In the CTSI Spotlight: Kelsey Stoltzfus

Kelsey Stoltzfus, Director of Pilot Programs, Quality Assurance and Compliance Specialist

In October 2022, Kelsey Stoltzfus came to Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine where she was a research project manager. From drafting and posting funding announcements, managing the application review process, ensuring projects are up and running in a timely manner and ensuring specific information is submitted to NCATS for approval, Kelsey oversees CTSI funded pilot programs.

At the CTSI, Kelsey most enjoys “the big idea planning that I get to be a part of. Whether it’s imagining a new way to run a pilot grant or thinking about how we can help Penn State students learn more about the career opportunities available within the CTSI and the University as a whole, I get to be creative which pairs nicely with the structured work of my day-to-day responsibilities. CTSI covers such a breadth of topics, and the possibilities of what can be accomplished within the Institute are limitless.”

Kelsey Stoltzfus, left, poses for a picture with her husband David.

When asked what she’s most proud of of in her work Kelsey said, “I’m most proud of the moments where I help someone get their research started after previously being faced with roadblocks. Whether it’s interpreting what information needs to be submitted to NCATS for study approval or communicating across the various regulatory offices at Penn State, I’m proud to be able to help researchers navigate the regulatory administrative processes so they can get started on their amazing research projects.”

Fun facts about Kelsey:

Family: Kelsey’s current family photo spans five generations! In that photo is her maternal great-grandmother (who will turn 90 this year), for whom Kelsey is named.

Hobby: She loves to dance. She took tap classes and performed annually right up to the pandemic.

Food: If she had to eat the same meal every day for the rest of her life, it would be “a toss up between mac and cheese and cheeseburgers. Unless I can pick dessert, then it would be chocolate cake with peanut butter icing.”

Binge-worthy: “I just finished watching season 4 of The Crown after only starting the series back in January. On to season 5!”

Current book recommendation: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

Bucket List Item:  Skydiving!

If you're having trouble accessing this content, or would like it in another format, please email the Penn State College of Medicine web department.