Meet Kate Stoan
Kate Stoan | Assistant Vice President of Research Security and Export Controls
Kate Stoan is Assistant Vice President of Research Security and Export Controls at Purdue University, where she leads the university’s strategy for research security, export controls, and sanctions compliance. She works across academic, research, and administrative units to strengthen institutional resilience, protect critical research, and enable secure international collaboration while navigating an increasingly complex national security and regulatory landscape.
Prior to joining Purdue, Kate held research security and export compliance roles at The Ohio State University and the University of Missouri System. In those positions, she supported and developed enterprise-wide compliance programs designed to protect federally funded research and strategic partnerships. Her expertise includes export controls, sanctions, research security, risk assessment, and the implementation of evolving federal requirements.
Kate is actively involved with the Big Ten Research Security Working Group, the Central Midwest Research Security Forum, the Association of University Export Control Officers, and the Research Security Subcommittee of the Federal Demonstration Partnership. She has also served on the boards of directors for the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association and the FBI Cincinnati Citizens Academy Alumni Association, supporting collaboration between the FBI and communities across the country.
Protecting Research while Enabling Collaboration
Purdue’s Research Security and Export Controls team works with researchers and campus partners to manage risk, meet federal requirements, and protect the open research environment that supports discovery and innovation.
Research security is a shared responsibility. The team helps Purdue researchers understand requirements related to federal disclosures, international collaborations and travel, export-controlled information and technology, sanctions, research security training, and controlled information. By engaging the team early, researchers can identify potential concerns and develop practical solutions that allow important work to move forward securely and responsibly.
A Few Questions with Kate
What was your very first job?
While I didn’t get paid for it, it was certainly work. I was a Wrangler Aide at Girl Scout camp, working in the stables and helping the younger Girl Scouts learn how to groom, saddle, and ride horses. Being in Texas over the summer with the added safety requirements of wearing boots and jeans, it was definitely work and it was hot, but it was enjoyable to be outside working with others and to be with the horses.
What is one thing you’re unusually good at that has nothing to do with your job?
If you give me a song and a topic, I can usually re-write the lyrics of the song to fit the topic pretty quickly.
What is a place you’ve visited that you would happily return to tomorrow?
I’ve found that who I am with is more important than where I am, so I would say my grandmother’s house circa 1987. Growing up, we usually lived 8-10 hours away from my grandparents, so we visited at Christmas and in the summer. It gave me an opportunity to escape city life and spend time on the farm picking corn, planting flowers, and hearing all the old family stories.
What is something you could give a 10-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
The history of the War of the Roses from 1455 to 1487 in which the House of Lancaster and the House of York continually fought for power over England.
Have Questions about Research Security or Export Controls?
Requirements may apply when researchers travel internationally, host international visitors, ship materials or equipment abroad, work with controlled information or software, or participate in international research collaborations. The Research Security and Export Controls team can help determine what requirements apply and identify an appropriate path forward.