Recognition recipients
2019
- Jean Scott, 5/25/19 -- Nominated by Sue McGinnis
Jean went above and beyond getting a situation resolved for our post-doc so that she could check out a book at the library. Jean had to contact multiple folks in multiple departments and explain the situation in many ways, but she kept with it to achieve success. I'm not sure what we would have done without her! Jean displayed fantastic customer service and determination! - Rebecca Lester-Scholtes, 5/22/19 -- Nominated by Caroline Cobb
Rebecca did an incredible job getting our laboratory/office move organized and completed in an efficient manner. She responded to move requests/tasks quickly and completed them a high degree. She also put in additional effort/time to coordinate the delivery of sensitive data/equipment across several VCU locations! Couldn't have done it without her. - Bob Burgess, 5/20/19 -- Nominated by Caroline Cobb
Bob did an incredible job making sure our move from Thurston House to CSTP/McGuire Hall went perfectly. He was incredibly responsive to our needs/concerns and everything went super smoothly under his command. We are thankful for his presence at the Psychology Department. - Claudia Street, 5/20/19 -- Nominated by Reggie Brown
Ms. Street has repeatedly gone above and beyond in her responsiveness to getting big jobs completed in a timely manner. Her respect, courtesy and overall professionalism should be recognized as she has provided exemplary service to the VCU School of Education throughout the years. I'm certain other areas of the university that have been fortunate enough to work with Ms. Street have experienced her excellent brand of service. - Martha VanMeter, 5/17/19 -- Nominated by David Plunkett
Martha is always helpful when a request is sent her way. An expense hit an NIH grant and the expense needed to be moved to another Index. She researched the expense and keyed the journal voucher within 30 minutes. This timely response resolved the issue efficiently and quickly. Martha and Nancy Fogg are terrific to work with and are an asset to Virginia Commonwealth University!! - Shirley B.Farrar, 5/7/19 -- Nominated by Andrea Perkins
Since the onset of my start date at VCU, Shirley has taken the initiative to be a mentor. She has given me suggestions, advice and assistance. I value having such a terrific co-worker and am appreciative of what she does. It's purely because she elects to do so. I certainly hope Shirley receives the recognition she deserves! - Jacqueline Glover, 5/7/19 -- Nominated by Andrea Perkins
Each time I've reached out to Jackie, she's always been immediately responsive, helpful and wonderful! Today I spoke to her and once again her demeanor is refreshing and she perfectly assisted me with my concerns. I hope Jackie gets recognized for her outstanding services. - Jeanne Schroeder, 4/30/19 -- Nominated by Carrie Main
Jeanne played a critical role as a Graphic Designer and Website Manager in the development of an online training course for Child Development (zero to three). The Child Development training reaches professionals in our state, nationally, and internationally. Jeanne's continual dedication to innovation guarantees the excellence of our training products. - Rhonda Pearson, 4/25/19 -- Nominated by Jo Robins
Every day, Rhonda greets every person with a smile. She makes sure to make everyone feel acknowledged and welcomed. She is always kind and respectful. Several of us are nominating her together (Elizabeth Miles and Kyungeh An) because we are grateful to walk into our building and see her everyday and we value what a difference she makes for our school. - Amanda Hall, 4/25/19 -- Nominated by Jose Alcaine
I would like to acknowledge Dr. Amanda Hall for her tremendous drive, initiative, and support of the School of Education and related activities. Certainly her work and actions have wide raging impact at VCU, across many departments, and with the whole community, but she goes above and beyond in helping the many programs and initiatives at School of Education succeed. Most recently, she has been instrumental in welcoming a group of visiting foreign students to campus and the city. This is no easy feat given her other professional and personal demands. She is always willing to help and go the extra mile for programs, events, and activities. Throughout all this work she exhibits a positive, "can do" attitude that really makes a difference. For all her work and dedication to the School of Education and VCU, I would like to say thank you, thank you, thank you. Your efforts are commendable and much appreciated! - Shirley Helm, 4/25/19 -- Nominated by Lisa Ballance
Shirley Helm organized the details of the Inaugural Virginia Clinical Research Conference hosted by VCU on April 12, 2019 in addition to her other responsibilities. She had no prior 'event planning' experience but formulated a team, including the VCU Office of Continuing and Professional Education, which was lean, resourceful, and led to a highly successful event including attendees and speakers from across Virginia. Shirley had a vision and took the initiative to find the resources needed, early. She was realistic, optimistic, and clearly demonstrates a passion for VCU. - Jennifer Sisane, 4/25/19 -- Nominated by Lisa Ballance
Jennifer Sisane has been working with a planning team from across the research enterprise in order to pull off the Inaugural Virginia Clinical Research Conference right here in Richmond. We had presenters and attendees from across the state, many of whom took the time to remark that the Office of Continuing and Professional Education (and specifically Jennifer) hosted a very well-coordinated event. Even before the event, we knew that our conference was in great hands with Jennifer. She is calm, capable, and has an eye toward efficiency and resource conservation. - Jo Robins, 4/23/19 -- Nominated by Sue McGinnis
Jo is constantly looking for positive ways to influence faculty and staff in the School of Nursing. She is so kind, thoughtful, and considerate that I consider myself very fortunate to work with her. - Tamara Zurakowski, 4/17/19 -- Nominated by Jo Robins
Tamara exemplifies what it means to be a team player. She openly shares information and is responsive and facilitatory when information or guidance is requested. She consistently places high priority on helping others succeed. - Kody Wyatt, 4/15/19 -- Nominated by Shana Ryman
Mr. Wyatt provided excellent customer service and expert assistance when our office was experiencing computer issues recently. My colleagues and I were very impressed with Mr. Wyatt's amicable demeanor as well as his quick and efficient ability to multitask and repair all of our computer issues. His skillfulness and professionalism put us all at ease and left a wonderful impression. Thank you! - Jeanine Giles Larson, 4/4/19 -- Nominated by Harris Middleton
We owe Jeanine a big thank you from Family Medicine! I had received a last-minute travel change/update request near the end of the day yesterday from one of our research associates that needed immediate assistance to ensure that she would be able to complete a site visit that next morning. Jeanine was quick to respond and worked to provide a solution to help review and approve the travel needed to facilitate the site visit in time. Jeanine went above and beyond to help us and continues to be polite, professional and courteous to all members of the department and our colleagues whenever we are in need of assistance. Thank you, Jeanine! - Hope Walker, 3/20/19 -- Nominated by Andrea Perkins
Hope Walker was my colleague at Putney House and now has a new position at Massey Cancer Center. I wish I had known about the "Employee Recognition Form" earlier since I would have submitted it last year. Hope really possesses all characteristics within the recognition list and it is difficult selecting just one. Instantly when I started at Putney, Hope befriended me and wasn't just a coworker, but became my mentor on her own volition. We worked on separate floors for different supervisors, yet she always assisted me with any questions. In the midst of her busy schedule, plus working for two supervisors and dealing with her own deadlines, she was responsive to my phone calls, computer glitches, emails, general office questions, etc. She never hesitated to help and consistently replied to my inquiries in an expedited manner. On 3/18/19, I called Hope and she immediately responded by offering guidance on an office question that I knew she was familiar with; once again she continues to be an incredible mentor. I certainly Hope Walker receives the recognition that she deserves! - Carol Ann Irby, 3/20/19 -- Nominated by Andrea Perkins
Carol Ann was my supervisor and has received a promotion at VCU. She should be acknowledged for all of the recognition subcategories: initiative, integrity, respect, responsiveness. She has illustrated these traits on a daily basis! After Carol Ann started her new position, she attended a meeting on the MCV campus and decided to check on her replacement while she was nearby. She traveled to our building so they could 'catch up.' From my time working for Carol Ann Irby, I've seen that she exemplifies such extraordinary qualities in every aspect. I sincerely hope that she gets the recognition she deserves! - Kayla Watts, 3/20/19 -- Nominated by Andrea Perkins
Kayla has high moral standards, exemplifies nobility, and is sincere and genuine. Kayla demonstrates these qualities each day. - Dana Rajczewski, 2/11/19 -- Nominated by Dr. Anton Kuzel
Dana is one of the most professional and efficient individuals with whom I have had the pleasure of working. She always seems to find the answer and is the go to person when it comes to planning an event or finding a solution (from the smallest to the biggest challenge). She maintains an amicable demeanor and treats everyone with respect and kindness. Recently, she helped me find two spaces on campus for different events, in a pinch. She is an extraordinary VCU employee who contributes so much to our department, division, university and city! - Carolyn Lee, 1/31/19 -- Nominated by Dana Rajczewski
Carolyn has been a tremendous resource during the VCU Staff Performance Evaluation cycle! She is very knowledgeable about the process and if there is something that she has been unsure of, she has worked with SOM and/or University HR to get an answer in a timely fashion. I think she's relieved quite a bit of anxiety that comes with a new way of doing things (including a new software system) and we are so lucky to have her in our department! - Carrie Main, 1/23/19 -- Nominated by Jeanne Schroeder
Carrie is awesome at project management and keeping our team informed of progress as an eLearning Specialist. She's always looking for new ways to improve the quality of the products we develop and is fantastic to work with! - Marcus Mickle, 1/1/19 -- Nominated by Lisa Dougherty
This recognition is long overdue as Marcus has always been responsive, thorough, pleasant and professional. His recent work on the Student Services Center and Admissions non-degree online application project is the latest example of Marcus' exemplary work. His willingness to collaborate, attention to detail and generosity with his time were instrumental in getting this project up and running on time. He is a tremendous asset to this university.
