Beth Lawson receives 2016 CoE Excellence in Staff Service Award

Beth Lawson, Senior Research Administrator for Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), received a 2016 College of Engineering Excellence in Staff Service Award for her 18 years of sustained excellence serving the faculty in the Systems area. She has been at the University of Michigan for more than 33 years.

As research administrator for the Systems area, Beth is responsible for managing more than $7.8M in research expenditures, approx. 70 research proposals per year, supervising staff, and attending to the diverse needs of 26 faculty, more than 90 PhD students, and numerous visitors.

Faculty praised Beth’s willingness to provide a high level of support to new and senior faculty alike, her ability to work well with other departments and institutions, and her unflappable calm in the face of sometimes dramatic changes in budgets and entire proposals.

Beth brings the same level of professionalism, support, and oversight to her many other responsibilities.She supports and promotes her staff, deals creatively and efficiently with space issues, and is the go-to person for answers and assistance in any number of related activities, including on campus conferences and workshops. Individuals in outside units often ask for her advice and assistance, and she frequently participates in planning and executing new initiatives within the department, college, and university.

When asked what she thought about receiving the award, Beth responded, “This a great honor but credit goes to the entire Systems team.  I consider myself fortunate to work with such a great group and we are all winners!”

Beth received the OVPR Distinguished Research Administrator Award in 2003. She will be honored with her College of Engineering Excellence in Staff Service Award at a public ceremony in Chesebrough Auditorium on Friday, May 6 at 3pm.