A warm EEB welcome to four administrative staff members who have recently joined our ranks: Debi Dault, Courtney Long, Kimberly Pavuk, and Damon Place.

Debi Dault is EEB’s new contract and grants specialist. “I am very happy to be here and am looking forward to learning more about grant proposals and helping faculty with their financial needs,” Dault said. “I'm also hoping to make a positive contribution to the administrative team in any way I can.”

Dault earned her bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University in finance and will graduate in December 2012 with her master’s degree in accounting from Eastern Michigan University. Dault brings over nine years of financial experience to EEB. She previously worked in Earth and Environmental Sciences where she spent four years as a senior accounting clerk and a financial specialist, handling pre- and post-award grant tasks.

She has been married to Chuck Dault  for 21 years and they have two children, Tony, 19 and Mary, 15, two dogs, a french bulldog named Boo, and a pug named Penny. “More than anything else, I like to spend time with my family and friends.” Dault loves to ride her Harley Davidson 1200XL Sportster to work in the summer and is “somewhat obsessed” with making beaded jewelry. She is the treasurer of the Marine Corps League Ladies' Auxiliary in Wyandotte.

Courtney Long joins the Program in Biology team as a laboratory and classroom services technician. A recent graduate from Hope College, Long earned her bachelor’s degree in biology with a French minor. She is very excited to be working with the EEB and MCDB departments.

"I have always had a hard time choosing my favorite 'sphere' in biology, because I find it all interesting and fun," said Long. "This is a great job because I get to explore all the different labs as they study the different aspects of biology." If she had to pick a favorite biology topic, it would be animal behavior.

Besides biology, Long enjoys reading, writing, drawing, and practicing French. Her favorite shows include “CSI,” “Law and Order,” and anything on Animal Planet. On her lunch breaks, Long can be found writing poetry, or sketching a bluebird or other woodland creature.

Kimberly Pavuk joined the Program in Biology after three years as the student services assistant in the College of Engineering’s Computer Science Department. Prior to that, she was the education outreach coordinator for Michigan Television for nine years. Prior to coming to the Ann Arbor Campus, Pavuk worked for University of Michigan - Flint, where she received her bachelor’s degree in communication.

“Right now I'm working on understanding the many biology concentrations and their requirements as well as the new processes and procedures here in LS&A and biology,” Pavuk said. “I really look forward to working more with our students to help provide exceptional service and experience for them.” 

Most of her free time is spent "making projects" and baking with her 4 year old twin daughters and her husband.

Damon Place is the new facilities assistant for the Program in Biology. “I hope to get to know everyone and become an employee that everyone knows they can count on,” said Place. “I am very excited about my future here and have the same sense of pride for the University of Michigan that I had while serving as a member of the U.S. Air Force.

Place was in the Air Force from 1995-1999, where he worked in the 56th Transportation Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Prior to U-M, Place worked for the City of Chelsea as a maintenance / water assistant for five years. He and his wife, Jacquelyn, have a 9 year old daughter, Paige, three dogs (“not by choice!”) and two cats.

“I love to spend the weekends with the family whenever I can.” In the summer, Place has been racing stock cars at the local level for seven years and has accumulated 27 main event victories and three track championships.

Take the time to meet our great new staff members!