2018
- Jessica Presley, 11/19/18 -- Nominated by Caroline Cobb
For picking up on REDCap coding skills so quickly and getting all of those CPT measures entered, updated and working. Your dedication to this tedious and meticulous task is much appreciated! - Lauren Mortensen, 11/13/18 -- Nominated by Nora Alder
Always prepared and professional. - Dawn Scott, 11/12/18 -- Nominated by Molly Dellinger-Wray
Dawn is always responsive, respectful, has integrity and displays initiative. She makes things easy for us with grace and a sense of humor. - Karen Mullins, 11/12/18 -- Nominated by Nora Alder
Always quick and helpful. - Sharon Jones, 11/9/18 -- Nominated by Jackie Neidle
Sharon's deveotion to getting the word out on how to use assistive technology led to the implementation of an AT Supports for Literacy Conference that was attended by over 100 educators and related service providers. Her knowledge and perseverance should be recognized and congratulated. - Kimberly Stevens, 11/3/18 -- Nominated by Molly Dellinger-Wray
I had quite a fiasco trying to order donuts for an early morning Saturday workshop with families. Kim went to Krispy Kreme in the wee hours of the dark, cold morning in the rain to pre-pay for the order. She really takes care of the details everyday, not just this one. - Lauren Mortensen, 10/31/18 -- Nominated by Colleen Thoma
Ms. Mortensen's role is helping faculty and department chairs navigate the course and program development process, particularly those approvals that need to go through to seek SCHEV approval. Recently, we have met with some challenges with searching for original approvals so that updates can be made. Lauren has been diligent in searching for records, seeking clarification, and following up with a number of people at higher levels. Most recently, she was recognized as being a "problem-solver" extraordinaire. That is certainly an apt compliment, and epitomizes how she approaches every challenge that comes along. She is a pleasure to have on our team in the Dean's office. - Sandra Mazzoli, 10/31/18 -- Nominated by Colleen Thoma
Ms. Mazzoli was able to identify an admission process for a newly-identified cohort of students who are seeking admission to a certificate program in Spring, 2019. Despite the short turn-around time, she was able to work with faculty from the department to identify a process that could work for all, minimizing possible frustration for applicants and faculty. Her interactions during that meeting represented the highest level of customer service, problem-solving and balancing that with university policies. - Barbara Driver, 10/30/18 -- Nominated by Colleen Thoma
Dr. Driver was successful in negotiating a contract with Henrico County Public Schools to develop a cohort of students in the department's certificate program in administration and supervision. This is not part of her typical work responsibilities and came as a result of both her commitment to addressing the needs of our surrounding school divisions and her ability to listen to their needs and identify a solution that works. - Laura Domalik, 10/29/18 -- Nominated by Jodi Larson
I am recognizing Laura Domalik due to her continued respect of all colleagues and students. She goes above and beyond to help others each day. Her respectful comments of appreciation and encouragement to all employees including adjunct professors is always appreciated. She is always open to discussing any needs or answering questions about any guidance needed. Laura is a joy to work with. - Roy Brown, 10/16/18 -- Nominated by Nicole Evangelista
I contacted Roy in a panic when I had a major paper due with minimal research available. I hoped to get an appointment with him that day to complete my research, but his schedule was booked with other students' research questions. When our schedules didn't link up, Roy offered to use his own personal time that night to address my research questions. He asked me to email him the details and he would see what he could do. When he didn't hear from me in the next hour, Roy followed up with me to make sure I sent the info to the correct email address. Not only did Roy go above what was necessary to help me, he went beyond by following up with me when it only created extra work for him that night. This kindness made my once-panicked state more at ease. Roy's passion for what he does is inspiring. - Sabrina Lumpkin, 10/16/18 -- Nominated by Jose Alcaine
I would like to recognize and thank Sabrina for her continued help and support of projects and grants at the School of Education. During what I know are busy and hectic deadlines, she is always very helpful and responsive and tries to make our submissions the best they can be despite time constraints and challenging customers! This was the case in a recent deadline and I just wanted to say thanks for her efforts. My colleagues and I appreciate it very much. - Mary Strawderman, 10/16/18 -- Nominated by Jose Alcaine
I would like to recognize and thank Mary for all the help and support she and her colleagues at OSP provide for the School of Education. We cannot do our projects and grants without the great help of folks like Mary. She is always very helpful and responsive even when we may prove to be challenging or are under a looming deadline. Such was the case in a recent submission for a new colleague here at VCU. Needless to say, my colleague and I were very thankful for Mary's help. Thank you, thank you! - Arnesha Avery, 10/02/18 -- Nominated by Dana Rajczewski
