About Us
The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) manages all functions related to sponsored programs at Montana State University or any activity, research or otherwise, that is funded by an external source such as a federal, state, or private organization.
The staff of OSP, comprised of professional Fiscal Managers, takes a comprehensive managerial approach and engages in the award life cycle from proposal submission to the close-out of a grant or award.
In fiscal year 2022, OSP opened 689 new grants and provided oversight for MSU's $201 million in research expenditures.
The OSP staff assumes all financial, reporting, compliance, auditing and related tasks in a proactive spirit that alleviates the administrative workload for researchers so that they may focus on what matters most, their research agenda. The organization of OSP breaks down as shown below.
Office of Sponsored Programs Directors

Sandy Sward
Associate Vice President for Research Administration
Email: [email protected]montana.edu
(406)994-5318


Peggy Kastella
Assistant Director of Office of Sponsored Programs
Email: [email protected]
(406)994-5731
Fiscal Management and Post-Award Services
Fiscal managers are available to help in the management of awards, specifically, PIs can expect to receive assistance with the following:
- Submitting proposal
- Setting up a grant account
- Clarifying fiscal and managerial responsibilities of PI's
- Managing expenditures including invoicing and reporting
- Questions about your grant funded project
- Transferring a grant to/from other institutions
- Successfully closing out a grant
Fiscal managers perform a wide range of grant administration responsibilities. Each Fiscal Manager typically has an assigned portfolio of departmental clients as well as a specific area of agency expertise. Fiscal managers primarily provide post-award services but also assist PIs on proposals.






Office of Sponsored Programs, Information Technology Staff

Office of Sponsored Programs, Subawards

Jennifer Nesbitt
Subaward Manager & Fiscal Manager for Western SARE
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
(406)994-6149

Katie Olson
Subaward Business Operations Analyst
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
(406)994-1982
Accounting and Support Staff



Vacant
Accounting Associate IV