Kathy DeWitt, retiring after 34 years of service

One of ORSP's most knowledgable and longest-serving staff members, Kathy DeWitt, Managing Project Representative - Government Sponsors, will retire on December 31, 2021, after 34 years of dedicated service at U-M. 

***Register for Kathy's celebration!***

Celebration Details

• Date: Friday, December 3, 2021, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m
• Location options:
  • Wolverine Tower, Suite G-18 (in-person option)
  • Zoom link  (remote)
• Immediately following: The celebration will continue at Buffalo Wild Wings (across the Wolverine Tower parking lot) at your own expense.
• Cards and Gifts
  • Share your gratitude and best wishes for Kathy sign the ecard.
  • If you would like to donate towards a retirement gift, we have options! Please reach out to orsp-retirement@umich.edu.

Professional History

Kathy has worked at the University of Michigan since October 20, 1988. She began her career in the College of Engineering (CoE)  Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department in the newly formed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Laboratory.

As the ever-curious and industrious person she is, she began as Research Secretary II and worked her way up and to serve as the Administrator for the AI Lab, eventually to serve as the Managing Project Representative for the Government Sponsors team for ORSP, ensuring the submission and management of all government-sponsored proposals and awards in U-M's sponsored research portfolio. 

She also held a temporary appointment in the Research Dean’s area of CoE, helping to do post-award administration for the Dean when People Soft was being implemented.  

Kathy formed a relationship early with the (currently named) Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP). In her role at CoE, she worked on a big Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) proposal with AI faculty and the staff from ORSP (then called the  Division of Research Development and Administration or DRDA). The good news?  The DARPA project was funded! The humble human news?  "Not only did I find that I made a $50k mistake in the budget, the faculty member had also embedded cost-sharing by the University that was not approved," Kathy shared. What better way to learn how to empathize with project teams!

Kathy moved on to DRDA/ORSP in 1999. 

Honors, Awards, Certifications

Kathy has earned the following awards, training, and has served on various committees including:

• 2017 - LEAN/KATA training 
• 2017 - UofM Office of Research Exceptional Service Award
• 2017 - UofM Deadline Policy Committee 
• 2015 - UofM NAVIGATE Program Design and Instructor
• 2011 - SRA Midwest Founders Award
• 2004 - SRA Midwest Section Secretary
• 2001 - SRA Michigan Chapter President
• 1999-present - UofM Export Control Committee 
• 1998-2015 - UofM RAIN Program Design and Instructor
• 1996 - UofM College of Engineering Excellence in Staff Service Award

Words of Advice

We asked Kathy if she had any words to share, and her advice was to "Don't sweat the small stuff. Don’t worry we can fix anything. When in doubt go with your gut." Well said, Kathy.

Looking Forward

Kathy looks forward to stress reduction at first, and then spending time with her family and friends, and traveling with family and friends.

Kathy says: "I will truly miss all the wonderful people, inside the University, at the sponsor level, SRA, and FDP, that I have worked with over the years in my research administration career." 

Please join us in thanking Kathy for her noteworthy tenure at ORSP and wishing her the absolute best in her future endeavors.