Kris Ackerson has served as Grant Development Manager at the Center for Social Science Innovation since 2017. In this role, he supports faculty, scientific staff, and graduate students in securing competitive grant funding for social science research. As a program developer and grant writer, Ackerson has successfully supported over 500 grant proposals, resulting in $29 million in awarded funding. His expertise spans a range of proposal types, from large-scale federal initiatives to smaller, targeted funding opportunities.

Ackerson recently earned the HawkAI Level-1 Certificate in Artificial Intelligence Proficiency from the Iowa Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology Services. This certification reflects his understanding of the AI landscape, his ability to leverage AI tools to boost productivity, and his readiness to participate in AI collaboration activities.

Ackerson is a Certified Research Administrator from the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) and is actively engaged in advancing research development as a member of the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP).