Office of the Vice President for Research

The University Utah community mourns the loss of Joy Blatchford, Director of the Research Pre-Award Unit and a cherished colleague, mentor, and friend. Joy passed away unexpectedly on November 20, leaving a profound void in the world of research administration—a field she not only served but helped shape.

Throughout her distinguished career, Joy was a champion for research administrators and University staff alike, tirelessly advocating for the people, process improvement, and systems that make discovery possible. She played a pivotal role in building and strengthening the university’s research infrastructure, always working to ensure that faculty, staff, and investigators had the support they needed to pursue their ideas.

We honor Joy for her legacy of excellence, for the systems she built, and for the countless people she uplifted along the way. Her impact on the University of Utah will endure for years to come, reflected in the strength of the enterprise she helped cultivate and in the many individuals she inspired.

To continue this legacy, we are establishing the Joy Blatchford Memorial Staff Development Award, which will fund professional development awards for staff, administered through the University of Utah Staff Council. Should donations reach the University of Utah's minimum endowment threshold of $25,000 - an endowment will be created with donor funds to benefit staff professional development for years to come. If the minimum endowment threshold is not met within 2 years, the organization will use these funds for the same purpose but will not be endowed.

Donate to the Memorial Fund Today

Be sure to share this email with others who might be willing to support us in memorializing the legacy of Joy. And here is a flyer you can use to spread the word, as well.