Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources

Tess Kuenstling, PhD, MBA, PMP

Tess Kuenstling is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Resources.  She monitors the use of research space, manages and develops institutional research core facilities, communicates research funding opportunities, administers internal research funding programs and supports the growth and development of new research initiatives.

Dr. Kuenstling received her bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Biology from Wartburg College, a master’s in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska Omaha, and a doctorate in Pathology and Microbiology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Dr. Kuenstling brings her experience managing large-scale programs at the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska to her role as the Director of Research Resources.  While at NSRI, Dr. Kuenstling co-authored an awarded $12M contract with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and provided operational, technical, compliance, schedule, and financial oversight to an active grant & contract research portfolio value of $45M -$76M.