Awards and Recognition

Recognizing accomplishments is a big part of the R&I culture. Each year, the Vice Chancellor’s office hosts a staff recognition celebration and present individual award for invaluable service and outstanding team customer service.  The Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service is presented annually to R&I team members and partners who demonstrate excellence in their work and commitment to the department’s mission. Award criteria include outstanding accomplishments above and beyond job and performance expectations; actions that support leadership, innovation, initiative and/or cost-effectiveness; and exceptional service provided to university clients.

2023 Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award Winners

Sherri Jones presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to Melissa Bausch. Melissa in her role as Clinical Veterinarian in the IACP Team to provides exceptional customer service to research faculty customers.  Dr. Jim MacDonald commented, “Dr. Melissa Bausch is more than our attending veterinarian, she is a valued member of our team. Our staff members don’t just call her when there is a problem; they seek out her input, so they know they are taking the best course of action for the animal and the research.  Being a vet means coming in on weekends, holidays and bad weather- Melissa never hesitates. During a serious heat stress event this summer, Melissa put in hours overseeing veterinary care of the cattle. A veterinarian cares for both animals and their people, and she worked side by side with personnel through the event. Melissa bought water and electrolyte powder for the crew. She counseled and supported them through the physically and emotionally distressing circumstances. Melissa provides that personal touch to our investigators, students, and animal care staff in all our animal facilities.

Sherri Jones presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to Kate Carlin.  Kate has been a stabilizing force for the OSP Pre-Award Team and has been an extremely important part of training new employees on the Pre-Award team. Kate Carlin has been an exceptional example of what others on our team should strive for.  She is encouraging, forthright, and goes above and beyond to provide both her team and faculty members with outstanding service. Kate also has helped to drive process improvement for our group and is also the keeper of our “Big DATA” to pull meaning from the plethora of information in NuRamp.  On top of it all, she almost always (almost!) has a smile on her face and cheery disposition no matter who she is engaging with – no small feat at times 🙂

Sherri Jones presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to Brenda Coufal.

Brenda is a very dedicated employee.  She always gives 110% of herself to whatever it is that is in front of her.  She faces each challenge and wants to make sure she is prepared for any unexpected issues that may arise.  Brenda will make sure everyone has what they need to be prepared and look their best at any meeting, workshop or conference.  She is a very detailed person and helps me to think about all the things that can be done ahead of time so that our important meetings go smoothly.  She is a true inspiration to learn from and work with. 

Sherri Jones presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to Brande Dicks.  Brande takes it upon herself to provide exceptional support and service to the Morrison Center faculty. She quickly discerns their needs and moves efficiently to provide information, recommendations, or direction. She has worked weekends and nights in order to submit grants on time and her efforts have resulted in grants being awarded in the department. She is very organized, efficient, and always has a smile. I am impressed by how much she knows and is willing to help others in the department. She is a valued member to the department and to R&I.

Sherri Jones presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to Courtney Grate. 

Courtney is a source of knowledge both within the NUtech team and to external stakeholders, and as such, she has become a crucial leader within our team and university. She is often consulted her for her institutional knowledge, her technical prowess, and her overall perspective. She is an approachable leader who makes herself available as a resource to others, especially the intern team.  Courtney is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is active in the training and events and shares best practices and ideas with her teammates. She has been part of planning the recent “Inclusive Innovation” event series.

Sherri Jones presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to Erik Schulz. For the past four years, Erik Schulz has worked on the Research Compliance Services team as an Export Control Coordinator.  Erik is dedicated to learning and understanding the details of any project he is involved in, and all while maintaining a positive can-do attitude.  Erik is engaged, positive, and solution-oriented and has continued to foster a sense of teamwork and integrity – not just within RCS, but as a member of the university-wide export compliance team.

2023 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

IACP Service Center Animal Care Team was awarded the 2023 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service.  Pictured from left to right:  Sherri Jones, Jadyn Taylor, Sarah Smith, Shiloh Heuertz, Jesse Berg, Katelin VanDerslice, Cindy Wooledge, Cedric Wooledge and Stefanie Kremer.  Not pictured: Bayliegh Bohn.

This team provides daily animal care and technical support of research faculty across all the colleges at the university.   Dr. Eric Weaver describes the group as “world-class” when comparing them to other teams across the country he has worked with.  Their dedication and expertise to providing outstanding care for animals, and supporting quality execution of research projects are crucial elements to the success of research conducted in the service center facilities.  Dr. Hiep Vu indicates that his work involving infectious agents requires stringent adherence to biosecurity protocols.  He continues, “Over the past 15 years, I have conducted over 40 animal experiments without a single cross-contamination event, a testament to their reliability and dedication”.  Dr. Shane Farritor commented:  “We bring in surgeons from all around the world to work with us on our device and each of them are impressed by the professional service and hospitality shown to them by the LScA team”.  The daily support of research activities for 36 faculty members by the members of the IACP team provide exceptional customer service ensuring quality research outcomes.

