Lee receives inaugural Outstanding Research Administration Award

Betty Lee, assistant director of the University of Maine Climate Change Institute (CCI), is the recipient of the first annual Outstanding Research Administration Award, recognizing distinguished service by staff who support advancement of UMaine’s research enterprise.

The award will be presented April 23 at the Employee Recognition and Awards Luncheon. It was created this year by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School.

Lee has been a member of the UMaine community since 1983. She joined CCI in 2002 as financial administrator and was named assistant director 10 years later. Quite simply, said one nominator, Lee is a UMaine employee who goes above and beyond to enable research, and has been a key to CCI’s sustained success and scientific prominence.

As assistant director, Lee is involved with CCI sponsored programs from the beginning to the end of each award. She collaborates with faculty, staff and students; university services; and representatives from institutions in Maine, nationwide and worldwide. Annually, she is responsible for the personnel paperwork of more than 135 CCI members and more than 100 financial accounts associated with multiple funding sources.

Lee is well known for her commitment to the success of every research enterprise — from student awards to multi-million-dollar National Science Foundation projects, her nominators note. She is described as a role model in her impeccable financial administration, work ethic and student mentoring.

“Betty is known throughout the University of Maine, the state and internationally as the go-to person, the dilemma-solver, the calm voice that, at any time of the day, can facilitate everything” — from issues related to extreme environment fieldwork to the day-to-day financial administration to keep CCI “moving seamlessly ahead,” noted one nominator.