The Dean's Office provides support to CBS faculty, staff and students through Advancement and Communications efforts, Finance, Facilities, Human Resources and Research and Learning Technologies.
ADMINISTRATION
Andrea Backes, Chief Administrative Officer
As chief administrative officer, Andrea is responsible for creation and oversight of the collegiate budget in addition to CBS Human Resources. Additionally, she analyzes financial, student, space and human resources data to inform strategic decision making. Contact Andrea with questions about budget issues and data requests.
Jessica Stuart, Executive Assistant to Dean Valery E. Forbes
jastuart@umn.edu | 612-624-7747
Jessica provides administrative support to Dean Valery E. Forbes. Jessica also coordinates the CBS Continuing Undergraduate Scholarship program in addition to CBS and University-wide faculty/staff awards. Contact Jessica to schedule a meeting with Dean Forbes; with questions regarding scholarships and faculty awards or other questions that relate to the Dean's office.
ADVANCEMENT
Reede Webster, Director of Advancement
webst033@umn.edu | 612-624-9460
Reede Webster oversees the College of Biological Sciences Advancement Team, which includes Alumni and External Relations, Development and Communications and Marketing. Reede works with donors and alumni to cultivate support for the College. Please contact Reede if you would like to discuss giving options, scholarship and fellowship support, or engagement opportunities.
Stephanie Xenos, Director of Communications and Marketing
Stephanie Xenos manages the college's communications and marketing efforts. She works closely with units and departments to develop print and digital communications, and develop strategic communications and marketing plans. Contact Stephanie about new research and story ideas for collegiate publications; university and college branding guidelines; news releases and media relations; videography, photography and creative resources.
John Curry, Development Officer
jcurry@umn.edu | 612-624-4770
John oversees programs and pathways for alumni, friends and donor participation that provide tangible benefits and advance the goals of the College of Biological Sciences. Feel free to contact John regarding alumni and giving opportunities.
Lance Janssen, Senior Communications and Marketing Specialist
Lance Janssen works with CBS Student Services and University Admissions to develop marketing and communications to prospective and current students. He provides additional communications and marketing support for college-wide events such as commencement and the annual donor recognition dinner. Contact Lance for help with student-focused marketing materials; undergraduate student features; web analytics and metrics; social media.
Gina Van Thomme, Communications Associate
vant0078@umn.edu | 612-625-2247
Gina Van Thomme works with faculty, departments and staff on digital and email communication for CBS. She helps manage content on the CBS website, oversees digital communication tactics and assists with College-related events. Contact Gina for website and profile directory updates, submissions to the CBS news and events page and content for BioBlog.
FACILITIES
Christina Kramer, Facilities Manager
clkramer@umn.edu | 612-624-2918
Christina oversees CBS’ diverse portfolio of facilities, including administrative, office, teaching, and research spaces. She works with CBS Departments to develop collegiate policies and procedures regarding facilities. Additionally, she advocates on behalf of CBS faculty, researchers, and administrators by acting as the CBS liaison to UMN Facilities Management. Christina represents the college during major renovation projects within CBS spaces. Please contact Christina with autoclave issues on the St. Paul campus.
FINANCE
Juli Pelletier, Finance Manager/Cluster Director
Juli Pelletier serves as cluster director for the CBS St. Paul campus departments and as finance team manager. Please contact Juli for help with policy and budget issues.
Amy Angel, Accountant
angel188@umn.edu | 612-301-1147
Amy Angel is responsible for setting up and maintaining BioTechnology Institute non-sponsored accounts. This includes internal faculty awards, sales accounts, graduate student spending accounts, and UROP awards for BTI. She also reconciles procurement cards for BTI. Contact Amy with questions regardingnon-sponsored account set up and balances, procurement cards and department deposits for BTI.
Kay Biermaier, Accountant
bierm003@umn.edu | 612-625-6756
Kay Biermaier serves as a procurement specialist, receiving and reviewing requests for changes to or cancellation of orders, overseeing CPS and amendment processes and controls, and processing receiving information for assets. Additionally, Kay processes journal entries for the CBS cluster, handles expense reimbursements and departmental deposits. Contact Kay with questions regarding procurement requests, errors, expeditions; expense reimbursements; historical salary adjustments.
