Directory

Dawn Phillips joined CTSI in 2021. She has a master's degree in adult education and a bachelor's degree in business administration/management. She has extensive experience as an office assistant and office manager in busy academic environments, including East Carolina University and Catawba College. Her passion is supporting teams and offices and working with people, specifically geriatric populations.

Born in Argentina and now a resident of Concord, N.C. Ms. Plez joined Duke CTSI in January 2010. As the Research Project Leader for Community Engagement, Ms. Plez supports translational population health research efforts in Kannapolis by informing, recruiting, and enrolling the Hispanic population in the area. She previously worked as a teacher and translator in both Argentina and the United States after graduating from UM University in Buenos Aires with a Bachelor of Arts in modern languages.

Assistant Professor of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics

Stella joined CTSI in September 2021 as a Program Manager and Research Analysist for the Evaluation and Strategic Planning Core.

Whitney Raye has been at Duke since Nov. 2019, where she started as a Research Administrator in ORA and has been working in research administration since then. In CTSI, Whitney works with the finance group to manage a portfolio that includes effort for PIs and other personnel, finances for project funds, and compliance with all current Dept, Duke, and Sponsor restrictions and processes. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University in 2018. 

Amber supports the Center for Pathway Programs by coordinating stakeholder engagement, developing strategies for effective program administration, and promoting the Center’s efforts both internally and externally. In addition to her role at the Center, Amber directs communications for The BOOST Program, a program founded by the late Dr. Brenda Armstrong to get Durham Public Schools students excited about STEM. Amber is a Duke alum from Hollister, NC, and a citizen of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe.

Cheryl Robinson joined Duke CTSI as a Research Aide and is now a Clinical Research Specialist with the Duke Kannapolis group in Durham, N.C. She spent just over five years serving in the U.S. Navy boot camp in Orlando, Fla. and the Naval Operations Base in Norfolk, Va. to begin courses in underwater sound surveillance. Her advanced training took her to Eureka, Calif. and her career as an Ocean Systems Technician officially began at the base in Dam Neck, Va.

Ms. Rockett has been with Duke since February of 2012. With a bachelor’s degree in biology, Ms. Rockett serves as a clinical research coordinator, providing clinical help for many different studies, as well as regulatory oversight, staff training and maintenance on specific protocols, data collection and miscellaneous support to faculty as needed.

Ms. Rockett enjoys having the opportunity to introduce people to important research underway in Cabarrus County. When not working, Ms. Rockett enjoys spending time with her husband and young son.

Vonda Rodriguez, PhD, is the Director of Operations for CTSI Accelerator.  She provides project management and support to Duke translational research teams to advance research along translational paths.