Sue Porterfield

Susannah “Sue” Porterfield, EdD, is a senior research operations leader with extensive experience driving strategic, financial, and operational excellence across major research universities. She currently serves as a Sr. Associate Vice Provost at Johns Hopkins University, where she has held progressive leadership roles within the Office of the Provost and Whiting School of Engineering, and has been integral to strengthening the institution’s research administration, compliance infrastructure, and university-wide research strategy. Porterfield has led transformative efforts to harmonize research administration functions, modernize systems and processes, expand cross-divisional research development capabilities, and support the recruitment and success of globally distinguished faculty, including Bloomberg Distinguished Professors.

Prior to returning to Hopkins, she served as Vice President for Research at Kean University in New Jersey, where she oversaw the university’s research enterprise, expanded research administration capacity, and played a pivotal role in achieving Carnegie R2 status. Known for her ability to guide large, complex teams through organizational change while championing service, integrity, and collaboration, Porterfield brings deep expertise in research administration, compliance, financial governance, and talent development. Committed to excellence, transparency, and operational innovation, she is recognized for her ability to bridge diverse units and elevate research operations in support of world-class scholarship.

She holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and is recognized nationally for her commitment to operational excellence and to advancing the research mission that distinguishes Johns Hopkins.