 |
| Has a faculty, staff or student employee done something to deserve recognition? Show your thanks with a Wildcat Family Spirit Certificate of Appreciation |
|
|
|
|
Classified
Staff |
|
Classified Staff Scenes from the 2007 surprise patrol On Our Own Time Staff Art Exhibit The Awards for Excellence Steering Committee enjoys putting on a special program to honor not only our winners, but our nominees as well. Congratulations to all the wonderful employees who were nominated for these prestigious awards. SAC President Eva Gonzales thanked everyone for attending the awards event and encouraged them to become an active member of the Staff Advisory Council. Eva introduced our Master of Ceremonies, Vice Provost for Instruction Jerry Hogle. Dr. Hogle helped make shared governance a living reality, assuring that it works in all colleges and departments and broadening the process to include students, staff, and academic professionals. He is a very strong supporter of Classified Staff and Appointed Professionals. In fact, he nominated a Staff Award for Excellence winner last year.
Dr. Hogle opened the event and thanked all those who have worked to make this event so special. He made a point of describing how important it was to give recognition to staff and appointed professionals who are the backbone of the university. He also encouraged others to become involved and nominate those around them for the wonderful work they do for us all.
Jose Solorzano, chairman of the SAC Arts Committee, spoke about the On Our Own Time Staff Art Exhibit being displayed at the Student Union Art Gallery. He thanked all those who submitted their pieces in the collection and encouraged all of the campus community to take the time to stop by and view their talented works.
President Robert Shelton greeted everyone and spoke of how impressed he was not only with this, his first Staff Awards Event, but also all the people who nominated and were nominated. He sees staff and appointed professionals as essential to the continued progress the University is making and liked the idea of this event showing appreciation for those who have had such an impact all over campus.
Staff Advisory Council Special Award There are many names that can be mentioned on campus that bring instantaneous recognition - there are fewer that bring a smile to your face. Lisa has been instrumental in the Awards for Excellence program since she herself was a recipient. Long after she was a recipient, this gracious person became a one-woman dynamo on and off campus when her supervisor was stricken with an illness that left her at much less than 100%. During the post 9/11 financial crisis that found Arizona and its Universities slashing budgets, this former president of the Staff Advisory Council shepherded the Council and the staff through the very bleakest of times of department restructuring and layoffs. It was her idea to make the Awards for Excellence event one that we all would remember forever - it was her idea that cash awards would actually be $1,000. For many years, Lisa has watched over our budget, paid our bills, checked our records, duplicated and distributed packets, planned and filmed surprise visits, held our hands and, in general, guided this program to success. Please help us thank Lisa for this program and for her innumerable contributions to the U of A Campus.
Staff Award for Excellence
Nominees
Staff Award for Excellence Winners
Susie Bowers, Assistant Director of Outreach and Recruitment at the College of Engineering, is not your 40 hour per week person. She does whatever it takes to complete the project at hand and 50- to 60-hour weeks are not unusual. Despite this extraordinary load, she finds time to do "special things" for co-workers, like bringing in flowers from her garden, or bringing in homemade scones and freshly baked bread. Among the list of her accomplishments (and it’s a long one), she initiated a Student Ambassador Program to recruit and excite younger students about the possibilities of technology careers. Concerned about the image a shabby courtyard conveyed to prospective students and families, Susie spearheaded the courtyard renovation. Legend has it she donned an old shirt on a scorching summer day and painted the concrete tables and benches herself. Susie strives to diversify the College of Engineering, evidenced by her work with the Society of Women Engineers and the Society of Hispanic Engineers. Her expertise on issues related to enrollment management, outstanding service to the University Committee and visitors and her special efforts in promoting work force diversity, puts Susie on the A-list for excellence and cutting-edge innovation.
Chuck, as his colleagues fondly call him, joined the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory in 1994. In his ten years as a Systems Engineer, Chuck worked on such notable projects as the Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS), currently in orbit around Mars as part of NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey Mission and the Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer (TEGA), part of the Phoenix Mars Lander Mission. Chuck is the quintessential team player, helping others and assuming tasks well beyond the scope of assigned duties. Though about to retire, he stayed on to complete the TEGA project. In the face of what seemed like disaster when the project experienced major setbacks, Chuck shouldered additional work, responsibility and leadership and the TEGA project was saved and delivered as promised to the customer JPL/NASA. It could not have been done without Chuck’s amazing effectiveness and technical talent. When Chuck retires, he will be missed. We are grateful he leaves a legacy of work that will continue on for years to come. Chuck is the type of employee whose contributions have kept the University of Arizona on the map as a university on the cutting-edge of space technology. Thanks, Chuck!
