Welcome to the Prairie Research Institute!
We are so excited to welcome you to the PRI team. We hope to make your onboarding experience easy and 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, Associate Director for Human Resources
Email or 217-333-0431 - Jon Freiman, HR Business Partner
Email or 217-244-2687 - Amber Hall, HR Business Partner
Email or 217-300-4080 - Lori Walston-Vonderharr, HR Business Partner
Email or 217-244-2401 - Megan Weeks, HR Business Analyst
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
- Jeff Stein, 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, Associate Director
- Travel – Lacey Holman
- Purchasing – Lacey Holman
- Office of Business and Financial Services applicable policies – Karen Hartman
- Grant management – Alan Dudley
- PRIDE – Megan Weeks
Human Resources
Amy Dillman, Associate Director
- Staffing
- Payroll
- Employee relations
Strategic Communications
- Media relations – Lisa Sheppard
- Social media – Tiffany Jolley
- PRI and survey websites – Jennifer Davis
- Promotional materials Danielle Ruffatto
More information about the organization, its leaders and all staff can be found on the PRI website and on 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:
- Foreign National