Arnesha has taken on several large tasks recently and has balanced the workload really well. She is a creative thinker when it comes to problem solving, and she always makes sure that all bases are covered in terms of details. She's a true team player, and she is someone I often look to for opinions on how to complete certain tasks. Thank you, Arnesha!! - Harris Middleton, 10/02/18 -- Nominated by Dana Rajczewski
Harris worked with a faculty member who is submitting a grant, and he figured out a solution that took a lot of deadline pressure off of the faculty member. He volunteered to help without a second thought, and he will likely serve as the department's resident expert about that particular topic. He was willing to do whatever it took to get the job done, and that freed up our faculty member to do other tasks under the deadline. Thank you, Harris!! - June Jones, 10/01/18 -- Nominated by Zakia Williams
I direct calls to June several times throughout the day. June is always receptive, poise, and professional. She never complains about the inundated calls. June simply says OK and puts forth her best effort to accommodate all callers. June's positive attitude makes the working environment a better place! - Ra'Meer Roberts, 09/14/18 -- Nominated by Greta Franklin
I am new to my position and started with vacant positions in my office. In addition, the Office Manager was going on leave for several weeks. Ra'Meer has been extremely helpful. He has assisted with several duties that the Office Manager is responsible for completing. He also has offered his assistance for any administrative processes. I truly appreciate his help and his positive attitude. - Rochelle Jordan, 09/07/18 -- Nominated by Jennifer Gay
I would like to recognize Shelley for her work helping the School of Dentistry transition to using DocuSign for Degree Candidacy. Shelley has been incredibly helpful, patient, and quick to respond to all our questions and issues. Thanks, Shelley! - Deborah Baines, 08/27/18 -- Nominated by Sara Kohout
I submitted a double IT systems request to Deborah to update multiple student records in Banner under a time crunch. As her supervisor was on vacation, I reached out to her directly and she took on the request herself and helped guide me through the process. She was quick to reach out with thoughtful questions and even found an error in the document I gave her. She pushed the project through in record time and was positive and easy to work with. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Deborah and am incredibly appreciative of her hard work on this project for me. She even completed it before Tuesday's deadline. - Shane Conner, 08/23/18 -- Nominated by Shelley Jordan
I wanted to take a minute to let you know what an outstanding employee you have in Shane Conner. He exemplifies professionalism and expertise whenever we communicate. I can call with the most convoluted question and he will take the time to explain or guide me through the necessary steps to solve the issue at hand (even if it is not necessarily his job to help me). - Daniell Pearles, 08/08/18 -- Nominated by Sue McGinnis
I had a request very last minute to pull data from a system that is no longer in existence at the university. The data request was quite immediate - with no time for delay. Danielle was responsive, kind and helpful. She was able to quickly pull the information and save the day! My interactions with her have always been positive. You are very fortunate to have her on your team. - Gregory Kimbrell, 07/08/19 -- Nominated by Jose Alcaine
I want to recognize and thank Gregory for helping me and my VCU colleagues host a recent statewide conference (100+ in attendance) in the beautiful Cabell Library space. Gregory and his staff are always excellent, helpful, responsive, and friendly. Events are always a challenge to organize and coordinate. However, with Gregory, Emily, and others at Cabell, the mantra is always, "no problem," "we got it," and "all set!" I am so thankful to have such a great library and library colleagues. Thank you Gregory for making any meeting so easy and fun! Thank you Cabell for being such a wonderful asset to VCU. I appreciate it very much. - Learning Systems Team, 08/01/18 -- Nominated by Amber Peranski
The Learning Systems team worked with me for months on building my training modules! They were readily available to meet with me, provided several tutorials and arranged virtual meetings to accommodate my busy schedule. They were extremely knowledgeable of the applications and willing to go the extra mile to explore new ideas and processes! - Curtis Sexton, 07/26/18 -- Nominated by Sue McGinnis
Curtis has been a great addition to the School of Nursing! He is always pleasant and helpful. He went out of his way to retrofit a laptop cart out of another piece of equipment for the IT team. We really appreciate his assistance and positive attitude! Thank you, Curtis! - Drew Barker, 07/24/18 -- Nominated by Mariusz Ostasz
I wanted to recognize Drew for constantly being a great leader. He is checking with every single one of us on regular basis, making sure everything is going well, both on professional and personal levels. His interactions with us are not only limited to work related subjects. He can keep projects on track and speed things up when required, and in the same keep positive relationships with his employees. This is a very important quality in being good leader.
Personally I would not mind to go "extra mile" for him, because I know he would do the same for me.
