A career grounded in service

At the beginning of May 2021, Frank DiSilvestro joined Audit & Advisory Services (AAS) as the university’s first Conflict of Interest (COI) Compliance Manager. A native of Indiana, Frank earned a BS in Marketing from Indiana University and a Master of Public Policy from Duke University. His career has taken him from Duke to the World Bank; in both organizations he served in roles supporting community development and service-learning programs. An opportunity to serve as the South Carolina State Director for AmeriCorps, a federal agency that supports community-based service and volunteering programs, brought Frank and his family to Columbia. He spent four years in that position before coming to Audit & Advisory Services.

When asked about the importance of having on staff someone who specializes in COI, Pam Dunleavy, Chief Audit Executive of the University of South Carolina, said, “Conflict of Interest has increasingly become an area of interest for a myriad of reasons, including concerns about foreign governments gaining improper access to U.S. research, undue influence from a business relationship, personal gain, corruption or the appearance of an inappropriate relationship causing a toxic environment.” The addition of Frank to the team means AAS can provide the university continual, expert guidance on this complicated issue.

Conflicts of interest are not something to be ashamed of--in fact, they can often indicate someone is involved in meaningful, collaborative work.

-Frank DiSilvestro

Here to help

Frank, why did you want to work for the University of South Carolina? How are you settling in?

FD:  The University of South Carolina is a tremendous catalyst for positive change in our state and beyond. The university is on the cutting edge developing new ideas and technologies, along with developing emerging leaders who will shape our future. I have enjoyed my first few weeks at UofSC and appreciate working with such a great team at AAS.

Conflict of Interest is an intriguing specialization. What led you to this focus in your work?

FD: I have always enjoyed working with community partners to help them navigate issues of compliance and maximize impact. Providing quality training and support to ensure compliance ultimately helps everyone involved. COI issues can be complex, especially in a university context. I look forward to helping our stakeholders at the University of South Carolina navigate COI issues, not only to ensure compliance, but to ensure we are moving forward with collaborative and impactful work. 

What’s something about COI you wish more people knew?

FD: Conflicts of interest are not something to be ashamed of-- in fact, they can often indicate someone is involved in meaningful, collaborative work. The key is to disclose and manage COIs to ensure the integrity of the work and protect all parties involved.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Columbia?

We have two young kids, so on the weekends our family is often outside hiking, playing sports or going to the zoo or a Fireflies game.

Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I have an open door and would enjoy hearing from anyone interested in saying hello or sharing ideas on this work. I can be reached at disilvef@mailbox.sc.edu, or 803-777-3732.