Not only that, this team stands out in their willingness to go the extra mile to support animal welfare and our PIs. They have “find the yes” mindset that fuels them to figure out how to share responsibilities in a dynamic system and accomplish approved research objectives. They are always up for new challenges to support a diverse array of research projects, whether that is conducting complex anesthetic procedures or CT imaging anything from live anesthetized animals to corn kernels. They provide the daily attention and interactions necessary to keep this crucial research moving forward 365 days a year.

2022 Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award Winners

Bob Wilhelm presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to Andrea Koeber. From the moment Andrea stepped into the new eRA Specialist position in September 2021 all things eRA got organized. Her exceptional ability to quickly assess and solve electronic systems issues has provided relief within and far beyond OSP. She has taken on the primary role of reviewing and revising OSP module documents/designs for the NuRamp development team. This includes over 10,000 listings in the agency table that needed to be reviewed and revised for the 3 campuses!  Wish we could clone her!

Bob Wilhelm presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to Jessica Cronin. In her short time in R&I, Jessica not only took on revamping our Research Participant Payment process, but she has also worked to improve the processes and educate faculty and staff.  Jessica serves as the backup for HR, ensures our billing and monthly reports are done in a timely manner, and can source mass quantities of random supplies like plastic baggies, tissue paper, or straws she will work until she finds them.  
Bob Wilhelm presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to McKenna Schneider. For the past year and a half, as the Conflict of Interest Specialist McKenna has demonstrated an outstanding ability to master complicated guidance in a rapidly changing and expanding area of conflict of interest and conflict of commitment state and federal regulations.  In some instances, her job can entail difficult conversations where personal financial interests must be disclosed. McKenna is able to navigate these conversations and explain the requirements in a manner that clearly conveys the requirements but does not make a potentially delicate situation worse. McKenna is a very talented, bright, and personable member of the Research Compliance Services office. 
Anna Fitzwater with her Invaluable Service Award.  Dr. Anna Fitzwater joined IACP in January of 2020 as a clinical veterinarian.  Research faculty have complimented Anna as a great communicator and amazing surgeon.  She has the unique ability to develop and perfect surgical techniques supporting complex research models, such as helping pioneer a novel method of chronic low back pain. She worked hard to learn a custom surgery through practice and literature review to aid exploration of the mechanics of a vascular disease. 
Bob Wilhelm presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to Petrina Suiter. Petrina has worked diligently and creatively to increase the number of external awards earned by UNL faculty for excellence in teaching, research, and education from 39 external honors before she started in 2019 to 84 in FY2022.  She helped to shatter the N2025 target goal of 68. Petrina is nationally-recognized for her expertise and is regularly contacted by institutions establishing a similar function or colleagues new to faculty awards positions. We are privileged to have Petrina on the R&I team.  
Bob Wilhelm presented a Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award to Invest Nebraska.  Accepting the award was Dan Hoffman, Executive Director of Invest Nebraska. Invest Nebraska was instrumental in securing $750,000 Economic Development Association funding for the Biotech Connector – a critical wet lab asset for NIC; led the $25 million proposal/award for the EXTREMELY prestigious EDA Build Back Better; and has been a legislative ally on Business Innovation Act and other state funding.  Dan is a champion of UNL and R&I, and is an unselfish partner in the work to advance and diversify Lincoln and Nebraska’s economy through innovation. 

Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service 2022

Nebraska Innovation Campus Team was awarded the 2022 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service. Pictured from left to right: Bob Wilhelm, Daniel Duncan, Brooke Goedert, and Kate Engel Not pictured: David Martin, Jerry Reif and Max Wheeler

2021 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service Award Winners

2021 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Research Development Team including Amanda Bohlin, Jocelyn Bosley, Matthew Dwyer, Tisha Gilreath Mullen, Nathan Meier, Ezra Stewart-Silver, Petrina Suiter

2021 Friend of Research Award

Amy Goodburn, senior associate vice chancellor and dean of undergraduate education, received the Friend of Research Award in honor of the work she did with Bob Wilhelm, vice chancellor of research and economic development, to plan and implement the university’s COVID-19 protocols and plans, with the ultimate goal of supporting the safety and health of the campus community.

2021 Inaugural N2025 Award

Jen Nelson and Becky Zavala, both assistant vice chancellors for research, received the inaugural N2025 Award from Mike Zeleny, who presented the award on behalf of Chancellor Ronnie Green. Nelson and Zavala were key players in developing and managing UNL’s COVID-19 response, working around the clock to help the campus stay as functional as possible while maintaining safety.