For someone who loves their job, like Rick, no disaster looms too big. Responding to emergencies is a way of life for him and Rick handles thousands of "routine" and emergency calls a year. When the Art Museum’s steam humidifier system malfunctioned, Rick was there. When a major flood invaded the USA Complex, Rick was there. When frigid temperatures caused water coils and pipes to freeze and rupture in several buildings, Rick was there. When McKale flooded due to heavy monsoons, Rick was there. They say where there is water, there is potential for disaster. It is our good fortune that Rick is always there. Rick works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure staff, students and faculty are comfortable in our buildings. On call 24/7, you’ll see him on off-hours or weekends attending to disasters of every scope. Expect to see Rick around campus, resolving water leaks or floods that threaten buildings, developing improvements, assessing our problems, recommending solutions and completing repairs. Please be sure to thank him. It is business as usual for Rick and his business day rarely ends at five o’clock. He is a benefit to the University and well-deserving of this award.
Derek primarily monitors and maintains the computing equipment that runs the University’s administrative applications and communications tools. On January 2, 2007, the University of Arizona detected unauthorized access into the computer systems of several units on campus. Derek was brought on board almost immediately because of his computer-related forensic skills. UAPD enlisted the assistance of the FBI and the Campus Emergency Response Team was activated. CCIT launched a full-scale audit to analyze and determine the nature of the breach. Many team members came together and continue to work on the project, but when the dust settled, Derek was among those who stood on top. Derek worked non-stop to uncover the problem. He made personal sacrifices in terms of hours and time away from his family. His involvement and commitment in stabilizing this emergency was instrumental in restoring online access, while maintaining the necessary level of security. Derek did it with a smile on his face and a positive attitude that inspired his co-workers. On a "normal" day Derek arrives early and leaves late, still managing to make time to coach his son’s soccer team. He’s yet another reason the University of Arizona is a great place to work.
Helpful, pleasant and efficient...these traits are just a few of the qualities that make Claudia Miller an outstanding employee. Since her first day working in the Physics Department, she has brought a "can-do" attitude to work each day and impressed her colleagues with her ability to learn University policies, procedures and practices. Claudia is always willing to help, even if the tasks assigned aren’t in her job description. She takes courses to better understand areas of the University that she is unfamiliar with and she anticipates future department needs acting on them without being told. Claudia receives numerous compliments on how pleasant and efficient she is to work with. Amazingly, she juggles "endless paperwork" and a wide range of responsibilities with impressive organizational skills while never appearing to be flustered. One of her nominators wrote how important her contributions were to the entire department. "I and the other faculty members in our group are free to concentrate on teaching and research without worrying that an administrative necessity is being overlooked. We know Claudia is on top of it."
Robin
Rarick It doesn’t make sense to ask "What has Robin done?" Rather, it is more like "What hasn’t Robin done?" While she excels at what she does as the Program Coordinator in the Chemistry Department, Robin does a great deal more that her title might indicate. Robin is proactive, patient, reliable and interactive. Time and again, she proves to be committed to her department, fellow colleagues and students by doing the unexpected extra. Robin once volunteered to teach a class to College of Science students on academic probation. This contribution was greatly appreciated by her colleagues who were in desperate need of assistance. Robin initiated an exchange program between the Chemistry Department at the UA and Nottingham in England. She went out of her way to assist exchange students with everything from housing to grocery shopping, even taking the time to offer comfort to homesick students. Robin’s infectious enthusiasm, excellent communication skills, constant smile and upbeat attitude are only a few of the wonderful attributes she brings to work each and every day. She is most definitely an asset to the University community and well-deserving of the University Staff Excellence Award.
Nancy Smith Enthusiastic, sincere, inspirational and dedicated are some of the words that describe Nancy Smith, a deserving recipient of the Award for Excellence. As Program Coordinator in the Agriculture and Resource Economics Department, Nancy goes above and beyond every day. Without being asked, she consistently picks up additional duties to ensure no task or individual is overlooked. When meeting with prospective grad students, Nancy takes the time to listen. She makes them feel welcome, comfortable and informed. It is her personal goal to ensure prospective students have a positive first experience at the University of Arizona. Nancy is on the front lines of continuing education, seeking always to enhance her contribution to her office, her colleagues and her students. She’s taken professional development classes in computer animation, web design, photography and art plus workshops devoted to writing effective resumes and cover letters. "I’m just doing my job" is what Nancy will likely say when presented with this award but her humility, warmth, attention to detail, innovative ideas and work ethic are what make her an asset to the University of Arizona and more than deserving of the University Staff Award for Excellence.
