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CHAMPAIGN — A couple of days before a high-level visit was set to begin at The Prairie Research Institute (PRI), the itinerary suddenly shifted. Multiple schedules changed without warning, leaving Sarah Wells with a complex agenda to rebuild on a tight deadline.

Behind the scenes, the executive assistant went to work, adjusting schedules, coordinating across multiple campuses and ensuring every participant received updated information.

In the end, the visit went smoothly, and the participants were able to focus on the purpose of the meeting rather than logistics, thanks to Wells.

“It’s rewarding when everything appears effortless, even though there was a lot of planning, communication and problem-solving happening,” Wells said about the sudden change in the work atmosphere.

For the Paxton native, no two days are the same.

A typical morning might begin with emails and calendar updates before shifting unexpectedly. On one recent day, Wells was asked to identify an insect. Not long after, someone called to report a bat in the kitchen. Those interruptions, she said, are reminders that flexibility is just as important as organization. Knowing who to contact and how to quickly solve problems is part of the job.

“It’s basically one of those where you schedule something; you always have to be prepared to pivot,” Wells said.

Wells joined the University of Illinois in 2013 as a part-time operations coordinator in the Division of Nutritional Sciences after her grandmother encouraged her to apply. As her children grew older, she sought a full-time position and joined the institute in 2019, where she now supports Executive Director Praveen Kumar.

Wells serves as an operational anchor for one of the university’s largest research hubs, which houses the state’s five scientific surveys covering geology, natural history, water, archaeology and sustainable technology.

Her ability to anticipate challenges and adapt on the fly earned Wells the 2026 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Office Professional of the Year Award — an honor for which Kumar nominated her. Her administrative peers across campus were the ones to make the ultimate decision.

Kumar said he was “absolutely delighted” when Wells received the award.

“What makes her exceptional is that she is not simply supporting the work,” Kumar continued in an email. “She strengthens the organization and the people around her through initiative, professionalism and genuine care.”

The two have built a highly collaborative partnership grounded in trust, clear communication and a shared commitment to the institute’s mission.

Although her work focuses on logistics, Wells said she has developed a deeper appreciation for the institute’s mission by working alongside scientists whose passion for research is contagious. She said the experience has even made her more environmentally conscious.

“I don’t kill bugs as often as I used to,” she said with a laugh, crediting researchers for changing the way she thinks about the natural world.

Outside the office, Wells enjoys attending concerts and sporting events and spending time with her family, especially cheering on her 19-year-old son during the soccer season.

For Wells, success is rarely measured by public recognition. Instead, it comes from creating an environment where researchers can focus on discovery because someone else has already solved the problems they never had to see.