Lisa Jahr earns Chemistry Recognizing Outstanding Staff Award
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (3/5/2026) – Lisa Jahr, Finance Professional III for the Department of Chemistry, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Chemistry Recognizing Outstanding Staff Award (ROSA). The award recognizes Department of Chemistry staff who go above and beyond to serve the department's mission, community, and operations.
Below are a few excerpts from the nominations Lisa received for the ROSA:
“Exceptional in every respect. Technically excellent. Highly responsive. Ethically grounded. Fantastic communication and service. Thinks ahead and preemptively keeps every issue with my finances in front of me with time to make sure we avoid problems and complications. When I do make mistakes (and I do), she is amazing at helping to do what we can to address it and being clear and transparent when some things simply can't be fixed. At the same time, professional and a pleasure to work with. What an asset for the department. Lisa has made me and my research group much more effective. She is the model for a great member of our accounting staff, to the envy of the rest of the college.”
“I cannot say enough how grateful I am for the excellent support Lisa has provided me for so many years. I have been at the U for 25 years, and I know from my early days what it means to get limited support in accounting matters. To me, Lisa is a gift from heaven. Whenever I have a deadline looming for a grant, Lisa is there to help minimize the pain, and address problems that arise in the last moment, when the situation is most stressful for me. When I need to think about remaining funds of a grant ending in a couple of months, Lisa is the one to give me an early warning when I have not even thought about it. When I get stuck in the jungle of rules, Lisa guides me through! Whatever Lisa does, she does it in a super timely and friendly manner and goes so far beyond the required minimum.”
“Lisa has been an absolutely fabulous accountant. She is proactive, thorough, patient, and easy to work with. She is always willing to answer my (or my students') endless questions about policy or provide her expert opinion on strategy. She has gone above and beyond to track down answers to things that aren't even in her job description. She proactively communicates if she isn't able to get to a task right away, but always makes sure things are done on time. We are extremely lucky to have Lisa in the department.”
“From the moment I joined the faculty, Lisa has gone above and beyond to ensure my success. Rather than waiting for me to stumble through unfamiliar processes, she proactively educated me on essential procedures—from grant submission protocols to financial management and budgeting strategies. Her initiative in those early days gave me a foundation that has been invaluable throughout my time here. What truly sets Lisa apart is that she genuinely cares about outcomes. She doesn't simply process paperwork; she invests in the success of the faculty she supports. We've had what I can only describe as "strategy sessions" where she's encouraged me to be more ambitious with proposal submissions and reassured me that eventually, something will come through. Without fail, she wishes me good luck on every proposal—a small gesture that reflects her authentic investment in our work … Lisa exemplifies the kind of staff member who makes this institution excellent.”
The Department of Chemistry is deeply grateful for the work of Lisa as an outstanding member of the departmental community. Overall, the second annual ROSA received 30 nominations of 16 different staff, nominated by 21 different faculty, staff, and students.
Nomination comments have received minor edits for clarity and brevity.