Team Award for Excellence Nominees
Team Award for Excellence Winners
Approval to use animals in research requires detailed plans and strong justification as well as approval from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Researcher submission requests are paper-based and manually filed and updated, a cumbersome process the new eSirius software streamlines. The talented team of Andrea (Andi), Linda and Kevin were challenged with customizing and implementing this web-based eSirius program. This team cost-effectively met their goals on time. Well-organized and customer-service oriented, they sought input from the University community, researchers and the IACUC, accomplishing all this while attending to their everyday tasks. One example of the team’s resourcefulness was the organization of the first International eSirius User’s Group meeting in November 2006. Realizing the meeting could be hosted here on campus at a fraction of what it would cost to send team members out of state, they brought 42 attendees from 15 institutions across the U.S. and Canada here for the event. The meeting resulted in rave reviews and many team members attended and shared valuable information at no cost. This project will increase the efficient communication required for responsible, accurate and ethical animal research. Great job, team!
The Records Management-Document Imaging Team is one that exemplifies mutual respect, commitment and dedication to the University of Arizona. They possess a "…camaraderie, an acceptance of diversity, humility, friendship and the ability to agree to disagree." Their work environment is focused, structured and organized while being sensitive to set rules and regulations. The Records Management-Document Imaging Team was put together with the sole purpose of converting existing payroll documents into scanned images. The talented, creative and dedicated individuals who made up this team soon realized that opportunities existed outside the given task. Eventually, the original team of two grew to seven and now serves over 420 university departments. Those who work with this team find them to be "…professional, energetic, creative, thoughtful, cooperative and committed to building the best process that could be built." "It is this kind of teamwork and innovation that sets dreams, departments and universities apart from one another…" is a typical observation of this extraordinary group. It is the reason why The Records Management-Document Imaging Team is so deserving of the Staff Award for Excellence.
Department Award Winner
During the past six years, the John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences redefined itself through an impressive team effort to develop a clear mission and vision. Today, that effort has created a "culture of excellence," transforming the Norton School and positioning it to meet the new challenges of an evolving society. Part of the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Norton School includes two academic divisions and three centers/divisions and awards degrees to several hundred undergraduate and graduate students each year. The School also conducts basic and applied research, and provides outreach education to the community. Six years ago, the faculty and staff established a clear goal to become a nationally and internationally noted program in family studies and human development and in retailing and consumer sciences. They worked together to develop strategic plans and tactics to "create a place where people want to learn, grow and invest." According to a recent Academic Program Review. "The School has refined its academic program scope…to achieve ‘focused excellence’ and has made the transition from being a predominantly teaching program to a student-centered research program with strong ties to extension and outreach." The School has been extremely successful in fund development and in acquiring external funds to support its mission. Last spring, ground was broken on a new 70,000-square-foot facility that will accommodate and enhance the Norton School’s expanding programs. Dr. Soyeon Shim, who has served as Director of the Norton School since 2000, "epitomizes a rare leadership style that balances clear-eyed focus and drive with the ability to listen, encourage and collaborate," one supporter writes. "I emphatically underscore the confidence that the UA has in the Norton School," UA Provost George Davis stated in the Program Review. "Confidence in the School’s leadership, the faculty’s dedication to bring greater focus to its academic programs…the faculty’s commitment to strengthen its research capacities and the willingness of the School’s full community…to engage wholeheartedly in increasing the profile, productivity, viability and resource base of the School to the betterment of the University and society." The Billy Joe Varney Nominees
The Billy Joe Varney Award
During her distinguished 28-year career at The University of Arizona, Terry Mullin has provided stellar performance in several UA units, making extraordinary contributions far above the call of duty. Currently Business Manager Senior for the Women’s Studies Department/Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW), she also has compiled an impressive record of community service on behalf of families in need, the homeless, children’s homes and youth sports leagues, among others. At the UA, Terry previously worked in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory for seven years, at Facilities Management for one year and at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for 17 years. Individuals throughout campus provided letters of support for her nomination, providing eloquent testimony concerning the many ways Terry has served the UA and the lasting imprint of her hard work and dedication. By all accounts, Terry has served as a role model and mentor who builds confidence and independence in other staff members. Through the years, she has earned the lasting respect of students, staff, researchers and faculty due to her exemplary work ethic, her strong self-motivation, her deep sense of professionalism and generosity. Due to her extensive knowledge and experience, she has earned a reputation as someone who can provide great insight and advice to colleagues throughout the University community. One colleague wrote, "She strives to make this great institution even better. She exemplifies what a staff member should aspire to become. I can only hope that one day I will achieve the amount of respect and admiration that she has earned."
2007 Spirit Awards The Wildcat Family Spirit Award was developed in response to employees wanting to show their appreciation to fellow employees and others for exemplary customer service, innovative improvements, outstanding performance or for fostering diversity, creativity, or cooperation. This is the second year the awards have been granted.
The Employee Recognition Steering Team and the Staff Advisory Council want to thank all those who assisted in making this recognition event a huge success. We are all winners.
|
|
|
|
