Institutional Review Board

The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research is the first point of contact regarding human subjects research at (or involving) Towson University faculty, staff or students.

The TU IRB Process

Towson University follows a unique review process. Visit the Process Overview and Research & Review Categories pages for more information on current processes, procedures, and deadlines. 


What Is the Institutional Review Board?

The use of human subjects in Towson University faculty, staff or student research requires approval by the appropriate university review committee, the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is appointed by the Provost, and is comprised of volunteers from TU’s faculty and staff, and at least one member of the community. The IRB is responsible for reviewing research involving human subjects to ensure compliance with all governmental regulations with the use of human subjects. Approval of the IRB must be obtained prior to the involvement of human subjects in research, and for any modifications to the project after IRB approval which would impact the human participants.

Applicable federal regulations are detailed in Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 46.

Towson University Institutional Review Board Members

Have questions that may be related to your academic major or discipline? Contact your IRB college representative.

IRB Administration

  • Compliance Administrator: Ashley Dawson, OSPR Staff
  • Chairperson: Elizabeth Katz, Ph.D., Department of Psychology
  • Vice Chairperson: Bethany Willis Hepp, Ph.D., Department of Family Studies and Community Development

Representatives from the College of Liberal Arts

  • Harjant Gill, Ph.D., Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
  • Bruce Mortenson, Ph.D.,  Department of Psychology

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COLLEGE OF Business and Economics

  • Melissa Groves, Ph.D., Department of Economics

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COLLEGE OF Education

  • Deborah Gartland, Ph.D., Department of Special Education
  • Scot McNary, Ph.D., Department of Educational Technology and Literacy
  • Lijun Jin, Ed.D., Department of Elementary Education

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE College of Health Professions

  • Devon Dobrosielski, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology
  • Peter Lisman, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology
  • Saradha Ananthakrishnan, Ph.D., Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics

  • Todd Moyer, Ed.D., Department of Mathematics

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COLLEGE OF Fine Arts and Communication

  • No representatives at this time.

Community Member

  • Greg Dildine, Community and Civic Volunteer

Towson University Information

  • Federal-Wide Assurance Number — FWA00003648, expires 8/2022
  • IORG Number — IORG0002307
  • IRB Number — IRB00002844