By Matt Hazenbush, Director of Communications and Member Engagement
The Computing Research Association (CRA) is pleased to announce that Quinn Spadola, PhD, has joined the organization as Director of Research Community Initiatives. In this role, Spadola leads the Computing Community Consortium (CCC) and supports CRA’s broader efforts to advance innovative, high-impact initiatives that serve the computing research community.
Spadola brings extensive experience in scientific research, federal coordination, and community engagement, with a career spanning the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, Georgia Tech, and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her work has centered on building partnerships across academia, industry, government, and the public to strengthen national research ecosystems.
“Quinn is an exceptional addition to CRA and CCC, and I’m thrilled to welcome her to the team,” said Tracy Camp, Executive Director and CEO of CRA. “She brings a rare mix of experience and perspective, and her background leading multiagency efforts and working closely with research communities will be a tremendous asset as CRA continues catalyzing impactful computing research.”
A Leader in Strategic Coordination and Community Building
Throughout her career, Spadola has focused on aligning stakeholders, facilitating collaboration, and ensuring that scientific initiatives are responsive to societal needs. Most recently, she served as Director and Deputy Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, where she led interagency groups, supported the development of national research strategies, and guided major convenings focused on nanotechnology, microelectronics, and emerging technology workforce issues.
Earlier at Georgia Tech, she coordinated workforce, education, and outreach programs across the 16-site National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure and served as a co-principal investigator and contributor to several other NSF-supported efforts.
Her track record reflects a consistent emphasis on the core principles she will bring to CCC: enabling community voices, strengthening national coordination, and ensuring that research investments reach the people and institutions best positioned to advance discovery and societal impact.
“CCC plays a vital role in shaping forward-looking research directions for the computing field,” said Bill Gropp, Chair of CRA’s Computing Community Consortium and Director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Quinn’s exceptional experience and skill sets position her well to work closely with the CCC Council and our dedicated volunteer community as we continue developing bold visions that serve the nation.”
Guiding CCC and Supporting CRA’s Research Initiatives
As Director of Research Community Initiatives, Spadola is responsible for guiding CCC’s portfolio, including visioning workshops, reports and whitepapers, and other community-driven research activities. She also contributes to CRA’s organizational leadership and helps cultivate partnerships that elevate the needs and perspectives of the computing research community.
Her approach is grounded in a belief that well-coordinated and transparent processes enable stronger research outcomes and more effective national investments.
“I’m excited to join CRA and work closely with the CCC Council and the broader community,” Spadola said. “Throughout my career, I’ve seen how thoughtful coordination and genuine engagement can accelerate impactful research. I look forward to helping convene and support the computing community as we identify opportunities, elevate shared priorities, and pursue research that meets national and societal needs.”
Spadola holds a PhD in physics from Arizona State University and an MFA in science and natural history filmmaking from Montana State University.
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