He is respected and valuable coworker, and I wanted this to be known. - Jay Bolling, 07/20/18 -- Nomicated by Kendra Jenkins
Jay is always a welcoming and creative force of energy in our department. He goes the extra mile in responding to his duties and strives for new ways to problem solve on the job. His compassion is a huge motivating force to his team, and coworkers daily. Jay is a kind and knowledgeable asset and supervisor for our department! - Claudia Street, 07/18/18 -- Nominated by Rachel Worthington
Claudia has gone above and beyond to provide a high level of customer service and professionalism for Academic Support. Our unit has gone through numerous space changes over the past few weeks. The quality of Claudia's work, along with her timeliness and strong communication, has helped our unit tremendously throughout the many changes. Please send my gratitude to Claudia, as her work has had a major and positive impact on Academic Support. - Bryan Rowland, 07/06/18 -- Nominated by Tarniki Boyd
During the time of transition in my department, Bryan took the initiative to lend his expertise with the billing system. Bryan was a GREAT HELP for me and my department at this time. Bryan willingly sat with me and others as I learned the program that is used to send out our monthly bills, not once did he show a sign of me irritating him or bothering him. I would like to just say thank you, for your generosity, dedication and your knowledge in a time of need. - David Gray, 06/29/18 -- Nominated by Steven George
There was a service request to fix our hot water problem. We have tried to resolve this issue several times. David came to me to get background information on the issue. He then informed me of his action plan after I formulated the history of the issue. David left to work on the issue and came back to me after 30 minutes with a very detailed explanation of the issue and how he resolved the issue. He also sent a detailed email as well. We now have hot water to properly sanitize. His professionalism, communication, and resolution of the issue is deserving of recognition! - Demmie Pennix, 05/22/18 -- Nominated by Sue McGinnis
Demmie is a fantastic employee. She smiles and she is so polite. You can always count on Demmie for assistance with just about anything. I am currently on several search committees and I really appreciate her responsiveness and kindness. She is wonderful. - Rachel Worthington, 05/10/18 -- Nominated by Maya Simpkins
I would like to recognize Rachel Worthington for her exceptional service, responsiveness, and ability to take initiative. She has helped trained at least half of the SEM and Student Success fiscal staff and brought to fruition a quarterly fiscal staff meeting which has proved to be very helpful and engaging. She always takes on new responsibilities and tasks with a smile and does so efficiently and effectively. On a daily basis she supports two divisions administratively, fiscally, and even some HR operations. In part, because of her work, students are able to enter the university and receive services and programming geared towards retaining students. She deserves a raise! - Danise Harmon, 04/26/18 -- Nominated by Jose G. Alcaine
I would like to recognize Ms. Danise Harmon for her responsiveness and willingness to help in any situation. In a sustained period of transition at our School, she is ALWAYS willing to help in a positive and timely manner. In fact, during this transition period, she has been doing quite a number of tasks in addition to her current position. Throughout all of this, and despite being pulled in many different directions, she is always responsive, kind, and respectful. For all of this, I would like to recognize Ms. Harmon to let her know that her responsiveness, positivity, and work is much appreciated. Thank you. - Taynya Smith, 04/23/19 -- Nominated by Angelica Bega
I am in a new position and have had to follow up on a number of issues retroactively. Tanya has been instrumental in helping me plow through! She is kind, attentive, responsive, and detail-oriented. I cannot thank her enough for her hard work! - Blanca D. Marquez, 04/19/2018 -- Nominated by Harris Middleton
Blanca has been exceptionally helpful, and has gone above and beyond to assist our team here at the department of family medicine with our petty cash accounts. Any time we have questions or need assistance, Blanca is quick to respond, and will go out of her way to make sure we have everything we need, all while making sure we are also in accordance with all policies and procedures outlined by VCU. We really appreciate her hard work, positive attitude, and knowledgeable expertise - thank you so much, Blanca! - Ann-marie Taranto, 3/9/2018 -- Nominated by Paula Rafferty
Ann-marie is on top of everything and owns her job in such a magnificent way that she makes the lives of those of us that work with her better. I have had numerous problems using RealTime and she has always been there to help me fix those problems. She is very responsive to all requests for help and manages to handle complicated issues quickly, efficiently, confidentially. Her assistance with a pending FMLA leave has enabled me to continue working with confidence knowing that everything is in place and will be handled correctly. She has very capably helped us with the HR Redesign and efficiently answered questions so that we can make the best decisions for ourselves. I also know that confidential issues are kept just that, confidential. Ann-marie exemplifies a great HR Administrator and employee. We are so very fortunate to have her to work with and I greatly appreciate her since moving to the School of Medicine. - Samantha Ray, 03/08/2018 -- Nominated by Ashley Brown
The last few months Sam has been a great help in the office. She exemplifies the best customer service and is always professional and courteous. Her initiative to get any task done is something I am very appreciative of and I am glad to be able to work with her. - Marcus Mickle, 03/07/2018 -- Nominated by Deborah Baines
