Office of Sponsored Research / en Kevin Brooks is August Employee of the Month /news/2021-08/kevin-brooks-august-employee-month <span>Kevin Brooks is August Employee of the Month</span> <span><span lang="" about="/user/231" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="">Colleen Rich</span></span> <span>Mon, 08/02/2021 - 09:08</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2021-08/Kevin_Brooks_July%202021%20Pic.jpg" width="334" height="420" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div> </div> <figcaption>Kevin Brooks. Photo provided</figcaption></figure><p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>How integral is Kevin Brooks to AV's </span></span></span><a href="https://osp.gmu.edu/"><span><span><span>Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)</span></span></span></a><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>?</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>His co-workers describe him as a hard worker and a team player. They speak of his high level of motivation, professionalism and excellent customer service.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>“He's a stickler to detail, and always finds things to be fixed no matter how small,” said Elaine North, senior grants administrator for OSP. “As a result, he has saved OSP a great deal of time and money.” </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>For his dedication and work ethic, Brooks is August Employee of the Month.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span><span>“I have been on cloud nine since finding out,” Brooks said.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span><span>He’s honored, as he has never before received an employee of the month award in his 30 years of work, he said. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>Brooks, who has worked for OSP for the past 13 years, started as a grants administrator, then a senior grants administrator, and currently holds the position of research administrator. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span><span>“It is an honor to work in OSP knowing everyone is making a difference, working with and supporting our faculty on their research endeavors,” Brooks said.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>Brooks is in charge of setting up and managing grant awards for the </span></span></span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/"><span><span><span>College of Science</span></span></span></a><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>He reviews awards to ensure they meet compliance criteria and sets them up in Mason’s systems so faculty can begin their work. Additionally, he assists with all aspects of the proposal preparation and submission process. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>When guidance or support with resolving problems is needed, Brooks readily steps in to collaborate and offer his expertise to the OSP team or Mason faculty, his coworkers said. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>“He is, in my personal opinion, the most well-versed and knowledgeable person when it comes to federal and university regulations in OSP, and an individual who simply makes sure that all transactions are not only accurate, but on time and error free,” North said. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>According to Karen Sauer, professor in the </span></span></span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/physics-and-astronomy-department"><span><span><span>Department of Physics and Astronomy</span></span></span></a><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>, “Kevin’s integrity and commitment to research success and productivity is unquestionable.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>How he got to Mason:</span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span><span>I was working for a for-profit company when the economic downturn hit in 2008. It hit that company hard, and they had to make cuts. At first my hours were reduced, and then I was told I was going to be let go at the end of month. Thankfully, I received two job offers. I picked Mason and have been here ever since.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>Best day on the job:</span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span><span>I would have to say my best day was several years ago when I received news that a large proposal and budget I worked on and submitted for a faculty member was going to be funded by the sponsor. At the time, I believe it was the largest sponsor award the university received. My proudest day was back in 2016 when we found out Mason earned the Carnegie R1 research activity designation. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>What he likes best about working at Mason:</span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span><span>The people. OSP has a lot of awesome workers. I feel that we are not only a part of a team, but we are like family. I also belong to a van pool with Mason employees from different offices and get to spend my commute with them. I have enjoyed all the different people at Mason I have worked with over the years, knowing we are part of the same team striving for the same goals.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span>What he does when not working:</span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><span><span><span>I spend time with my wife and our two grown-up kids. I like hiking in the mountains and walking in nature. I enjoy going to concerts and listening to music. I spend a lot of time taking care of our yard, and I love cheering on my Green Bay Packers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/206" hreflang="en">Faculty and Staff News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/12086" hreflang="en">Office of Sponsored Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1516" hreflang="en">Employee of the Month</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1591" hreflang="en">Human Resources and Payroll</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 02 Aug 2021 13:08:12 +0000 Colleen Rich 47896 at