Meet Our Staff
Phone: Jordan York
Jordan York serves as program and communications coordinator in the Office of Research Development (ORD) and in the Office of Innovation. He joined RIPS in January 2025 after directing grant-funded exchange programs in NIU's Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS). Jordan holds an M.A. in cultural anthropology from NIU, where his academic work focused on Southeast Asian studies, immigration patterns, diaspora communities and cultural identity formation.
Main ORD roles: campus communications, internal grant programs, internal competitions for institutional limited submissions.
Phone: Kellie Dyslin
Kellie Dyslin is the founding director of the Office of Research Development. She launched ORD after holding progressively responsible research administration and development roles in Sponsored Programs Administration at NIU since 2006. Kellie has 20-plus years of experience in project coordination, proposal development, award/contract negotiation and acceptance, and research development in nonprofit and higher education institutions. Kellie served as the lead PI of an NSF GRANTED program conference grant. Kellie has held professional service roles with multiple organizations including board and committee chair service with the National Organization of Research Development Professionals and as founding chair of the Research Administration and Development subcommittee of the Illinois Innovation Network. Kellie holds a B.A. in psychology and a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a certified research administrator.
Main ORD roles: strategic direction, team mobilization, operations and budget oversight, policy and procedure development and implementation, research collaboration catalyzation.
Phone: Rachael Yndestad
Rachael Yndestad has been a part of the Office of Research Development since 2024 and is currently serving as a research development specialist working with faculty toward enhanced funding development opportunities and faculty research trajectory planning. Rachael has a B.A. in sociology and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with 20-plus years of project and program management experience leading projects in operational transformation and institutional advancement across business and higher education sectors. Rachael is skilled in strategic and tactical planning and is seasoned in leading cross functional projects and proposal writing. Rachael is a member of the National Organization of Research Development Professionals and the Project Management Institute. She also serves on the Research Administration and Development subcommittee of the Illinois Innovation Network.
Main ORD roles: one-on-one faculty support for sourcing funding opportunities, proposal development, and fostering collaborations; facilitating faculty programming including University Grants Academy (UGA) and Faculty Grant Writing Group; developing tools and resources to streamline proposal development.
Phone: Sadie Schaus
Sadie Schaus joined the Office of Research Development as a research development specialist in April 2025. Prior to joining NIU, Sadie earned her B.S. in biochemistry and Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology. Through her educational journey, Sadie gained nine years of experience conducting research on the gut microbiome. She also gained experience supporting faculty in developing grant proposals, managing large multi-institutional research collaborations and communicating complex research concepts to broad audiences. Sadie is a member of the National Organization of Research Development Professionals and serves on the Research Administration and Development subcommittee of the Illinois Innovation Network.
Main ORD roles: one-on-one faculty support for sourcing funding opportunities, proposal development, and fostering collaborations; facilitating faculty programming including University Grants Academy (UGA) and Faculty Grant Writing Group; developing tools and resources to streamline proposal development.