I want to send kudos to Marcus Mickle for taking the initiative to create a Banner 9 Admin Page task from scratch. His hard work and determination not only saved VCU financial resources, but he also acquired knowledge and skills that will be valuable to the Admin Systems team and our supported departments as we move forward with Banner 9. Our team can now provide even further customization to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the systems we support. Way to Make It Amazing, Marcus! -
Kayla E. Watts, 2/27/18 -- Nominated by Dr. Debra Barksdale
Kayla developed a RedCap Training for all of OAP, OSS and the Associate Dean. - Amy Nugent, 02/22/2018 -- Nominated by Andrew Levin
Though I could only list one date of interaction with Mrs. Nugent, she has consistently be an incredible help to me in my work with ChromeRiver and Christopherson. Mrs. Nugent is incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and friendly in everything she does and is an indispensable asset to VCU as a whole. That only she and Mr. Messenger process reimbursements for the entirety of the university is astounding and speaks even greater volumes to her diligence and work ethic. Competent and professional as well as amicable, Mrs. Nugent is undeniably deserving of recognition for her fantastic service to VCU. - Jacqueline Glover, 02/13/2018 - Nominated by Rosena Simpdson
Recognizing Jacqueline for initiative. - Frank Pitchford, 2/2/18 -- Nominated by Brianne Morrison
Frank Pitchford has been consistently available and helpful long before Wilder School's Undergraduate Advising Office's move, but especially so after our move over winter break. He has worked long hours setting up our networking system, resolved issues quickly and has done so with a positive attitude and with great care. He has gone above and beyond to make our office move as easy as possible. He deserves recognition for a job well done and for doing it with such a cheerful disposition. - Demmie Pennix, 1/10/2018 -- Nominated by Beth Rodgers
I think responsiveness is the biggest umbrella to recognize Ms. Pennix for the incredible work she does at the School of Nursing. Ms. Pennix is the key person for travel, hiring, and adjunct contracts, and I interact with her a great deal in all these areas. In particular, we have initiated a new adjunct hiring process that has required a lot more work by her and for her to provide guidance to the rest of us to make sure we follow the procedures appropriately. She processes dozens of such contracts each semester. She is always, without fail, courteous, focused, detail oriented, helpful, follows-through well, never loses her patience even if I ask something I know I have asked her before or if I need a reminder, supports the faculty as they navigate new processes, ensures adjuncts have their contracts and they are done well and on time. She provides support for a lot of different people in different roles, and always treats everyone with the same degree of care and respect. She is one of those people without whom we could not function and I am incredibly grateful for the courteous and proficient way in which she approaches her work.
2017
- Elise Kepus, 12/20/17 -- Nominated by Fonda Neal
Elise is always, always extremely responsive to requests for information whether by email or by phone. This is extremely appreciated especially since a lot of requests that I send to her are time sensitive. On October 26, 2017, I submitted a request to her for GPA information on Ph.D students that was needed by our Associate Dean very quickly. Elise indicated that the university does not record separate GPAs for Ph.D and MS level students; however, she took the initiative to find out if there was a different way the information could be obtained, and there was. Thank you Elise for your continued efforts to ensure we accomplish our mission here at VCU! - Kristin Smith, 12/20/17 -- Nominated by Fonda Neal
Kristin is always very responsive to requests for information. On October 26, 2017, I submitted an urgent request to Records and Registration for GPA information because I was unable to obtain the GPA data myself as the university does not record separate GPA for MS from Ph.D programs. Kristin was able to obtain the information from Degreeworks for me. I really appreciate her efforts to provide this information which was of a time sensitive nature. Thanks Kristin for always being extremely responsive! - Amy Nugent, 12/7/17 -- Nominated by Harris Middleton
Since I began working here in Family Medicine, Amy has continued to be professional, courteous, responsive, and extremely helpful with even the most difficult and complicated travel and reimbursement requests. One reimbursement in particular this week has required a great deal of research and communication with the entire procurement team, and Amy took ownership and was able to produce a solution quickly and efficiently while staying in constant communication with me along each step of the way. Amy is a pleasure to work with, and goes above and beyond to make sure we are reimbursing our guests at VCU quickly and efficiently, while adhering to all travel guidelines, policies, and procedures. We all really appreciate her hard work! - Latoya Blizzard, 11/8/17 -- Nominated by Debra Barksdale
LaToya is always pleasant, professionals, helpful and so nice to work with. - Latina Pitts, 11/8/17 -- Nominated by Debra Barksdale
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion and Building Inclusive Communities training and facilitation. - Christina Kyrus, 11/8/17 -- Nominated by Debra Barksdale
It is a pleasure to work with Christina on the Educational Grant Process. She is highly motivated, competent and energetic. - Jose Alcaine, 10/27/17 -- Nominated by Joan Rhodes
