IRB Members

Members of the IRB are appointed by the University President to comply with federal regulations. Members are chosen to provide the areas of expertise needed for proposal review and to represent various University of Richmond constituencies. IRB members also serve as a resource for persons with questions about the IRB. Members are appointed to indefinite terms.

Current IRB members

  • Dr. Jeffrey Hass, IRB Chair, Sociology & Anthropology
  • Dr. Sara Hanson, Robins School of Business
  • Dr. Karen Kochel, IRB Vice-Chair, Psychology
  • Dr. Kelly McCrowell, Unaffiliated Member, Richmond Public Schools
  • Dr. Jeppe von Platz, Philosophy
  • Dr. Bob Spires, Graduate Education

Alternates

  • Dr. Violet Ho, Robins School of Business
  • Dr. Crystal Hoyt, Jepson School of Leadership Studies
  • Dr. Monika Kukar-Kinney, Marketing
  • Dr. Stephen Long, Political Science
  • Dr. Tammy Milby, Education
  • Dr. Andrew Schoeneman, Non-profit Studies

IRB Member Training

University of Richmond IRB members are required to take a 14 module IRB training course. This training familiarizes IRB members with regulations and requirements for most of the proposal types that the UR IRB will review. It is recommended that members open the registration directions HERE, print them, and follow them carefully.

IRB Member Resources

A number of resources are available to IRB members.The IRB Forum is a discussion and news forum focused on issues of interest to IRB board members and administrators. Membership in the forum is available by registration.IRB websites of other institutions or organizations can give IRB board members a sense of perspective on issues of interest. Some good IRB websites include the following:

  • Several in-state universities (such as VCU and UVA ) offer comprehensive IRB websites. The institutions sponsoring these sites operate under the same state laws that apply to the University of Richmond.
  • PRIM&R (Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research) offers a wealth of information on research ethics. While some information is open source, access to some information requires PRIM&R membership. If you are interested in knowing more about PRIM&R contact the IRB Chair, who is a PRIM&R member.
  • Several books provide critical views of the IRB system in the United States. Carl Schneider's "The Censor’s Hand", weighs the costs and benefits of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) system. Schneider argues that -- on the whole -- IRBs do more harm than good. The book reflects views somewhat similar to those expressed in Zachary M. Schrag's 2010 book "Ethical Imperialism: Institutional Review Boards and the Social Sciences, 1965–2009". Both books are recommended to IRB board members by the IRB Chair. While IRBs are required by the U.S.government, they can avoid many of the problems criticized in these two books. These books are housed in the IRB Office, Room 118, Richmond Hall.

An "IRB Insider" Blog is available for IRB members and other administrators who need information on UR IRB standard operating procedures. To request access to the IRB Insider blog contact the IRB Chair or Tim Vest in the Provost's Office.