On April 29, 2024, the Office of Research Administration (ORA) held the fifth Research Administration Dragon Service Awards. This is part of an ongoing commitment to recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of Research Administration’s staff and members of the Faculty/Research community who demonstrate outstanding partnership with Research Administration. The winners of this year’s awards were nominated by their peers and faculty partners of Research Administration and are highlighted below.
Servant Leadership Dragon Award Recipients
The Servant Leader Dragon Award recognizes an Research Administration staff member at the management level for their exceptional leadership.
- Tiffany Dothard, Assistant Director, Environmental Health and Safety Office
From Left: Dr. Robert Nobles (VPRA), Tiffany Dothard (Awardee), Scott Thomaston (EHSO), Maria Mendez (RBO)
- Robin Ruthenborg, Assistant Director, Environmental Health and Safety Office
From Left: Dr. Robert Nobles (VPRA), Kalpana Rengarajan (EHSO), Robin Ruthenborg (Awardee), Maria Mendez (RBO)
Staff Excellence Dragon Award Recipients
The Staff Dragon Award recognizes staff members for their outstanding work in multiple performance areas.
- Barry Prine, Sr. Sponsored Research Analyst, Office of Sponsored Programs
- Jamena Dixon, Award Analyst II, Research Grants and Contracts
From Left: Dr. Robert Nobles (VPRA), Jamena Dixon (Awardee), Jumionne Tiako (RGC), Edwin Bemmel (RGC), Maria Mendez (RBO)
- Cynthia Lewis-Webb, Pre-Award Research Administrator II, SOM: BSCI
From Left: Dr. Robert Nobles (VPRA), Becky Rogers (SOM BSCI), Cynthia Lewis-Webb (Awardee), Maria Mendez (RBO)
Foundational Excellence Dragon Award Recipient
The Foundational Excellence Dragon Award recognizes employees who go above and beyond to ensure office efficiency.
- Hope Brewer, Training and Outreach Specialist, Environmental Health and Safety Office
From Left: Dr. Robert Nobles (VPRA), Kim Richards (EHSO), Hope Brewer (Awardee), Maria Mendez (RBO)
Research Excellence and Collaboration Dragon Award Recipients
The Research Excellence and Collaboration Dragon Award recognizes members of our Research Community for their exemplar partnership with ORA.
- Philip Santangelo, PhD; Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
From Left: Dr. Robert Nobles (VPRA), Dr. Philip Santangelo (Awardee), Becky Rogers (SOM BSCI)
- Shannon Gourley, PhD; Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
- Chunhui Xu, PhD; Professor, Department of Pediatrics
From Left: Dr. Robert Nobles (VPRA), Maria Mendez (RBO), Dr. Chunhui Xu (Awardee), Deborah Snyder (RGC), Joann Franko (CAPS)
Excellence in Faculty Service Award Recipient
The Excellence in Service for Faculty Award recognizes the effort, partnership and collaboration that is required between the Research Administration Units and the Research Community to further our Strategic Framework of One Emory: Engaged for Impact. In this award category, the nominators were our faculty members working in collaboration with the Research Administration Units.
- Sarah Marie Huban, Director, Clinical Trials; SOM PEDS
Teaming and Collaboration for Research Excellence Dragon Award Recipient
The Teaming and Collaboration for Research Excellence Dragon Award recognizes a Research Administration team for coming together to move the research enterprise to greater excellence through quality improvement and/or any of the elements of ONE-Research Administration.
- The Office of Sponsored Programs, Subcontracts Team
From Left: Dr. Robert Nobles (VPRA), OSP Subcontracts Team(Awardee), Holly Sommers (OSP), Maria Mendez (RBO)
Whatever it Takes Award Recipient
The Whatever It Takes Award recognizes a staff member or leader who embodies leadership, innovation, character, performance, customer service and collaboration. Someone who consistently goes above and beyond to deliver timely, effective, and friendly service.
- Sunair Sayani, Assistant Director, Grants; Office of Sponsored Programs
