Specialty Projects and Chief Administrative Officer, School of Dentistry

Here is what Saiqa's nominator had to say about her:

"Saiqa Anne is a well-informed and strategic administrator in the School of Dentistry who supports women around her to explore opportunities. She is gracious with her time in helping others explore career opportunities at UC that help them argue their skills and advance their careers within the university."

Nominated by: Ranae Waneka

Saiqa's Bio

I have been a research administrator for over a decade, and I have worked internationally implementing change programs in research, setting strategic priorities and research strategy. I am a trainer, speaker, writer and curriculum designer with an interest in post graduate education, adult learning, and post-doctoral training, and particularly with labor diversification in the workforce. I am a mixed method social scientist and advocate for visually led presentation of data to support data driven decision making. 

I have most recently worked on Special Projects in the School of Dentistry, and prior to that I held other roles at UCSF. I was Chief Administrative Officer in Cell and Tissue Biology, managed all incoming research income, about $1.6 billion including collections, as the Contracts and Grants Revenue Manager, and prior to that as the Manager of Operations for the Center for Digital Health Innovation supporting a $35m a year innovation center. I began at UCSF as the Senior Research Program Coordinator in OB/GYN RS, supporting a $100m grant and philanthropy funded research program. I began my career in the United Kingdom, including London College of Fashion, where I supported a broad technology facing research portfolio attempting to normalize sizing to reduce return rates in online shopping and integrated body scanning technology with bespoke tailoring in men’s suits to re-onshore the garment industry to the EU. I also managed a number of UK and EU funded research programs, including setting up a cross disciplinary Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Queen’s University, reframing Northern Ireland as a knowledge hub and research destination. 

I am extensively published in both academic and industry publications, previously assessed the ARMA qualification for research managers (UK and International) at all levels, and speak internationally about research management, communication, recruitment and retention, and the impact of diversity on research administration. I have created a certified training in Inter-Generational Communication, approved for one credit unit of CPD for clinicians, pharmacists, nurses and physician's assistants in the United States, and am training faculty for the Fundamentals of Research Administration program for NCURA. I am adjunct faculty at John’s Hopkin’s Masters in Research Administration. 

What’s on your reading list?    

The Nutmeg Trail: Recipes and Stories Along the Ancient Spice Routes- by Eleanor Ford 

The Secret Lives of Color- Kassia St. Clair 

Places of the Heart: The Psychogeography of Everyday Life- Colin Ellard 

The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality- Kathryn Paige Harden 

What’s your ideal weather?    

Sunshine on the beach! 

What do you like to do outside of work? 

I like to read, hike and go to the gym. I also like to travel and write. 

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