Recognizing accomplishments is a big part of the ORED culture.
Additional content will be coming soon with descriptions of the ORED awards and award winners from previous years. Check back soon.
Vice Chancellor’s Invaluable Service Award Winners 2022
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 ORED, 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 ORED 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 ORED, 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
