Foreign Influence

SPOTLIGHT: Oriana Thomas

women in suit with glasses and arms folded

Oriana Thomas, MBA, works in the Office of Compliance & Ethics at the University of South Florida (USF), focusing on Foreign Influence Compliance. Her duties include ensuring the university adheres to both federal and state laws regarding foreign influence. This encompasses reporting foreign gifts and contracts, vetting foreign researchers, monitoring foreign travel, managing international cultural agreements, and disclosing foreign activities.

With over a decade of experience in various state-regulated roles, Oriana has a strong background in interpreting and integrating state statutes into actionable processes. She has developed policies, standard operating procedures, and guidelines to govern risk-related decisions and processes. Motivated by the aim to make a meaningful difference, Oriana is dedicated to providing value and upholding USF's commitment to integrity and transparency in all aspects of our international engagements.

Oriana is an enthusiastic compliance professional, striving to foster a culture where people feel both comfortable with discussing potential issues and secure in receiving appropriate guidance. She looks forward to making positive contributions within the Office of Compliance and Ethics.