Jeanne Wicks, director of sponsored programs in the Office of Research and Economic Development, will retire Nov. 1. A retirement reception will be 8:30 to 10 a.m. Oct. 30 at the Prem S. Paul Research Center’s reception space.

Sponsored programs has grown since Wicks came to the university as director of the post-award team in 2003 — overseeing record growth from $142.6 million in sponsored awards to $271.2 million in fiscal year 2019. The staff has grown from six to 26.

“I’m really thankful to the staff,” Wicks said. “They are wonderful.”

As she looks back on her time at Nebraska, Wicks remembers former vice chancellor Prem Paul’s counsel to “get close to the research” and takes satisfaction in her office’s role in the groundbreaking work done by Nebraska scientists. She mentions research that reduced from $600 to $6 the cost of a hemophiliac patient’s treatment when they got a cut. She recalls scientists on the ice at Antarctica sending her photos.

“What excites me is what we have found here at Nebraska that makes an impact on the world,” Wicks said.

Wicks isn’t cutting ties completely with the university. Beginning next January, she will help with the transition to NuRamp, the systemwide grant management system. Other than that, she plans to spend more time with her first grandchild, reading, doing leatherwork and hanging out with her already retired sister.

“Jeanne has been a strong, stabilizing force for the Office of Sponsored Programs, providing consistent and reliable information to the UNL campus since her arrival in 2003. Jeanne was instrumental in raising the reputation and value of our office’s services and the staff on her team,” Suzan Lund, associate director of OSP, said. “I will miss her encouragement, guidance and the many laughs we’ve shared, but am excited she’ll have more time to spend with her family, especially grandson, Wyatt.”

The reception is free and open to the campus community.