Longtime pre-award associate director Renee Lewis set to retire

After a long and impactful career at West Virginia University, with over 30 years of service, Renee Lewis is set to retire Nov. 4. She currently serves as an associate director supporting pre-award research infrastructure in the Health Sciences Office of Research and Graduate Education.

During her tenure, Renee held multiple critical roles at Health Sciences and in the WVU Research Office in support of the research enterprise. During her earlier years, Renee served in several administrative roles supporting various aspects of research, grants and program management. In 2000, she joined the Office of Sponsored Programs as a sponsored programs administrator for the pre-award unit where she reviewed and submitted proposals to external sponsors on behalf of the institution and PIs. She served in this role until she joined the Office of Research & Graduate Education in 2016 as associate director for HSC pre-award.  

Among her many contributions to the Health Sciences research infrastructure is the management of the pre-award approval process for extramural proposals across the Health Sciences Center. In her leadership role, she was an instrumental part of the HSC-wide central pre- and post-award staff network in the Office of Research & Graduate Education. Her dedication to her work, from advising and mentoring co-workers and colleagues to reviewing and submitting proposals, has been vital in helping to reshape pre-award services.

While Renee will be sorely missed, we share in the excitement for her journey ahead. Please join us in wishing Renee the best in her well-deserved retirement.