Anthony Graham and Mary Simonsen Receive the 2025 Psychology Staff Excellence Award
We are excited to announce that Anthony Graham and Mary Simonsen are recipients of the 2025 Psychology Staff Excellence Award. This award recognizes staff members who have demonstrated excellence and professionalism in their overall performance and have made meaningful contributions to the Department of Psychology.
Anthony Graham has made remarkable contributions to the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research (MCTFR) since joining in November 2022. As a Research Data Manager, he has successfully documented and submitted over 15,000 data files from 740 participants to public data repositories. Despite staffing shortages and significant transitions, Anthony demonstrated exceptional adaptability and initiative. He mastered complex data management processes, reorganized extensive paper data files, and spearheaded data clean-outs and digitization efforts. His dedication to improving efficiency and infrastructure has been crucial to the MCTFR's success. Additionally, Anthony's collaborative nature and high professional standards have made him a trusted resource, and his leadership in overseeing administrative tasks and training new staff has been invaluable. His commitment to excellence and innovation makes him a deserving candidate for the 2025 Psychology Staff Excellence Award.
Mary Simonsen has made outstanding contributions as the Senior Academic Advisor in the Department of Psychology. Since joining in 2015, she has demonstrated a proactive advising style and a commitment to supporting students in need. Her leadership on projects such as the Senior Capstone video, alumni spotlights, the development of a Peer Advising workgroup, and outreach initiatives have significantly benefited the department. Mary’s dedication to student success is evident in her involvement with office programming, collaboration with CLA Career Services, and her role as a mentor in the Women Invested in Leadership and Learning(WILL) program for female student-athletes. Her exceptional teamwork, commitment to professional development, and ability to build strong relationships make her an invaluable asset to the department. Mary’s leadership and innovative approach have earned her well-deserved recognition, including the CLA Outstanding Service Award.
Anthony Graham, Research Data Manager for the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research (MCTFR) at the University of Minnesota.
Mary Simonsen, Psychology Senior Academic Advisor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota.
Composed by Madison Stromberg, communications assistant.
