Supporting Research Through People and Precision
September 29, 2025
Kameika Beckford, MSA, is payroll manager and a member of the Professional Affairs team for the Basic Science Administration (BSA). With more than a decade of experience in customer service, payroll and accounting, she brings expertise in financial stewardship and a passion for developing people. She began her Northwestern career as a payroll analyst and non-resident tax specialist and later served as a financial administrator in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation prior to joining BSA.
In her role, Beckford oversees employee and student payroll operations for BSA, works closely with the BSA Research Administration (RA) team to keep funding information up to date and monitors suspense accounts to ensure charges are cleared and properly allocated. More recently, she worked with the with the RA team to refine payroll processes, improving efficiency and creating a smoother experience for BSA-supported departments and centers — contributing directly to a stronger financial foundation for basic science research operations at Feinberg.
As the payroll manager, my role is to ensure that salary expenses are allocated correctly as directed by our research administrators, which results is correct effort allocation.”
Kameika Beckford, MSA
Payroll Manager
Professional Affairs Team
Read a Q&A below.
Where is your hometown?
My hometown is Montego Bay, Jamaica.
What led you to Northwestern?
Growth and advancement in my career led me to Northwestern in 2016.
When did you join BSA?
I joined BSA back in January of 2024
How does your work support the research enterprise at Feinberg?
As the payroll manager, my role is to ensure that salary expenses are allocated correctly as directed by our research administrators, which results is correct effort allocation.
What do you do outside of work?
Outside work, I enjoy being a mother to my three wonderful children. I love spending time with family and friends, traveling, meeting new people and trying new foods. I also collaborate with my neighbors through our block club to build a safe and welcoming neighborhood.