As chief administrative officer, BJ Abrams provides leadership to the FRIB Laboratory for the integration of administrative functions across disciplines in support of the operation of FRIB as a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC) scientific user facility. BJ partners with other senior leaders and managers to ensure that administrative functions are integrated and executed efficiently in comportment with federal and state requirements, and MSU and DOE-SC expectations and regulations. His role includes monitoring for efficacy, efficiency, and user satisfaction, and assuring continuous improvement.

BJ most recently worked in MSU’s Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives (I3) as director of Equal Opportunity and Inclusion and MSU's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) coordinator. There he was responsible for MSU's EEO and affirmative-action program and ensuring that the university was in compliance with federal regulations. BJ led the office's efforts to support campus units in their goals to advance workforce diversity. He developed, monitored, and implemented the university's affirmative-action program as required by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. He partnered with academic and central HR, and other campus constituents to ensure that proper policies and procedures were followed with respect to hiring and recruitment across campus. BJ also directed I3's community-outreach efforts and programs for diverse campus constituency groups and organizations, collaborating with and supporting units in their efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive campus community.

Prior to joining MSU, BJ spent 14 years in the Washington, D.C. area working for a national arbitration firm in the areas of labor, employment, and contract law, on cases involving Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Social Security Administration, U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, and private businesses. 

BJ is often invited to serve as a presenter and panelist across the country, speaking on best practices in EEO, diversity, workplace regulations and compliance, risk management, and facility planning and design issues. Additionally, BJ writes and researches in the fields of workplace compliance, risk management, and facilities. He also teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of business management, ethics, law, risk management, and facilities.

BJ earned his Juris Doctor law degree from Boston College, an MS from Barry University, and a PhD from the University of New Mexico with a concentration in sports and business law.