- Consider adding something about yourself, like hobbies or what you enjoy about your job.
Jessica Leemon Director of Budget and Resource Planning | I began my accounting career at Kemper CPA Group in February 2013. While there I obtained my Certified Public Accountant License (CPA) in March 2017. I then transitioned to the University, specifically University Accounting and Financial Reporting (UAFR) in October 2017, where I specialized in gift funds. I was given the opportunity to be the Controller for Cissna Park Co-op in November 2018, and left the University. I transitioned back to the University in January 2021 as a Grants and Contracts Specialist for NCSA handling mostly NIFA awards for the Center for Digital Agriculture (CDA). When an opportunity came available to lead the business office, I was excited about the possibility of advancing in NCSA. I am excited to continue working for my alma mater. Working with the amazing staff, BO, and PIs at NCSA is the highlight of my job! I graduated from the University of Illinois with my Bachelors in Accountancy in May 2014. I also received my Masters in Accounting Science in May 2015. Outside of my career, I grew up in Champaign county on a family farm. My husband and I live in Oklahoma and raise Shorthorn and Charolais cattle together. We have a rambunctious 5 year old who loves farming and the cattle. In our spare time, you can find us camping, boating, at cattle shows, or traveling. I love to read, bake, run, hike, and spend time with family/friends! |
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Matt Schuldt Assistant Director of Business Operations | I began working at the University/NCSA in 2012 within the Business Office. I've had the privilege of working with many of the groups/awards/PIs within the Center over this period. One thing that I enjoy about NCSA (and that has kept me here) is that there is always a new challenge and each day offers something different. Outside of work I enjoy sports (Cubs/Bears/Illini), fishing, and spending time with family & friends. |
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Grants Team |
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Amy Morgan Sr. Grants & Contracts Coordinator - Grants Team Lead | I began my career at the University of Illinois January 2009 in Grants and Contracts Post-Award (SPA) managing the private grants portfolio. From there, I went to Government Costing in 2012 where I calculated service center rates, and in the summer of 2017, I landed here at NCSA. I really enjoy the variety of work and challenges NCSA has to offer. Currently I'm leading a team of 4 grants and contracts specialists/coordinators. In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends. If I could hike and travel more often to Colorado I would! |
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Shawn Quigley Grants & Contracts Coordinator | After joining the University I spent three and a half years as an award negotiator in Sponsored Programs building a base of knowledge in the minutiae of grant contract, federal rules, and University requirements. I'm enjoying the opportunity to be more engaged in assisting the actual research while expanding my knowledge of the whole grant lifecycle. Prior to joining the University I spent nine years at Busey Bank progressing from Customer Service Representative in their call center to Business Integration Director. In that time I grew my customer service and corporate writing skills. I also developed a deep understanding of marketing and corporate communications, process improvement, and UX and product enhancement. Before Busey there were a succession of menial jobs the less spoken of the better. In my spare time I work on growing my portfolio of rental properties in and around Champaign while managing all the excitement that entails. I also buy, collect, and sell comics, role-playing games, and all manner of nerd-related items. |
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 Dawn Stokes Grants & Contracts Coordinator | My employment at the University of Illinois began in August 2010. I started in UIUC Purchasing and soon moved to SPA Post-Award where I managed NIH and NASA awards. From there, I worked in the School of Chemical Sciences where I managed the NSF grants portfolio and assisted faculty with grant proposal submissions. In January 2021 I accepted the position of Grants and Contracts Coordinator here at NCSA. At home, I enjoy hiking, camping and singing in the church praise band with my husband. I am a long-distance runner. I love spending time with my family. I have two grown children and two granddaughters. | Financial Manager for the following NSF Federally funded projects:
Engagement Directorate Research Consulting which includes Business IT, TMG, Modeling & Simulation, Data Analytics, Genomics, Research Facilitation Services & SEAS |
MaryAlice Greer Intern Grants Associate | After spending 6 years as an elementary school teacher, I started working as Extra Help in the Business Office at NCSA in mid June of 2022. In March 2023, I accepted the NCSA grants internship, and I love working with the folks in the Business Office. When I am not working on UI business, I play bass guitar and sing in our church's praise team. I also record my weekly podcast, Truthful Tones. I have a Facebook page and a Youtube channel for anyone who wants to check it out! |
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Business Office Services Team |
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Debra Greer Senior Coordinator, Grants & Contracts - Services Team Lead | After spending 14 years in K-8 education and administrative work, I transitioned to the UI in January 2014. I worked for the System Office of Government Costing for 4 years, learning about service centers, their rate calculations and research administrative surveys. In 2018, I came to NCSA, where I am managing the awards in the Software Directorate. It's a crazy busy group with great teamwork and I love working with this unit! When I'm not on UI business, I play the keyboards and serve as Praise & Worship leader at our church. My husband is our pastor and is also a morning personality on WDWS-1400AM. We have two daughters: MaryAlice is interning here at NCSA, and Eleanor is an academic advisor with the College of Veterinary Medicine. I also enjoy music, flower gardening, and baking - especially pies, when I can find the time. |