Jose Alcaine continually invites members of the School of Education community to interact with one another and share expertise. He is always willing to assist faculty immediately with support in locating and writing grants. I appreciate his quick responses to requests and his wonderful personality! - Julie Gorlewski, 10/26/17 -- Nominated by Joan A. Roads
Dr. Gorlewski consistently informs our department members (as a group) and faculty members (individually) of upcoming changes to our instructional schedule. She presents clear alternatives for meeting budget demands and supports faculty efforts as we "think outside the box" to generate revenue. Her initiatives are creative and insightful. She treats all members of our department with respect and kindness. Dr. Gorlewski has been a very positive addition to our department and VCU. - Scott Blackwell, 10/23/17 -- Nominated by Mariusz Ostasz
I've worked with Scott this summer/fall on the project to move our servers to Virtual Machines. Even though he just stepped into this position recently, he was very responsive, easy to work with, and patiently answered all questions I had. He is professional, and knowledgeable. He's help was extremely invaluable. - Benjamin Wyatt, 10/19/17 -- Nominated by Florence Johnson
I owe a HUGE 'thank you' to Ben Wyatt, one of VCU's Technology Services technicians. Ben stepped me through what felt like a technical maze! He was patient, clear, knowledgeable, patient, thorough, patient, proactive, responsive, and did I say mention patient? Sometimes IT professionals can appear to speak an unknown language, resolving an issue so quickly that the customer is left grateful but totally baffled - causing them to repeat requests for help that may not actually be necessary. Ben's level of service and his explanation, even as he resolved my issue, was absolutely amazing. His customer service skills and technical expertise make for one awesome professional, and I truly want him to know that his service is greatly appreciated. - Janet Ball, 10/19/17 -- Nominated by Florence Johnson
I called IT Services for help this morning, and Janet Ball was amazing! Polite, knowledgeable and patient, she assisted me with customer service that deserves an A+ and, recognition of a job exceptionally well done. She's a living example of what makes VCU a "Great Place." Thank you Janet. - Chriss Watts, 10/11/17 -- Nominated by Sue McGinnis
Chris stayed after hours at the School of Nursing to check to make sure that the automatic doors would open when the button was pressed. He knew that there was a young lady that would be coming to the school for a class who had a service dog. He wanted to make sure that she would have no trouble entering the building even though it was after his shift. I really appreciate this going above and beyond for customer service. - Melissa Burton, 10/5/17 -- Nominated by Jamie Smalley
Melissa was asked to help me with a symposium that had 150 attendees as I am about to go out on maternity leave and could use an extra pair of hands. To say she helped me is a huge understatement. She went above and beyond to make sure the symposium was successful and had a huge smile on her face the entire time! Not only did she help during the symposium but she stopped by the next day to see if I needed anything to wrap up the event and I actually did. She returned something for me that required a lot of walking which being 9 months pregnant is a bigger task then usual. I am beyond grateful to have a co-worker like Melissa. She is truly an asset to VCU! - Ervin Taylor, 10/5/17 -- Nominated by Courtney Waker
This morning, I received a phone call from Captain Taylor who was responding to the chemical issue at Cary St. gym. He noticed a young lady who was evacuated from the gym standing in the street in a towel, visibly upset. He took the initiative to ask this young lady if he could help. This young lady had a meeting scheduled with a faculty member in the School of Education at 11 am and was upset because she had no clothes or her phone to contact the faculty member. Captain Taylor took time to speak with her and gather information from her such as, she just moved to Richmond and is moving into a new apartment today, along with the meeting she had scheduled. He showed an incredible amount of empathy and it was so rewarding to receive a call from Captain Taylor who was trying to do his best to help someone else. I believe this goes beyond his call of duty and I want him to know how this small act of kindness speaks volumes to his character and compassion for others. We are fortunate to have Captain Taylor employed with VCU Police! - Jonathan Blake, 09/07/17 -- Nominated by Brian Bush
Summertime upgrades to the centrally supported classrooms in our building added new video and audio hardware that required some tweaking to streamline use by our instructors. Jonathan made the necessary adjustments and performed troubleshooting, all while patiently answering my questions. He identified an issue with my lavalier wireless microphone and swapped the defective part to save me a trip to the helpdesk. While on site, he also identified that the rear of the classroom was inadequately covered by speakers, took the initiative to work with his manager to obtain additional ones, and installed them within a week and a half. There were numerous times Jonathan could easily have taken a shortcut and provided "good enough" service, but he chose to go above and beyond. His work and that of his manager and colleagues has placed us on excellent footing for the beginning of our fall seminar series. - Kevin Finity, 08/24/17 -- Nominated by Deborah Baines
While working on a project update for the Student Success Collaborative (SSC) Campus application, Kevin went above and beyond to reorganize for reuse a major, repetitive portion of code. This change will make project maintenance much more efficient for developers, increase code consistency and decrease the run time of the combined processes. Kevin thoroughly tested all changes to the program and the automated process and displayed excellent teamwork while quickly resolving post-production issues. Way to go, Kevin! - Corey Boone, 08/23/17 -- Nominated by Florence M Johnson