2019 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service Award Winners

*external to R&I

2019 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Events & Outreach including Joel Brehm, Tiffany Lee, Lisa Maupin, Dan Moser, Laurie Sampson, Ashley Washburn, Heidi Uhing

2018 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service Award Winners

*external to R&I

2018 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Sponsored Programs Team including Deb Arent, Derek Bargmann, Mike Behne, Mardi Bonner, Kate Carlin, David Clausen, Aaron Funk, Belinda Gillam, Angela Gonzalez, Craig Goodrich, Tina Kage, Abigail Lien, Elijah Luebbe, Suzan Lund, Kathi Malone, Terri Murray, Kacey Nelkin Pedersen, Trudy Nienaber, Cynthia Odabasi, Mary Ellen Reeves, Suzanne Reinke, Brian Sabata, Andrea Schreiber, Samantha Swanson, Jeanne Wicks, Connie Wieser

2017 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service Award Winners

2017 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Proposal Development Team including Tisha Mullen, Matthew Dwyer

2017 Other Notable Awards

2016 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service Award Winners

Lissette Gilster, Research Compliance Services
Suzan Lund, Sponsored Programs
Sam Swanson, Sponsored Programs
Mary Guest, Vice Chancellor’s Office
Ashley Washburn, Research Communications
Lacey Rohe, Accounting*

*external to R&I

2016 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Pre-Award Team including Andrea Schreiber, Kate Carlin, Craig Goodrich, Abigail Lien, Elijah Luebbe, Suzan Lund, Kacey Nelkin Pedersen

*external to R&I

2015 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service

*external to R&I

2015 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Research Communications Team including Liz Banset, Joel Brehm, Vicki Miller, Ashley Washburn

2014 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service

2014 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

AAALAC Accreditation Team including Liz Banset, Kelly Heath, Kathy Pinkerton, Vicky Samek

2014 Special Award for Service to the University

Priscilla Grew, University of Nebraska State Museum

2013 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service 

*external to R&I

2013 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Research Finance Team: Shelly Cutsor, Dave Meagher, Kristen Ohnoutka, Becky Zavala

2013 Champion of Research Award

Prem Paul

2012 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service

*external to R&I

2012 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Research Responsibility-Human Research Protections Program Team including Sara Conrad, Becky Freeman, Maria Funk, Samuel Padilla, Rachel Wenzl

2011 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service

*external to R&I

2011 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

NUtech Ventures Team including Cheryl Barts, Leon Castro, David Conrad, Jane Garrity, Marvin Jaques, Ben LeDuc, Sara Manning, Stuart Martens, Rose Robotham, Jill Thayer

2011 Champion of Research Award

David Sellmyer, Physics and Astronomy

2010 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Invaluable Service

2010 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Water for Food Conference Team: Tausha Ward Armbruster, Liz Banset, Joel Brehm, Seth Burkey, Peg Filliez, Mari Greer, Kristen Kinnan, Vicki Miller, Tim Savage, Peter Stewart, Corrie Svehla, Karen Underwood, Ashley Washburn, Becky Zavala

2010 Champion of Research Award

Ellen Weissinger*, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

*external to R&I

2009 Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Invaluable Service

*external to R&I

2009 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

ARRA-Stimulus team – Deb Arent, Liz Banset, Nancy Becker, Mike Behne, Joel Brehm, Andy Budell, Terra Chapek, Shelly Cutsor, Noah Clayton, Suzan Lund, Nathan Meier, Vicki Miller, Tisha Gilreath Mullen, Julie Poykko-Post, Tim Savage, Sara Trickie, Ashley Washburn and Jeanne Wicks.

2008 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Office of Research Web Development Team

– Liz Banset, Joel Brehm, Vicki Miller, Tim Savage, Ashley Washburn

2007 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Graduate Student Retention Team – Terri Eastin, Eva Bachman, Jane Schneider, Carol Boehler

2006 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Nugrant Team – Mardi Bonner, Norm Braaten, Jill Hochstein, Suzan Lund, Tim Savage, Jeanne Wicks, Mike Zeleny, Peter Stewart

2005 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Graduate Student Recruitment – Michelle Howell, Christing Cary, Jason Cruise, Amanda Bergeron, Marie Dvorak, Helen Kilian, Seth Meranda

2004 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Office of Sponsored Programs Post-Award Division – Jeanne Wicks, Kathy Anderson, Deb Arent, Mike Behne, Donna Douglas, Shelly Hardies, Lorraine Moon, Joyce Schuette

2003 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Graduate Admissions – Ginny Gross, Brandee Beavers, Jan Hostetler, Tina Jahn-Neidecker, Erin Paseka, Kaylee Stewart, Pat Shrader

2002 Vice Chancellor’s Cup for Outstanding Customer Service

Proposal Writers – Tisha Gilreath-Mullen, Monica Norby, Marla Rohrke