Janet Hopkins, Executive Accounts Specialist
Janet Hopkins processes invoices for the college. Additionally, she can assist with purchase requisitions as needed. Contact Janet with questions regarding billing invoices; requisitions.
Lori Nicol, Accountant II
l-nico@umn.edu | 612-625-2781
Lori Nicol serves faculty in pre-award, and post-award grant management assisting in grant proposal preparation to grant close-out. Additionally Lori assists in faculty and graduate student payroll, effort certification and Check requests for REU’s and other participant payments. Contact Lori with questions regarding grant proposal preparation; status of grant and grant management; close-out of grants at project end; effort certification; REU/participant payments.
Ellie Lombardi, Accountant
lomb0029@umn.edu | 612-624-6769
Ellie Lombard is responsible for setting up and maintaining EEB & Plant Biology non-sponsored accounts. This includes internal faculty awards, sales accounts, graduate student spending accounts, and UROP awards. She also reconciles procurement cards for both departments. Contact Ellie with questions regarding non-sponsored account set up and balances; procurement cards.
Launa Shun, Accountant II
shunx001@umn.edu | 612-624-6761
Launa Shun serves as the departmental grant administrator for the Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior. She is responsible for both the pre-award and post-award duties associated with sponsored projects. This includes assisting faculty, staff and students with proposal preparation, management of grants received and the close out of those grants. Contact Launa with questions regarding proposal preparation (budgets, PRF routing, submission, etc.); status of grant (account setup, account balance, encumbrances, etc.); grant management issues (re-budgeting, requests to SPA or to the funding agency, interpretation of agency and University policies, etc.); close-out of grant; effort certification; document approvals (Financial).
HUMAN RESOURCES
Rachel Kalaidis, HR Consultant
kala0056@umn.edu | 612-624-4506
Rachel welcomes all new CBS employees to the college with an orientation session. In addition, Rachel is the initial contact for staff regarding general HR questions. She advises hiring supervisors on recruitment and hiring procedures and best practices, assists in the coordination of leave requests, and helps assure compliance with University HR and payroll policy.
Kelsey Cook, HR Generalist
cookx632@umn.edu | 612-626-5455
Kelsey welcomes all new CBS employees to the college with an orientation session. In addition, Kelsey is the initial contact for staff regarding general HR questions. She advises hiring supervisors on recruitment and hiring procedures and best practices, assists in the coordination of leave requests, and helps assure compliance with University HR and payroll policy.
RESEARCH & LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES
Michael Waltonen, Director of Technology
waltonen@umn.edu | 612-625-0961
Mike leads the Research & Learning Technology group. He works with faculty and leadership to ensure his team maintains a relevant service portfolio.
Kalli Binkowski, Academic Technology Coordinator
kbink@umn.edu | 612-624-0641
Kalli works with instructors to support their course technology needs, anticipate and explore how technology should be applied to CBS instructional practices and strategies, and manage learning technology projects. Contact Kalli about technology projects; adapting curriculum to use new technology; or coordinating University resources for instructional projects.
Tom Kautz, Technical Analyst
tjkautz@umn.edu | 612-626-8126
Tom works with faculty and staff to define and manage technology projects for research, teaching, or administrative activities. He also manages functionality and design changes to the college website. Contact Tom with questions about technology projects, the CBS website, and using drones for research.
Miranda Krapf, Technical Analyst
mkrapf@umn.edu | 612-626-9641
Miranda works with faculty and staff to define and manage technology projects for research, teaching, or administrative activities. She also creates optimized versions of college processes with digital workflows and archiving. Contact Miranda regarding technology projects; workflows; or website metrics.
Evan Peterson, Instructional Technologist
evanp@umn.edu | 612-301-1879
Evan provides support and guidance on the use of technology in CBS courses and creation of surveys. Contact Evan for help with using learning technologies such as Moodle, student polling (e.g. iClicker, Tophat), or multimedia; finding learning technology for a course; or using University survey tools.