The Board of Regents is pleased to present a KUDOS award to Shelly Cutsor, Director of Research Finance.
During an extraordinary challenge, Shelly stepped in to lead the Sponsored Programs Post-Award team. There was significant staff turnover, low morale, and a backlog of work. Under her leadership, an impossible situation quickly became a story of resilience and renewal.
Shelly assessed the circumstances, set clear priorities, and introduced systems that resolved the backlog of invoices and sub-award payments. Leading from the front, spending countless evenings and weekends diving in, her leadership was about more than the processes. It was about the people. Tirelessly, she restored trust and morale, creating an environment where staff felt supported, valued, and motivated in the face of an intense workload. She transformed a distressed unit into one that again met deadlines, responded effectively to a major NSF audit, and rebuilt credibility across campus.
Her leadership was defined by transparency, decisiveness, and empathy. She bridged gaps between teams, strengthened accountability, and ensured that researchers and sponsors could once again rely on timely and accurate post-award administration. The improvements she achieved were not temporary fixes but set a foundation for sustained operational excellence.
Shelly’s willingness to assume this responsibility outside her formal role, and her remarkable success in doing so, exemplify the highest qualities of service and dedication to the University. Her actions have had an immediate and lasting impact on the University’s research enterprise, positioning the Sponsored Programs office for future success.
For these reasons, I strongly and enthusiastically recommend Shelly Cutsor for this honor, a leader whose commitment and vision have left an enduring mark on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Joining Shelly today are her mother, Loretta Hardies; Interim Vice Chancellor Jen Nelson, and Associate Vice Chancellor Becky Zavala, both in Research and Innovation.
Please join me in thanking Shelly for her dedication to UNL.