Office of
Research and Creative Scholarship

Mordekai Ongo, PhD.

Mordekai Ongo, PhD.

Mordekai Ongo, PhD.

Title: Research Integrity and Compliance Officer.
Adjunct-Faculty, & University Ombudsperson

Office Location: Buller Hall 234
E-mail: irb@andrews.edu
Phone: (269) 471-6361

Education

Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration
Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, 2019
Dissertation: Perceptions of Service Quality and Satisfaction Among International Students in Indiana and Michigan
Dissertation Link https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1675/ 

M.S. in Software Engineering – 2004
M.S. in Engineering Management – 1998
Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI

B.B.A. in Business Administration – 1991
University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, Eldoret, Kenya

Biography

Mordekai is the Research Integrity & Compliance Officer at Andrews University.  

 

He received a BA in Business Administration (University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, Kenya), MSc in Engineering Administration, MSc in Software Engineering, and a PhD. in Higher Education, Andrews University.

 

Seasoned higher education professional with over 15 years of progressive leadership in research compliance, institutional review board (IRB) administration, and research integrity. Demonstrated expertise in building and leading research governance structures, policy development, cross-functional collaboration, and stakeholder engagement. Proven track record of advancing ethical research environments, overseeing IRB/IACUC operations, delivering training, and fostering a culture of innovation and responsible conduct in research. Known for bridging academic vision with regulatory compliance to enable research excellence and institutional growth.

CORE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

  • Research Compliance & Integrity Oversight
  • IRB/IACUC Administration & Strategic Leadership
  • Regulatory Compliance (45 CFR 46, HIPAA, FDA, OHRP)
  • Cross-Functional Institutional Collaboration
  • Faculty & Researcher Training and Development
  • Policy Development and Implementation
  • Data-Driven Decision Making & Reporting
  • Conflict Resolution & Ombuds Services

Current Research or Professional Activities

Publications:

  • Lim, J., Covrig, D., Freed, S., De Oliveira, B., Ongo, M., & Newman, I. (2019). Strategies to Assist Distance Doctoral Students. IRRODL. 20(5), 192-210. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v20i5.4532
  • Covrig, D., Ongo, M., & Ledesma, J. (2012). Integrating Moral Leadership. JACL.
  • Burton, L., et al. (2011). Engaging Diverse STEM Students in Transformative Learning.

Current Research:

  • Vaccine Hesitancy at Andrews University (2021 – Present)

Presentations:

 ·         Covrig, D., Ongo, M., & Ledesma, J. (2012). Integrating competing moral leadership types within an organization.  Presented at International Leadership Conference, Denver, Colorado, October 24-27

·         Covrig, D., Newman, I., Freed, S., Gonzalez, S., de Oliveria, B., & Ongo, M. (2012).  Helping distance students complete research. SoTL conference. Indiana University South Bend, April 20. 


PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES ATTENDED:

 ·         Office of Human Subjects Protections (OHRP) in conjunction with Indiana University Office of Research Compliance, Suburban Indianapolis, Indiana Research Community Forum: New Frontiers in Human Subjects Research, September 20-21, 2022.

  ·         Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association Annual Conference, May 18-21, 2022. Advent Health University, Orlando, Florida.

 ·         Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association seminar on Promoting Research Integrity: A trainer-of-trainers seminar for investigators and ethics administrators, April 7-9, Nairobi, Kenya.

 ·         Office for Human Subjects Protections (OHRP) Virtual Research Community Forum (RFC): Breaking Down Barriers: Addressing Challenging Research and Regulations Hosted by: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, June 15-16, 2021.

 ·         Office for Human Subjects Protections (OHRP) Exploratory workshop: Practical & ethical considerations for single IRB review.  Virtual. Thursday, September17, 2020.

·         Office for Human Subjects Protections (OHRP) Exploratory workshop: Virtual: “Privacy and Health Research in a Data-Driven World” Thursday, September 19, 2019.

 ·         Office for Human Subjects Protections (OHRP) Forum Workshop.  Overview of the revised common rule with a focus on exemptions.  Governors State University, University Park November 15, 2017. 

 ·         National Institute of Health (NIH) & OHRP Forum Workshop.  Program funding and grants management.  Getting through human subjects research reviews with skills.  October 26-28, 2016.  Chicago, IL.

 ·         National Institute of Health (NIH) & OHRP Forum Workshop.  The changing landscape of research:  Where do we go from here? June 21-22, 2016 Nashville, TN.

 ·         Michigan Research Ethics Conference (MREC).  A deeper drive into Human Subject Protections.  Michigan State University, April 29, 2016.  East Lansing, MI

 ·         OHRP Research Community Forum.  Human Subjects Research:  Current challenges in the modern research world.  Governors State University, University Park July 28, 2015.

 ·         OHRP Research Community Forum.  Informed Consent Process, Madison, Wisconsin July 8, 2014.

 ·          Michigan Research Ethics Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan April 25, 2015.

 ·         Educating Scientists in Research Ethics for the 21st Century, Annapolis, Maryland June 8 through 11, 2014. 

 ·         Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) Research Community. An Educational Conference on Strategies for Optimizing the Protection of Human Participants in Research. Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan May 2, 2013.

 ·         Michigan Association of International Educators (MAIE) Conference, Grand Traverse Resort, Traverse City March 20-21, 2013

 ·         Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters, Alma Michigan, March 2, 2012

 ·         National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), Kansas City, California, May 30- June 4, 2010

 ·         Michigan Association of Evaluators Conference (MAE), Lansing, Michigan, May, 2010

 ·         National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), Los Angeles, California, May 24-29, 2009

 ·         Michigan Association of Evaluators Conference (MAE), Lansing, Michigan, May 8, 2009

 ·         American Educational Research Association (AERA), Chicago, Illinois, April 9-13, 2007

 ·         Michigan Association of Professors of Educational Administration (MAPEA), Eastern Michigan University, October 24, 2007