Welcome to the Prairie Research Institute!
We are so excited to welcome you to the PRI team. We hope to make your onboarding experience straightforward. Below is information regarding leaders and contacts within PRI.
As part of the onboarding process, please click the employee class link below that corresponds to the employee class referenced in your offer email from the PRI-HR contact. New employees must review information and fill out certain forms to complete the hiring process.
Meet Your PRI-HR Team
Please contact a member of the PRI-HR staff if you have any questions:
- Amy Dillman, Senior Associate Director, Workforce Planning and Organizational Development
Email or 217-333-0431 - Jon Freiman, HR Business Partner (primarily supports ISTC and ISWS)
Email or 217-244-2687 - Amber Hall, HR Business Partner (primarily supports INHS)
Email or 217-300-4080 - Lori Walston-Vonderharr, HR Business Partner (primarily supports INHS and ISAS)
Email or 217-244-2401 - Megan Weeks, HR Business Analyst (primarily supports OED shared services)
Email or 217-244-4768 - Andrea Nation, Office Support Associate
Email or 217-300-5196
Get to Know Your Resources
If you are an incoming manager, grant writer, or have other lab, personnel or financial responsibilities, we encourage you to meet with these administration leaders. They can offer best practices, explain policy, provide training on systems, and serve as excellent resources.
PRI Leaders
- Praveen Kumar, PRI Executive Director – About PRI
- Richard Winkel, PRI Deputy Executive Director – About PRI
- Brian Pianfetti, PRI Associate Director for Research – About PRI
- Richard Berg, Director of Illinois State Geological Survey – About ISGS
- Kevin OBrien, Director of Illinois Sustainable Technology Center – About ISTC
& Director of the Illinois State Water Survey – About ISWS - Timothy R. Pauketat, Director of Illinois State Archaeological Survey – About ISAS
- Eric Schauber, Illinois Natural History Survey – About INHS
Computing and Data Services
Nate Baxley, Associate Director
- Desktop support
- Computer and Equipment Needs
- Visit Computing and Data Services for more information
Facilities
Shari Effert-Fanta, Assistant Director
- Facility management, access and hours – Matt Thompson
- Inventory policy and procedures – Devin Blobaum
- Emergency security – Shari Effert-Fanta
- Building maintenance – Matt Thompson
- Shipping and receiving/mail – Kevin Schoening
Finance
Alan Dudley, Senior Associate Director for Strategic Operations and Administration
- Travel – Lacey Holman
- Purchasing – Lacey Holman
- Office of Business and Financial Services applicable policies – Karen Hartman
- Grant management – Lacey Holman, Holly Pankow
- PRIDE – Megan Weeks
Human Resources
Amy Dillman, Senior Associate Director, Workforce Planning and Organizational Development
- Staffing
- Payroll
- Employee relations
Strategic Communications
Tiffany Jolley, Assistant Director
- Media relations – Lisa Sheppard
- PRI and survey websites – Jennifer Davis
- Design and Promotional materials – Danielle Ruffatto
- Writing – Rosalind Essig
More information about the organization, its leaders and all staff can be found on the PRI website and the staff intranet (you must log in with your U of I NetID to access the staff intranet).
PRI New Hire Forms
Click the corresponding employee class link below.
- Hourly Employees
- Academic Hourly
- Extra Help
- U of I Students
- Undergraduate Hourly
- International Student – Undergraduate Hourly
- Graduate Student Hourly
- Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)
- Academic Professionals
- Post Doctoral (Post Doc)
- Academic Professional (AP)
- Visiting Academic Professional (AP)
- Civil Service
- Civil Service Non-Exempt
- Civil Service Exempt
- Unpaid
- Unpaid Affiliate
- Foreign National Employees also need:
- Check in for international employees
- Check in for student international employees
- Check in for unpaid international employees