Thomas Spencer

Thomas B. Spencer, Ph.D., M.B.A., is currently a Lecturer in the Advanced Academic Program in the School of Arts & Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, where his focus is Research Administrative electronic systems. He is also the Assistant Vice President for Operations and Compliance for Academic and Administrative Information Resources at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas TX. Thomas is a former adjunct faculty member in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at UT Dallas. He joined the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) in 2007, completed their Executive Leadership Program in 2014, and was elected the Region V Chairperson in 2016. Additionally, in 2016, Thomas was selected to become a Fellow in the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Information Resources.

Thomas’ research focuses on the study and methods of research itself: Research Administration, Public Affairs and American Healthcare. The understanding of Economic, Political and Public Policy decisions as they relate to research administration, accessibility, data privacy, information security and healthcare services is of prime importance in understanding the landscape of American academia. The concept of Research Administrative Burden, or the study of policy related to the “red-tape” obstruction of research administration for scientists, administrators and regulators is lacking as a research topic unto itself. Thomas has devoted both his career and education to the investigation of these topics as they relate to Org Theory, Public Service Motivation, Ethics and Leadership.