Recipients of 2011 Board of Regents Staff Awards Announced
Adelphi,
Md. (Sept. 9, 2011)
-- 大奶福利姬 (USM) Board of Regents Chairman Orlan M.
Johnson and 大奶福利姬Chancellor William E. Kirwan honored winners of the 2011 USM
Regents' Staff Awards during today's board meeting at the University of
Maryland University College.
The
awards recognize staff members who have made exceptional contributions to their
organizations, students and the university community.
Award
winners are selected based on nominations and letters of support from
colleagues, culminating in a formal recommendation from the Council of
University System Staff, which provides non-faculty 大奶福利姬employees with a voice
in system governance.
Each
award carries a $1,000 prize, provided by the institutions and the University
System of Maryland Foundation.
The
following 大奶福利姬staff members were honored:
Regents'
Staff Award for Outstanding Service to Students in an Academic or Residential
Environment
Exempt:
Alan Santos, Director of Undergraduate Student Services in
the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of
Maryland, College Park (UMCP).
Mr. Santos has demonstrated a genuine commitment to students
at the Clark School of Engineering, often rearranging his schedule to meet with
students one-on-one to both advise them on their academic endeavors and to
assist with any personal issues they have, especially while adjusting to
college life. He stresses physical
activity -- often running or biking with students -- and the importance of building
social networks of support.
Non-Exempt:
Cecilia Jordan, Academic Programs Specialist in the Department
of Biology, also at UMCP
Ms. Jordan not only manages the day-to-day logistical
operations of the Biology Department Undergraduate office -- essentially managing the office single-handedly during the
summer -- but also serves as an invaluable resource for students, providing both
information and advice. She is on the
frontline for meetings with prospective students and their parents visiting the
university and has more than once talked an anxious parent "off the ledge"
about a challenging issue concerning their student. Additionally, Ms. Jordan has gone above and
beyond her job description by voluntarily serving as an instructor for a
section of UNIV 100, helping students transition to life at the University of
Maryland.
Regents'
Staff Award for Exceptional Contribution to the Institution or Unit
Exempt:
Jim Lord, the Design
Director in the Office of Creative Services at University of Maryland,
Baltimore County (UMBC).
Mr.
Lord has worked closely for many years with the Office of Undergraduate
Admissions to design print materials for recruitment, admissions, and
orientation. These projects have
included designing the "Live More/Learn More" view book; overseeing the "UMBC
Super Heroes" marketing campaign;
and designing material for UMBC's new social networking project. Jim also led the charge to redesign UMBC's
mascot logo. Supported by the athletics department, he crafted a new "Retrievers" image that captures the essence of
the UMBC spirit: loyalty, strength, and pride. The resulting logo has been
enthusiastically embraced.
Non-Exempt:
Sandra Ramses, Program Management Specialist
in the Department of Biological Sciences at Salisbury University (SU).
Ms. Ramses' leadership, attention to
detail, and organizational skills not only keep her unit running smoothly despite
any challenges but also inspire and amaze her peers. She has become the authority on the
Department's day-to-day operations and budget. From her work to transform a
non-descript room into a genuinely inviting student lounge, to her efforts to
create a Department T-shirt, Sandra is contributing to the esprit de corps among
Biology majors and faculty at Salisbury.
Regents'
Staff Award for Extraordinary Public Service to the University or to the
Greater Community
Exempt:
Karen Treber, general counsel for Frostburg
State University (FSU).
Ms. Treber has proven herself to be a
respected, intelligent attorney, able to identify creative and effective
solutions. In addition, she has
demonstrated dedication to her community, with activities ranging from Habitat
for Humanity to the Allegany Community Symphony Orchestra. She is especially active in promoting collaborations
between the K-12 system and the University. One of her recent projects that strengthened the ties between FSU and the
Allegany County Board of Education included creating a means by which students
can take and receive credit for FSU courses while still in high school. Such accelerated programs have become a
priority for the USM.
Non-Exempt:
Donna Messick, Administrative Assistant with
the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History at Salisbury University.
Ms.
Messick has served the Nabb Center for more than 10 years, filling numerous
roles as demands have increased and resources have shrunk. Often arriving early, staying late, and
working evenings and weekends to finish tasks, she routinely goes "above and
beyond" to insure the success of the Nabb Center's mission. In addition, as a
volunteer, she has transcribed records and made them available for students and
researchers. Most recently, Ms. Messick transcribed the 19th century
manumission records of Somerset County, for the first time making them readily
available at the Nabb Center to patrons and students.
Regents'
Staff Award for Effectiveness and Efficiency/Administrative Transformation
Exempt:
Jeff
McKinney, Director of Computing Facilities in the Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering at UMCP.
Mr.
McKinney has worked in multiple departments, exemplifying the Administrative
Transformation category. His knowledge and administration of the computing
needs of his department resulted in staff reduction, created a "more green"
work environment, and fostered a more reliable computer network that benefits
every person in the department. Using virtualization software he consolidated
40 servers into two physical machines running 30 virtual machines. He ferreted out cost savings by reducing
dependence on IT consulting agreements.
And he eliminated redundancies in the payments of licenses. These
actions saved real money and could be replicated throughout the USM.
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
