Meet the Staff
Lou Hughes, Ph.D.
Director
Lou Hughes has been APU’s director of sponsored research and grants since
2007. Formerly the research and grants specialist (2006), he also served as a
faculty grant writer for the School of Nursing (2004–05). Hughes has more than
25 years of experience in grant writing, grants administration, and
evaluation. He has assisted universities, colleges, hospitals, and non-profit
organizations in securing more than $20 million in funding for research
projects, program services, facility renovations, and equipment purchases.
Hughes has special expertise in developing and implementing partnership and
collaborative efforts, quite often a requirement for large grant-funded
projects.
Josephine Wong, MBA
Grants Management Administrator
Josephine Wong assists APU faculty members and researchers in administrating their sponsored grants and contracts. For the past year she has been assisting project
investigators and project directors in managing more than 30 sponsored projects endowed with more than $25 million in funding from federal and state governments, the private sector, foundations,
and foreign countries. Josephine holds a Master of Business Administration, as well as bachelor's degrees in accounting, computer information systems, and psychology,
from Arizona State University.
Suzanne Avila
Grant Writer/IACUC Coordinator
Suzanne Avila is the grant writer in the Office of Sponsored Research and Grants, and also serves as the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) coordinator. Avila is a fourth-generation Azusan, her family residing in Azusa since 1920. Raised in an environment that honors and respects community service,Suzanne has more than 12 years of experience writing, managing, and implementing community improvement grants, including securing more than $6.8 million to date in federal,
state, and private grant funds. Avila holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from California State University, Fullerton, and a California Teaching Credential with Cross-Cultural Language and Academic Development certification.
