Dr. Abbie Kerr serves as a Managing Director of Grants and Federal Affairs in the firm’s Higher Education Practice. Drawing from over 10 years of professional experience in higher education, Abbie works closely with clients and faculty to secure federal and foundation grants that align with their institution’s mission and priorities. Throughout her professional experience, Abbie has helped clients to secure awards from a variety of funding agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.
Before joining McAllister & Quinn, Abbie spent twelve years at Illinois Wesleyan University, where she was a Professor of psychology and neuroscience. While at the institution, she held a variety of administrative roles including Interim Provost/Chief Academic Officer. In her time at Illinois Wesleyan, Abbie specialized in faculty development and grant support and engaged in scholarship related to animal models of stroke rehabilitation. Her research is published in journals including Neurorehabilitation & Neural Repair, Behavioral Neuroscience, and Behavioral Brain Research.
Abbie holds a Ph.D. and M.S. (both neuroscience) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a B.A. (English) from Wittenberg University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
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