Excellence in Service Award: Mordekai Ongo

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Audio Recording by Gary Burdick, Dean of Research

As the Andrews University Research Integrity and Compliance Officer, Mordekai Ongo’s responsibilities include making sure that all research involving human subjects done by faculty and students is in compliance with federal, state and University regulations. Although Mordekai often has to inform researchers that they need to make revisions to their protocols before their projects can be approved, he does so with courtesy, compassion and grace, and in a spirit of cooperation with the researcher.

Mordekai provides training to faculty and student groups, at times that are convenient for the researchers, rather than on a schedule that is convenient for him. He has come into the office at 6 a.m. on Sunday mornings to lead live webinar sessions to a class cohort in Kenya.

Mordekai is dedicated to his job and to the faculty and student researchers that he works with. When a student or faculty researcher stops by with questions, he will stop whatever he is doing to spend as much time as needed to thoroughly answer their questions. He never becomes impatient, even when they ask the same question for the third time.

Mordekai’s leadership is appreciated by his colleagues, who have asked him to lead their daily exercise breaks.

Mordekai truly exemplifies what it means to “share your Andrews heart.” Congratulations on receiving this well-deserved Excellence in Service Award.