To Recognize a Volunteer
To recommend an NCURA member(s) to be recognized on the Volunteer(s) of the Month website, send an email, along with a digital picture of the volunteer(s), anytime to volunteer@ncura.edu. In your email, tell us about the individual(s), their NCURA volunteer activity, or activities, how their contribution(s) has benefited your region, colleagues, the national organization, etc., and/or how their extraordinary efforts have set the example for others to follow.
We look forward to hearing from you soon! Let's give NCURA's volunteers a round of applause!
Why Members Should Volunteer
NCURA RECOGNIZES AM53 VOLUNTEERS!
As research administrators, we all know that our jobs are demanding, frustrating, and often not appreciated. In addition, we have very little free time. On that note, I’d like to nominate Matt Berry as Volunteer of the Month. Matt attended the recent PRA Meeting during his vacation and volunteered at the registration area during his own “free time”, paying his registration fee himself for the one day he attended the meeting. Matt has an extensive history in serving as an NCURA volunteer over the years at both the regional and national level. His volunteerism includes (but is not limited to) serving as the Region V Elected Board member, Chair of our Regional Nominating Committee (several times), Region V Program Committee (several times), and as member of the Region V Executive Committee. He has also volunteered his time at the national meeting registration area, new member breakfast, and in other ‘untitled’ capacities. He has served as a mentor to many of our members and sets an example in giving of his time freely. In a volunteer organization like NCURA, members such as Matt are what keep the “machine” moving.
Debbie Newton
Director of Pre-Award Services
Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
The University of Tulsa
Gigi Beaird
Grants & Contracts Administrator
Northern Illinois University
We all know that it takes a host of volunteers to make NCURA the organization that it has become, and that’s true on both the National and the Regional level. With the amount of volunteerism in our organization, recruiting and coordinating this small army of helpers is a key task. Gigi Beaird pioneered this effort in Region IV, and we are all grateful for her work.
Starting in 2007 with a stack of index cards, Gigi brought us into the 21st century by creating a web-based volunteer sign-up portal, and she used Zoomerang to reach out to more volunteers for service to the Region beyond just helping out at the spring meeting. Current and future Volunteer Coordinators will benefit from her hard work and innovation.
Of course, being the Volunteer Coordinator is about more than just technology. Convincing people to volunteer requires a personal touch that Gigi brought to the job from Day One; many of our members volunteered for the first time after being asked personally by Gigi and after seeing the example she set herself by serving our Region.
On behalf of the Region IV Board of Directors, it’s my pleasure to nominate Gigi Beaird as Volunteer of the Month for her dedication to our organization.
Jeffrey Ritchie
Grants Management Analyst
Aurora Health Care
Linda Patton
Director, Office of Grants and Contracts
California State University Fullerton
Linda has served as the lead of the Education and Professional Development Committee (EPDC) for the NCURA Region VI since January 1, 2010. Under her leadership, EPDC has successfully established the LEADME program that manages the recruitment and matching of mentees and mentors for the program. This program also facilitates the bi-weekly conference calls for the mentees and mentors. Her leadership for the program has aided the mentees to develop and showcase their Personal Best Projects at our Regional Spring Meeting.
Linda has been a pioneer in this LEADME program from the beginning. She proposed the idea with the Region VI Officers and our Regional Advisory Group. She was involved in printing the promotional brochures, in developing the training materials, and in advertising and soliciting participants for the program.
2010 is the first year of the LEADME Program and some of the Mentees have been actively working in Region VI committee and activities. There are many positive outcomes of the LEADME Program including providing leadership and volunteers for the Region and recommending to Region VI Officers the LEADME graduates who could best serve as a member for the National Executive training program.
On behalf of Region VI, I want to thank Linda for her wonderful leadership, her tireless efforts and contributions not only to the Education and Professional Development Committee and LEADME program, but also for the memberships in the NCURA Region VI. She's self-motivated, eager to learn and grow, and willing to take on additional responsibilities. We are fortunate to have Linda as part of our team.
Sinh
Sinh Simmons
Chair, NCURA Region VI
Associate Director
Office of Sponsored Programs
University of Washington
Denise Rouleau (on left)
Research Administration Specialist
New England School of Acupuncture
On behalf of the Region I advisory committee and the Region I Volunteer and Membership Committee, I'd like to nominate Denise Rouleau from New England School of Acupuncture to be featured on the National Volunteer of the Month Page. Recently, Denise was recognized at the Region I meeting as Outstanding Volunteer. She has not only volunteered many times regionally but also nationally. She has held many positions in a leadership capacity such as Chair of many committees including the Spring Program committee, the Volunteer and Membership Committee, the Mentor/Mentee Program, Neighborhood Committee and the Website Committee. In addition she has volunteered numerous times for less visible positions such as registration table volunteer, packet organizer, dinner group organizer, discussion group leader, moderator and many others. I can't think of anyone more deserving for this recognition since she has volunteered close to 15 years in research administration without being officially recognized for her outstanding efforts.
What sets Denise apart as an example is her endless enthusiasm and her pleasant demeanor. She is always willing to investigate a solution and come up with exciting ideas to benefit the region. She is someone who makes things happen.
Sincerely,
Kris A. Monahan
Director of Pre-Award Services
Wellesley Centers for Women
Wellesley College
David Ngo
Member-at-Large, Region IV
Effort Administrator And ECRT Manager
Research & Sponsored Programs
University of Wisconsin - Madison
“Yes, yes, and yes” This is the answer I've gotten every time I've asked David Ngo for help, whether the region needed a speaker for the regional meeting or help with the Hospitality Suite during the Annual Meeting, David's answer has always been “Yes.” Then after David says, “Yes” (in the pleasant way he says it), he gets right to work. In the short time I've been in Region IV, David is someone I know I can rely on and who I know will meet my questions and requests with a smile on his face and a willingness to help. David currently serves Region IV as Member-at-Large and is Chair of the Awards Committee. He is also currently participating in NCURA's Leadership Development Institute and is well on his way to giving back to the organization. Thanks David!
Sincerely Submitted,
Tricia Callahan
Membership Committee Chair, Region IV
William Ploog
Associate Director
Office of Sponsored Projects
Dartmouth College
Bill Ploog is the Evaluation Coordinator on the Professional Development Committee. Bill is an amazing person -- he rises to all challenges and occasions and has brought incredible wisdom and advice to our deliberations. His finely honed evaluation and assessment skills have given us the ability to craft recommendations and engage in discussions that would not otherwise be possible. As PDC Chair I feel very fortunate to have Bill on the team. His generosity of spirit and time are greatly appreciated.
Denise Wallen (PDC Chair)
Director, Faculty Research Support Services
The University of New Mexico
