Ryals to lead export control, research security

Rhonda Shaner Ryals, formerly of Georgia Tech, has joined Clemson University as director of export control and research security.

The Office of Export Compliance and Research Security within the Division of Research leads the University’s compliance with federal trade regulations that protect national security interests and foreign policy objectives. Ryals will work closely with University leadership, faculty and staff to enhance fruitful research collaboration both in the U.S. and abroad while adhering to U.S. regulation. 

“Research has no boundary, and international collaboration is important to scholarship and discovery that is relevant and impactful,” said Tanju Karanfil, Clemson vice president for research. “This is an essential position that will work to protect the intellectual capital of university research and support successful international research collaboration. Clemson will benefit from Rhonda’s experience.”

For the past decade, Ryals has worked with the Office of Research Integrity Assurance at the Georgia Institute of Technology, most recently as associate director. In this role, she has completed export reviews for internationally sponsored research, evaluated research agreement terms, drafted plans to safeguard export-controlled technology, evaluated risk and identified improvements to process and policy, among other responsibilities. Ryals has also developed and delivered training to Georgia Tech faculty and staff involved in research with export-controlled materials.