Charlotte Connerton, Ed.D. - Associate Professor of Nursing
          Specialty: Nursing
  • Frances Dumas-Hines, Ph.D. - Director of Performance Management, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, USI IRB Community Member
          Specialty: Education
  • Jessica Felix-Martinez, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Marketing
          Specialty: Marketing
  • Prasenjit Ghosh, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of AG Business
          Specialty: Economics
  • Mikel Hand, Ed.D. - Professor of Nursing
          Specialty: Nursing
  • Bailey Rankin, DNP - Assistant Professor of Nursing, Chair of Graduate Nursing Programs
          Specialty: Nursing
  • Kelly Sparks, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Education
          Specialty: Teacher Education
  • Melissa Stacer, Ph.D. - Professor of Criminal Justice, Director of Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
          Specialty: Criminal Justice
  • Steven Stump, MBA - Director of the Center for Applied Research
          Specialty: Applied Research
  • Alyssa Weatherholt, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Sport
          Specialty: Exercise Science
  • Peter Whiting, MLIS, MPA - Scholarly Communication Librarian
          Specialty: Library Sciences
  • Anna Will - Director of Romain College of Business Advising Center

Ex-Officio Members:

  • Rebecca Deeg, MPA - Senior Grant Administrator, Sponsored Projects and Research
  • Amy Chan Hilton, Ph.D. - Director, Sponsored Projects and Research

2023-2024 IRB Members

Chair:
Urska Dobersek, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Psychology
      Specialty: Psychology

Members:

  • Daniel Bauer, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Anthropology
          Specialty:  World Languages and Cultures
  • Ryan Butler, DNP - Associate Professor of Nursing
          Specialty: Nursing
  • Arthur Chlebowski, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Engineering
          Specialty: Engineering
  • Charlotte Connerton, Ed.D. - Associate Professor of Nursing
          Specialty: Nursing
  • Frances Dumas-Hines, Ph.D. - Director of Performance Management, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, USI IRB Community Member
          Specialty: Education
  • Prasenjit Ghosh, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of AG Business
          Specialty: Economics
  • Mikel Hand, Ed.D. - Associate Professor of Nursing
          Specialty: Nursing
  • Brian McGuire, Ph.D. - Professor of Accounting, Associate Dean of the College of Business
          Specialty: Accounting
  • Katelyn Russell, DNP – Instructor in Nursing
          Specialty: Nursing
  • Kelly Sparks, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Education
          Specialty: Teacher Education
  • Melissa Stacer, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
          Specialty: Criminal Justice
  • Steven Stump, MBA - Assistant Director of the Center for Applied Research
          Specialty: Applied Research
  • Alyssa Weatherholt, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Exercise Science
          Specialty: Exercise Science
  • Peter Whiting, MLIS, MPA - Scholarly Communication Librarian
          Specialty: Library Sciences
  • Anna Will - Advising Center, RCOB

Ex-Officio Members:

  • Rebecca Deeg, MPA - Senior Grant Administrator, Sponsored Projects and Research
  • Amy Chan Hilton, Ph.D. - Director, Sponsored Projects and Research

2022-2023 IRB Members

Chair:
Urska Dobersek, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Psychology
      Specialty: Psychology

Members:

Daniel Bauer, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Anthropology
      Specialty:  World Languages and Cultures

Ryan Butler, DNP - Associate Professor of Nursing
      Specialty: Nursing

Arthur Chlebowski, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Engineering
      Specialty: Engineering

Charlotte Connerton, Ed.D. - Associate Professor of Nursing
      Specialty: Nursing

Frances Dumas-Hines, Ph.D. - Director of Performance Management, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, USI IRB Community Member
      Specialty: Education

Prasenjit Ghosh, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of AG Business
      Specialty: Economics

Mikel Hand, Ed.D. - Associate Professor of Nursing
      Specialty: Nursing

Brian McGuire, Ph.D. - Professor of Accounting, Associate Dean of the College of Business
      Specialty: Accounting

Katelyn Russell, DNP – Instructor in Nursing
      Specialty: Nursing

Kelly Sparks, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Education
      Specialty: Teacher Education

Melissa Stacer, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
      Specialty: Criminal Justice

Steven Stump, MBA - Assistant Director of the Center for Applied Research
      Specialty: Applied Research

Alyssa Weatherholt, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Exercise Science
      Specialty: Exercise Science

Peter Whiting, MLIS, MPA - Scholarly Communication Librarian
      Specialty: Library Sciences

Ex-Officio Members:

Rebecca Deeg, MPA - Senior Grant Administrator, Sponsored Projects and Research

Amy Chan Hilton, Ph.D. - Director, Sponsored Projects and Research

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