Jorja Kimball, PhD

Executive Director, Research Development Services at Texas A&M University

Biography

(NORDP Consultant since 2024)

Jorja is the Executive Director of Research Development Services at Texas A&M University, specializing in Special Strategic Projects for the Office of the Vice President for Research. Texas A&M University is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), Research One, and AAU member institution, enrolling over 76,000 students in Fall 2024. In her role, Jorja supports the university's research community throughout all phases of the proposal development process, with a particular emphasis on proposals for HSIs and broadening participation in STEM fields.

Of Mexican American descent, Jorja grew up in rural South Texas. She began her career in higher education in 1991 after initially working in the private sector. Her background as a first-generation college student significantly influenced her doctoral dissertation in 2006 and her ongoing research interests in underserved and underrepresented STEM students.

Jorja has served as a Principal Investigator (PI) for projects funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation and has been a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Research Administration. In 2011, she was awarded the Regents Fellow designation by the Texas A&M University System, the highest honor conferred on non-faculty staff, and a lifelong recognition of her contributions.