Bridging Theater and Research Administration: Communicating for Impact

January 2026

Levi Welch is an associate research administrator within the Basic Science Administration (BSA), where he supports a portfolio of basic science research labs across the full grant lifecycle. He is part of a team dedicated to pre- and post-award support — from proposal development and budget preparation to award setup and ongoing management, including compliance, financial oversight and effort reporting — allowing investigators to focus on advancing their research.

Welch began his Feinberg journey as an assistant research administrator in BSA and has steadily expanded his role and impact, earning promotion to associate research administrator. With formal training in theater and experience as a working actor, he brings a unique perspective to his work, using strong communication skills, adaptability and collaborative problem-solving to support investigators and peers.

His contributions extend beyond day-to-day grant administration. Welch has represented BSA through speaking engagements for national research administration audiences and broader Feinberg staff communities, where he has shared strategies on process improvement, team collaboration and the effective use of technology. These efforts have helped strengthen practices not only within his own team but across Feinberg and the research enterprise.

Read a Q&A to learn more about Welch’s path to research administration and how he continues to support research through innovation and collaboration.

Where is your hometown?

I’m originally from Burley, Idaho, a super small farming town in Southern Idaho.

What brought you to Northwestern?

I had just graduated from Loyola University Chicago, and I was on the job hunt. A friend of mine recommended I look into career opportunities. One thing led to another, and I was lucky enough to end up at BSA.

When did you join BSA?

I joined the Basic Science Administration team in August 2022.

Can you tell us about a recent project or initiative you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud?

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to represent BSA during multiple public speaking events in 2025 alongside a few great colleagues of mine. In May, we presented at the Midwest National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) Conference, and in October we were invited to be a part of our Feinberg Forward: Expanding Staff Knowledge series. Public speaking is something I naturally excel at and am comfortable doing, so it is always a pleasure to represent the Research Administration (RA) team whenever I get the opportunity.

How does your work contribute to the research enterprise at Feinberg?

To people outside the research administration bubble (most people), I typically describe my job as working with a few different labs on anything grant related. Being an RA is always interesting because we are a part of so many processes including proposal development and submission, award setup, financial management and salary deployment. The administrative work I do makes it so that my PIs are able to turn their focus to their research and not worry about administrative responsibilities.

Why do you enjoy working at Northwestern?

I feel lucky to work at Northwestern, and at BSA specifically, because I am able to do meaningful work during the day while also maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I have a lot of friends who work in corporate settings and are unable to ever turn off their work brains. I feel grateful to be part of a team that encourages employees to maintain healthy boundaries and live a rich, fulfilling life outside of work.

What do you do enjoy outside of work?  

Beyond working in research administration, I am also a working actor in the city. I closed my last show in the fall, and I was fortunate enough to have some coworkers come and support me. Besides that, you can normally find me dancing in my room to some Taylor Swift, going for a run on the Lakefront Trail or spending too much money at one of Chicago’s many wonderful independent bookshops.