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Richelle Lu-Rivera Grants & Contracts Coordinator | My career at the University of Illinois System began as an Accountant I at the Illini Union in March 2015. After 11 months working two jobs, I was able to obtain my Certified Public Accountant license in February 2016, and Certified Management Accountant certificate in August 2016. I then transitioned to System Government Costing on December 2016 where I assisted University departments with rate calculations. During that period, I graduated with my Master of Science in Management Information Systems in May 2018 before transferring to NCSA last July 2019. I was born and raised in the Philippines and was a CPA there with Ernst & Young for 1 busy season. I migrated to the United States of America in June 2014 to finally join my family, and worked briefly at Health Alliance Medical Plans as an accountant before jumping on to the UI System. Outside my Uni life, I am a lead vocalist of KALESA, a Filipino cover band in Champaign, a part-time front desk agent at Hampton Inn Urbana, a taekwondo second-degree blackbelt, and a wanderlust. I am always happy to help and love learning! |
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Finance Team |
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Janet Smith
Sr. Finance Coordinator - Finance Team Lead | I have been at the University since 1998 starting as an extra help employee until I became permanent May, 1999 in the Landscape Architecture Business Office as an Account Tech I. I worked there for 5 years and then moved on to the Computer Science Business Office in March, 2004 where I worked my way from an Account Tech I to an Accounting Associate managing department funds such as the lecture series, undergraduate and graduate programs, fellowships, scholarships, awards and student organization gift funds before my departure in September, 2019 when I joined the NCSA Business Office as a Finance Coordinator. The Center was very welcoming and one thing I like most about the Business Office is the teamwork. Everyone is willing to help each other. In my free time I like watching movies and especially spending time with my children, grandchildren, and other family and friends. |
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Gail Barkley Accounting Officer | I began working at NCSA in 2014 as an Accounting Clerk in the Business Office, and became an Account Tech I in 2019. I reconcile PCard transactions & invoices, process payments, pull monthly statements, manage our electronic files, monitor the Business Office's email & snail mail, and reconcile our Staff Development & Travel Planning processes. I enjoy baking, listening to a variety of music, cross stitch & taking care of my two cats. |
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Jared Robbins
Finance Specialist | I began working at NCSA in July of 2021 - prior to that I worked for University Purchasing as a Contract Coordinator, specializing in Software Procurement. Before working at the University I've worked in various professional business settings such as a Banking Administration and as a Financial Advisor for a Wealth Management Firm. One of the best parts of working in the Business Office and at NCSA in general, so far, has been how welcoming and accommodating everyone is. We're all on the same team and that definitely becomes apparent the more interactions you have throughout the center. My wife and I have a wonderful daughter named Phoebe, she's currently two and is great source of joy for both of us. Some hobbies of mine include: video games, housing projects, camping and being outdoors, and spending time with my family. |
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Carey Ann Cash
| I started at the University of Illinois in December 2002 in the Air Force ROTC unit. Over the years, I moved throughout different departments/ units, both academic and administrative. Prior to joining NCSA, I worked in the Health Education Unit at McKinley Health Center for just over three years as an Administrative Aide. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my guys (my husband and son) and on my family farm. I am the sixth generation to own my family farm an hour south of C-U. I have a farm house, barn and shed and 80+ acres of farmland (no animals other than pesky groundhogs). In addition to my family and farm, my other passion is organizing! I love, live and breathe it! My favorite store of all time is the Container Store and I am known to spend many hours in there! I received my certification in 2020 as a Certified Organizational Specialist. Some say that my soul glows when I speak of organization! |
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Autumn Kennedy Student | I began working at NCSA in August of 2021 as a student worker. I really like working at the Business Office at NCSA because everyone is so kind and we really feel like a team. I have two cats at home, Milo and Koa, and I have two sisters that I live with. Some of my hobbies are playing video games, reading, or learning new languages. |
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Yeji Lim Student | I began working at NCSA in August of 2021 as a student worker. At NCSA, I mostly disseminate and reconcile monthly statements. From the start, I really liked how the whole team was very welcoming and the communication amongst the team members was really easy. In my free time I like to bake, draw, or watch tv shows. I have subscriptions to all Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and HBO Max! When I want to go outside, I like to take a walk around the neighborhood while listening to music or podcasts. My current favorite podcast to listen to are Crime Junkies and Dark History. |
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Cohen Jancola Extra Help |
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