Outstanding Research Staff Awards

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) seeks nominations for the Outstanding Research Staff Awards. OVPR recognizes that the expertise, dedication, and professionalism of our diverse research support staff contributes essentially to the success of UNM’s research mission. The Outstanding Research Staff Awards are a component of our holistic commitment to promote a dynamic research support system via enhanced employee wellness, job satisfaction, and career advancement.

Award eligibility is limited to research administrators and similar support staff, including employees of the OVPR, Office of Sponsored Projects, Contract and Grant Accounting, Faculty Research Development Office, Office of Research Integrity & Compliance, Category III Research Centers, and other main and branch campus staff whose primary function is supportive of UNM’s research mission. Research support staff at all levels, including students and part-time employees, are eligible. This does not include research assistants or technicians working on behalf of a single investigator. Staff who receive an award will be ineligible in the subsequent 2 years.

Nominations may be made by any UNM staff, faculty, or student, but self-nominations are not permitted. Individuals may submit multiple nominations, one per award category.

Award winners will be selected by the OVPR executive committee. Each winner will receive $1000 and will be recognized during the Research Administrator’s Symposium in October.


The deadline for 2026 nominations is now closed. For questions, or if you have any problems submitting a nomination, contact Associate VP for Research, Om Perumal (operumal29@unm.edu)

 

Awardees

Staff MemberAward Category
Corwin BecknerOutstanding New Staff Member
Sofia Lopez-KawaOutstanding New Staff Member
Gloria LandavazoOutstanding New Staff Member
Kali LevsenExceptional Support to Researchers
Daniel StergiosExceptional Support to Researchers
Hero MorrisonExceptional Support of Researchers
Marina TodeschiniExceptional Support to Researchers
Monica FishelExceptional Research Staff Mentorship
Curtis MowryExceptional Support of Research Training
Isela BalliSpecial Achievement for Research Administration
Lucas ReynoldsSpecial Achievement for Research Administration
Staff MemberAward Category
Ashley LazevnickOutstanding New Staff Member
Kayla WadeOutstanding New Staff Member
Anmol Singh GillExceptional Support to Researchers
Glenna DoctorExceptional Support to Researchers
Antoinette SabedraExceptional Research Staff Mentorship
Debbie LeeExceptional Support of Research Training
Bob RobinsonSpecial Achievement in Research Administration
Morgan PettitSpecial Achievement in Research Administration
Staff MemberAward Category
Manuel Lopez Ainza (Office of Sponsored Projects)Outstanding New Staff Member
Max Landman (Transformation Network)Outstanding New Staff Member
Deanna Sprunk (CASAA)Exceptional Support to Researchers
Christine Marquez (COEHS)Exceptional Support to Researchers
Valery Estabrook (ARTSLab)Exceptional Support of Research Training
Selena Connealy (EPSCoR)Special Achievement in Research Administration
Staff MemberAward Category
Lucas Reynolds, Business AnalystOutstanding new research staff member
Renee Brown, Information ManagerExceptional support to researchers
Jill Okun, Sr Contract and Grants Administrator, Cradle to Career Policy InstituteExceptional support to researchers
Linda Mayo, Executive Director of Research Integrity and ComplianceExceptional research staff mentorship
Harpo Faust, Senior Collections Manager, Museum of SW BiologyExceptional support of research training
Daron Vigil-Scott, Sponsored Projects OfficerSpecial achievement in research administration
Staff MemberAward Category
Hannah Yohalem (Faculty Research Development Office)Outstanding New Staff Member
Timothy Wester (Office of Sponsored Projects)Exceptional Support to Researchers
Karen Walker (Center for High Technology Materials)Exceptional Support to Researchers
Monica Fishel (Faculty Research Development Office)Exceptional Research Staff Mentorship
Dr. Nicu-Viorel Atudorei (Center for Stable Isotopes)Exceptional Support for Research Training
Katelin Fisher (Center for Water & the Environment)Exceptional Support for Research Training
Valerie Crooker-Flint (Office of Research Integrity & Compliance)Special Achievement for Research Administration
Vincent Sarracino (Faculty Research Development Office)Special Achievement for Research Administration