Described as dedicated, honest and gracious, Dellinger is second-in-command at MRES, and she is everyone's go-to for answers to everyday questions.
Dellinger is great at keeping the MRES team on track, said Becky Reynolds, CRA, the Director of Research Administration. Recently she made a huge impact by assessing and improving the team’s hiring process.
“[In addition to] the rest of her duties, Sara took the time to evaluate every step in the process we were using for favorable outcomes,” Reynolds said. “She was able to make a few targeted changes to questions we were asking and the make-up of the committees we were using which created better results for both the candidates and the interviewers.
“She worked with key individuals in HR and other divisions within the department to make sure the changes would be feasible and could be implemented immediately. Today, our hiring process is more focused on outcomes and the results are amazing,” Reynolds said.
A Q&A with Sara Dellinger, Assistant Director, Research Administration, Department of Medicine
How long have you been in your current role? How long have you been at IU?
I have been in my current role since February 2023, but have been at IU since July of 2017.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Definitely the people! I have been incredibly lucky my entire tenure at IU and have had the opportunity to work with some amazing teammates, supervisors, faculty, and colleagues. These individuals have helped me learn and grow into the professional I am today, and a lot of them have become close friends and mentors.
Have you recently completed a project, learned a new skill, or hit a major milestone?
February is my one-year anniversary in a leadership role. When I first started in MRES, I never would have imagined myself taking on a leadership role. This is something that pushed me beyond my comfort zone, but I am so grateful I pursued the role. 2023 was a particularly challenging year for me personally and professionally, but I can honestly say that I am so much stronger for it. I am very proud of myself for persevering through the adversity and grateful to everyone who has supported me through this past year.
Please share a bit about the people at work who inspire, challenge and motivate you.
The people who inspire and motivate me the most are those who are able to stay positive and upbeat even during challenging times. I am also inspired by those that respond to issues with compassion, empathy, and fairness.
How do you like to spend your time when you're not at work? Can you share the details about a recent trip, project, accomplishment, or other activity you enjoyed?
When I am not at work, I love spending time with my husband, family, friends, and of course, our two cats! Maintaining an active lifestyle is also very important to my husband and me. We enjoy hiking, running, biking, taking walks, doing workouts, etc. We were able to go to Maui last May and got to do some incredible hiking including hiking up the dormant volcano on the island! It was such an amazing experience. I also enjoy reading in my spare time. My favorite genres are historical fiction and fantasy. I am currently reading Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, but my favorite author is Sarah J. Maas.
As a fun fact, I really enjoy listening to bluegrass music and have attended a couple of bluegrass festivals with my family which are a lot of fun! My favorite bluegrass artist is Sarah Jarosz.
I hope to grow even more as a leader in 2024 and would like to earn my CRA within the next year or two.