We are pleased to feature Jesse Kummer, Director of Research Administration, in this edition of our Administrative Staff Spotlight series.
Jesse joined our department in May of 2022. He leads our Research Administration Team, who are responsible for processing all research grant submissions and managing all funded research project accounts within our department.
Before his tenure with us, Jesse developed his expertise in the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Biomedical Informatics, where he gained valuable experience providing professional and detailed financial analyses for all grants awarded to faculty in the department.
Jesse holds a Bachelor of Science in Statistics from Carnegie Mellon University, where he also pursued further studies in history, equipping him with a diverse skill set that he brings to his current role.
We invite you to get to know Jesse better through the Q&A below.
Where are you from?
I’m from North Olmsted, OH, a relatively small suburban city that is part of the Cleveland metropolitan area.
Tell us briefly about your job/role in the dept.
I supervise the Research Administration Team, who comprise the post-award and pre-award administrators who manage our grant proposal submissions and our active grant portfolio.
Who or what inspires you, and why?
Many people in my life have incredible patience and care deeply for others, both loved ones and friends. Two especially important people in this regard are my mom and my partner.
How do you foster collaboration and trust among researchers, administrators, and institutional stakeholders, especially when priorities conflict?
I believe in open and honest communication. Overcommunication even. Too often administrators and faculty remain siloed in their actions and what they communicate to one another. I enjoy teaching and helping people understand areas of research administration that they otherwise wouldn’t normally encounter in their day-to-day. I believe understanding the “why” of something is equally as important as just completing a task. Showing others that I have done my due diligence in understanding their question or concern is always a goal of mine.
What has been your proudest professional accomplishment so far in your career?
I am proud of my time working as the sole research administrator in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Biomedical Informatics. In this role, I was responsible for all post-award management and pre-award submissions for almost two years from January 2020 through Fall 2021.
Outside of work, what experiences or interests have helped you become a more effective or empathetic leader?
My first experience in leadership was as Treasurer and then Captain of my college ultimate frisbee team. I enjoyed being responsible to my teammates in relaying important information about our schedule, finances, practices, and any other necessary updates. I learned how to deal with varying personalities, including people who were 100% devoted to the team and being their best as well as individuals who were more committed, or equally committed, to other endeavors be it their classwork, another sports team, or even doing homework on the weekend.
What has been your proudest personal accomplishment?
Buying my house in 2019, and my partner and her two children moving in with me in 2023.
Who have been your most significant mentors throughout your career and/or life and why?
Career-wise, I have been fortunate to have had fantastic supervisors in my various positions at the University of Pittsburgh. I credit Kim Kushon, Celeste Flaherty-Thomas, Rebecca Uber, Rob Cecchetti, and of course, Bill Thomson, for substantially helping me develop into who I am in the workplace today.
What might the department be surprised to know about you?
I run regularly and completed the 37.5-mile Rachel Carson Challenge last year. I completed the Pittsburgh Marathon in 2016.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy walking, running, participating in various athletic endeavors, working on my nearly 100-year-old house, and spending time with my family.
What advice would you give to new administrative staff joining our department?
For new members of our Research Administration Team, I advise asking questions of others around you before taking action. The desire to provide assistance is noteworthy, but in our line of work, it’s best to make sure we are permitted to carry out a task rather than doing it first and asking questions later. No matter what you know or did previously, every workplace is different, and this department has a very good team of people, both faculty and staff, who have a wealth of knowledge.