Authored by Devin Kreuger, Pam Miller, and Gayle Walter
In each monthly issue of the Catalyst, the “Meet SRAI Leadership?” column introduces you to the SRAI leadership, committee members and volunteers. This virtual platform serves as a good starting base for meeting the members of the SRAI community. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other and we at the Catalyst want to hear from you! Share your story! Contact us to be featured in a future column, or nominate a co-worker or colleague to share their story.
Per SRAI Bylaws, the committees of the Society organize and utilize the expertise of members to carry out the mission and purposes of the Society. Standing and special committees are responsible to the Board of Directors. Ad hoc committees and task forces are responsible to the President.
In this issue, we introduce you to the co-chairs from the 2019 Annual Meeting Planning Committee: Devin Kreuger, Pam Miller, and Gayle Walters.
Devin Kreuger
Director, Office of the VP Research
University of Toronto Mississauga
How many years have you been in RA?
20
Why did you choose the Society?
I’ve been a member of the Canadian Association of Research Administrators (CARA) since 1999, and it remains a valuable group. But SRAI brings a much bigger, broader, an international perspective that CARA, as a nationally-focused association, simply cannot provide. With SRAI, I can learn from colleagues from around the world!
What does volunteering mean for you?
Volunteering with SRAI has provided me with new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow, engaging in activities I wouldn’t have the chance to do within the confines of my day job.
Can you tell us something that people don’t know about you?
It’s not a secret, but I’m the University of Toronto’s unofficial tarot card reader. It’s an unusual gig for a research administrator, but it’s a fun way for me to raise money for the United Way.
What makes you smile?
RuPaul’s Drag Race. Drag queens are comedy GOLD.
Is the glass half empty or half full?
REALIST
What is your life philosophy?
“Never be cruel, never be cowardly… Remember – hate is always foolish…and love, is always wise. Always try to be nice, and never fail to be kind.” – Doctor Who
_____________________________________________
Dr. Pamela F. Miller
Director, Sponsored Projects
University of California, Berkeley
Pam is Executive Director of the Sponsored Projects Office at the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to joining UC Berkeley in 2009, she directed pre-award services at the University of San Francisco and the University of Southern Mississippi. She gained her experience as a front-line RA at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale from 1985 to 2000. She served as the President of the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) from 2008-2010 and has been a member of SRAI’s Distinguished Faculty since 2002. Dr. Miller served as editor SRAI’s Journal from 1995 to 2001, a member of the SRAI’s Board of Directors in 2006-2007), and most recently as co-chair of the SRAI’s Distinguished Faculty and Speaker's Bureau Subcommittee of the EPDC. She has received both the Hartford-Nicholsen and the Midwest Section’s Founders Awards from SRAI.
As Co-Chair of the 2019 Annual Meeting, Pam looks forward to introducing RAs from around the world to the beautiful Bay area and the exciting program and social events that are planned.
__________________________________________
Gayle Mowbray Walters, MS
Director, Consortia Services
Johns Hopkins University
How many years have you been in RA?
30+
When did you join SRAI and why did you choose to join the Society?
SRAI’s annual meeting offered the diverse kind of program that I needed as a fairly new Research Administrator
You have held and are still holding a lot of different volunteer positions, what does volunteering mean for you?
Volunteering, for me, means giving back and, hopefully, setting an example for others.
What makes you smile?
My family, a sunny day, getting things accomplished.
Is the glass half empty or half full?
It all depends.
What is your life philosophy?
It is what it is.
#Catalyst#June2019#LeadershipProfiles#2019AnnualMeeting