Guilford College EPIIC SPARK

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Welcome to EPIIC SPARK — where partnerships drive regional resiliency and innovation

Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) — Supporting Partnerships for Advancement, Research, and Knowledge (SPARK)

The National Science Foundation’s EPIIC Program is designed to help institutions strengthen their innovation ecosystems. EPIIC supports efforts to expand use-inspired research, build strategic and cross-sector partnerships, and develop sustainable pathways that move ideas from discovery to real-world impact. Through this program, NSF aims to enhance institutions’ ability to participate in the national science and technology enterprise and contribute to solutions that benefit society.

As an NSF EPIIC awardee, Guilford College is working to strengthen its capacity for collaboration across academia, industry, government, and community organizations.

Nurturing Infrastructure for Collaboration

Guilford College’s EPIIC-SPARK initiative expands the College’s ability to engage in research, collaboration, and partnership-driven work that connects faculty expertise and student learning with external needs.

Our work focuses on:

  • Expanding research and grants capacity
  • Strengthening partnerships across industry, nonprofit, government, and education sectors
  • Building systems that support long-term collaboration and knowledge sharing

Key Initiatives

EPIIC-SPARK supports a set of focused initiatives that strengthen Guilford’s research infrastructure and partnership ecosystem:

  • Institutional Gap Analysis: Assessing current capacity for research, partnerships, and innovation to guide strategic growth
  • Supporting interdisciplinary collaboration and faculty/staff engagement in research and partnerships
  • Providing training, resources, and learning communities in grantsmanship and collaboration
  • Establishing systems and roles to coordinate and strengthen external partnerships
  • Ensuring partnerships align with Guilford’s values of equity, ethics, and social responsibility
  • Creating a centralized space to support research and interdisciplinary collaboration

Guilford College is one of four institutions participating in the NSF EPIIC-SPARK cohort, a collaborative learning community focused on strengthening innovation capacity and cross-sector partnerships.

Epiic team members seated around a conference table
Guilford College

SUNY Brockport

Southern Arkansas University

Rhode Island School of Design

Through this collaboration, cohort institutions share knowledge, strategies, and best practices to build more connected and effective knowledge and partnership ecosystems within their respective regions.

Meet the Guilford College Team Leading this Effort

The EPIIC-SPARK team at Guilford College brings together leadership across strategy, institutional governance, faculty development, and project implementation. Working collaboratively, the team is focused on strengthening the College’s capacity for research, collaboration, and cross-sector partnership development while creating opportunities that connect faculty, students, and external partners.

Sam Roth in a black top posing in front of a tan background
Samantha Roth, MPA

Grants Project Manager, Office of Advancement
Lead PI

Samantha Roth serves as Grants Project Manager in the Office of Advancement at Guilford College and is the Lead Principal Investigator for the EPIIC-SPARK initiative. She helps lead efforts to strengthen research infrastructure, expand grant capacity, and support cross-sector partnership development across the institution.

She works closely with faculty, staff, and senior leadership to coordinate grants processes, implement institutional systems, and advance mission-aligned projects. Her work focuses on enhancing research visibility and building connections between Guilford College and external partners in industry, government, and the nonprofit sector.

Professional woman in colorful blazer and turquoise necklace on Guilford College campus.
Jean Bordewich

President
Co-PI

Jean Bordewich serves as President of Guilford College and Co-Principal Investigator for the EPIIC-SPARK initiative. A seasoned leader in governance, public service, and institutional strategy, she brings extensive experience building connections across government, philanthropy, and higher education.

As President, she is leading Guilford College through a period of institutional transformation, strengthening financial stability, reinforcing academic integrity, and advancing a leadership approach grounded in transparency and Quaker values. Her work emphasizes collaboration, ethical decision-making, and the development of sustainable structures that support the College’s long-term mission. Through EPIIC-SPARK, she supports the development of cross-sector partnerships and works to strengthen Guilford College’s role as an anchor institution within the broader community.

Photo of Meredeth standing outdoors wearing a long-sleeve black top, red glasses, and multicolored head band
Meredeth Summers

Chief of Staff, Adjunct Professor  
Co-PI

Dr. Meredeth D. Summers is Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees at Guilford College and a Co-Principal Investigator for the EPIIC-SPARK initiative. She brings experience in leadership, entrepreneurship, and higher education, with a focus on community engagement and institutional development.
At Guilford, she supports senior leadership, governance, and major institutional initiatives, and serves as an adjunct faculty member. Her work and research center on leadership, cross-cultural engagement, and social transformation.
Through EPIIC-SPARK, she supports the development of a faculty fellows program and resources that strengthen faculty and staff capacity for partnership development and collaboration.

Gloria Thornton
Gloria Thornton

Project Specialist and Director of Title III
Project Manager

Gloria Thornton serves as Project Manager for the NSF-funded EPIIC-SPARK initiative and is Director of the Title III Program and Project Specialist in Guilford College’s Office of the Provost. She brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education, with expertise in project management, data systems, and federally funded program administration.

At Guilford College, Gloria leads the College’s Title III Strengthening Institutions Program, a multi-year federal initiative focused on enhancing student success, academic infrastructure, and innovation in teaching and learning. Her work includes managing complex budgets, overseeing system implementation, and supporting data governance and institutional analytics that inform strategic decision-making.

Through EPIIC-SPARK, Gloria works closely with the Lead PI to support project implementation, fiscal oversight, and compliance with NSF and institutional requirements. She coordinates core project activities, manages reporting processes, and helps strengthen the infrastructure needed to support undergraduate research, faculty collaboration, and external partnerships. Gloria also plays a key role in the development of the College’s Research, Collaboration, and Innovation Hub.