Kathleen Mills, sponsored projects administrator at the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations in MSU’s College of Social Science, and Marjorie Wallace, associate professor and director of the Institute for Research Teaching and Learning in MSU’s College of Education, are the recipients of the Spring 2018 Research Administrator Spotlight Award.
This award is sponsored by MSU’s research administration offices of Sponsored Programs Administration, Office of Sponsored Programs and Contract and Grant Administration.
The award was established to encourage excellence and exemplary service modeled through The Spartan Experience by recognizing the professional contributions and quality of service of MSU unit research administrators.
Recognized unit administrators need to play an integral role in advancing MSU’s research mission and leading by example, and the Research Administrator Spotlight serves as recognition of MSU employees and inspiration for others who aspire to such service.
A recommendation panel, which included two faculty (from the Council of Research Deans and Sponsored Programs Advisory Committee) a previous Spotlight Recipient, and two SPA/OSP/CGA staff selected Mills and Wallace to receive this award for the Spring of 2018.
Mills received three separate nominations. One such nomination said: “For the college, [Mills] is my go-to source for details or questions I might have, however, importantly she has served as my primary overflow capacity person when we have turnover in units particularly in pre-award. No one in the college has the diversity of pre-award experiences that she has.”
Similarly, Wallace’s nomination detailed her dedication to supporting her fellow staff and faculty: “Over the years that I have worked in the College of Education, Marcy has always been a calm and affirming presence in a job that can be chaotic. She has been pivotal in making opportunities available to me to not only do my job, but grow in my profession.”
Along with this honor, Mills and Wallace are recognized with a plaque and a financial token of appreciation, and are also featured in the SPA Spring 2018 Newsletter.
Mills has 32 years of service at MSU.
“It’s a joy to be part of something so big and know that I am part of a team that makes it happen,” she said. “Each year…I learn a little more and am amazed at how much we all accomplish together.”
Wallace enjoys “helping people accomplish the things that are important to them…and serving as a resource to faculty, staff and students.” She encourages new administrators to “take classes, earn advanced degrees and take advantage of all the things MSU has to offer.”
