The Office of Research will recognize four U-M staff members for outstanding research service.

Kerri-Anne Cross, senior research manager with the Population Studies Center, and Pat Turnbull, research process manager with the UM-Dearborn Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, will receive the U-M Distinguished Research Administrator Award.

Amanda Coulter, training manager with the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects, and Ben Secunda, project manager with the Office of Research, will receive the U-M Office of Research Exceptional Service Award.

“U-M is one of the world’s top research universities, but it would be difficult to maintain our status without the expertise of dedicated staff members,” said S. Jack Hu, vice president for research.

“Research expenditures at U-M have exceeded the billion-dollar mark for the seventh-straight year, and much of that success can be attributed to the hard work and knowledge of these award winners, as well as hundreds of other research administrators across campus.”

An award reception is scheduled for 3:30-5 p.m. May 20 in the Vandenberg Room of the Michigan League. The award ceremony and remarks by Hu will begin at 4 p.m., with a reception to follow. The event is open to the public.

The Distinguished Research Administrator Award is open to research administrators in any unit, and recognizes exemplary service to the research community over a number of years.

With more than 24 years of service at U-M, Cross is committed to training the next generation of research administrators. This is evidenced by her participation in campuswide committees, development of training modules, and developing and sharing budgeting tools and reporting systems.

“Kerri fits the description of this award to a tee, having provided outstanding service to the research community on campus and exemplifying the goals of professional research administration over her 24 years at the University of Michigan,” said one colleague.

Turnbull, who has more than 15 years experience in research administration, leads the research administration staff for UM-Dearborn, where she works with faculty across multiple disciplines. Colleagues describe Turnbull as a “solution generator,” as she led her team through a management transition in 2014.

“Pat has played an important role in facilitating the research activities of a variety of units working with a breadth of sponsors,” said one colleague. “She has engaged faculty from all four colleges at UM-Dearborn, as well as non-academic units on campus to identify funding opportunities and facilitate relationships with sponsors.”

The Exceptional Service Award honors staff members in U-M Office of Research units for important contributions to the university’s research mission through exceptional performance and by going beyond the ordinary fulfillment of position duties.

Coulter is credited with fast-tracking a new training module — Navigate: Fundamentals — that will become a capstone for research and administration at U-M. Through her efforts, Coulter has played a key role in expanding the knowledge and effectiveness of research administrators across campus.

“Without her critical thinking, dedication to her colleagues, and her tireless efforts we wouldn’t be where we are today with a highly sought-after newcomer training for research administrators,” said one colleague.

Secunda, whose work focuses on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, helped bring U-M into compliance with new federal regulations, while working closely with diverse First Nations communities across North America. U-M is now being looked at as the model in regard to NAGPRA compliance thanks to the efforts of Secunda.

“The returns of his generous and diligent work to the University of Michigan may be intangible. But there is no doubt in my mind that many of the tribes truly appreciate Ben’s work, which is demonstrably restoring our good name in those local and sometimes remote settings,” said one colleague.

The awards were selected by Hu based on recommendations from an award selection committee consisting of past award winners: Cathy Thibault (committee chair), assistant director for administration, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research; Teri Grieb, senior director of research, Medical School Office of Research, and managing director of the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research; Catherine Seay-Ostrowski, department administrator, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Cathy Handyside, product manager, Information and Technology Services; Jackie Hoats Shields, director of research compliance oversight, U-M Office of Research; and Sharyn Sivyer, managing project representative, Office of Research and Sponsored Projects.

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