Corey Boone, Assistant Director for the Office of Events and Special Programs in the Division of University Relations, is also a fellow for the Division for Inclusive Excellence. I’m recognizing him not only for his integrity, but also for the respect, initiative and the responsiveness he demonstrates in every interaction I’ve encountered with him. Corey’s work is consistently infused with friendliness and the willingness to assist others, regardless of how busy he may be. He offers a helping hand as quickly to develop name tags as he does to serve on a task force or spearhead a new initiative. Corey exhibits a work ethic we can all do well to emulate and in doing so, truly enhances our university’s mission. For his professionalism, his smile, and his genuine dedication to making VCU a great place, I thank him. Corey, you are awesome! - Amy Nugent, 08/17/17 -- Nominated by Ginny Schmitz
What DOESN'T Amy know? Regardless of the complexity of the travel question, Amy has the answer. Unless she's answering someone else's question, Amy answers her phone, so I get an immediate response, even though I know Amy stays very, very busy. This is so helpful, as often I'm in the middle of filing a travel reimbursement and need an answer right away. Her sense of urgency and her availability, make me look efficient! I wish to acknowledge Amy for Integrity--she is scrupulous in her handling of the university's money--and Respect--she has never been rude to me and responds to my inquiries with patience and courtesy. The university is lucky to have her. - Stacy West, 08/15/17 -- Nominated by Dr. Maike Philipsen
Stacy West has been incredibly responsive to my needs as a researcher and change agent. She went out of her way to help me navigate a complicated IRB process; she even came to my office on the other campus to discuss and help me fill out the correct forms in the correct way. My team is able to move in a timely fashion on a grant proposal because of Ms. West. - Marcus Mickle, 08/15/17 -- Nominated by Deborah Baines
I want to recognize Marcus for an awesome job providing daily leadership for our team and temporary leadership for TS Administrative Systems. It seemed there was a new emergency involving a different system every day, and he not only resolved the issues as they arose, but he also took the time to answer my questions and provide the help I needed to complete assignments. Since joining Administrative Systems, Marcus has been pivotal in helping me to learn and grow and always includes me when a situation presents a learning opportunity. What a great way to lead! Thank you, Marcus. - Tasha Jackson, 08/08/17 -- Nominated by Cynthia H. Radvany
I would like to recognize Tasha for excellent observation skill in her current position as husbandry staff. She approached me concerned with water consumption of one set of animals compared to the rest of the animals in the room. The strain of animal was different and upon investigation she was correct in the differences in water consumption between the strains. Her main concern was for the animals and that they were getting enough water. I feel recognition is due for her above average husbandry skill in this incidence. - Candace Stafford, 07/25/17 -- Nominated by Mary Moore
Received the following email from a client: I wanted to tell you that Candace always goes above and beyond in her role as data manager for Healthy Start...but this year, she really wins the prize for Most Valuable Player. Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate her! - Gregory Kimbrell, 07/20/17 -- Nominated by Florence M Johnson
Gregory Kimbrell is truly one of the most wonderful members of the VCU community that I have the pleasure to work with. I periodically contact him regarding use of Cabell Library facilities. Regardless of how much or little notice is offered when I approach him, he is consistently professional, informative, friendly, courteous, patient and, kind. Gregory’s attention to detail and ability to dissect the various nuances of an event shows through every time, and he is wonderfully proactive in offering suggestions and solutions that enhance our events and add to an overall smoother planning process. Gregory is one of the folks who make VCU a Great Place, and I’m honored to be able to recognize him. - Sania Marcoccia, 07/07/17 -- Nominated by Florence M Johnson
Though I listed today's date, I've appreciated Sania Marcoccia for years, including for her tenure as president of the VCU Staff Senate. Her integrity as a leader, initiative in tackling everything from overall staff concerns to organized help for community members in need, responsiveness to those who approach her on a daily basis, and the respect she consistently offers to others, are just some of the reasons I admire Sania.
For me, Sania provides a living example of getting involved; of actively supporting our university community beyond the daily requirements of stated positions, and asking the hard questions without losing one’s professionalism. She’s pleasant, hard-working, gracious and, the last one to toot her own horn - so I’m tooting it for her. Sania, I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, and on behalf of your many fans, we appreciate you! - Janet Sweeney, 07/06/17 -- Nominated by Stephen Davenport
I needed assistance with an HR function and Janet took the time to walk me step by step through the process. It was very much appreciated. - Debra D. Robinson, 07/05/17 -- Nominated by Susan W. Hall
I had a situation where I was having to go back and research an invoice that I thought had been paid a year ago. But when I went into Banner, it was indicating that the payment had not been processed which was odd. I called the Accounts Payable Department and selected the Vendor Payment Analyst indicated. But, to my surprise, it sent me to the wrong person. Rather than getting to the person I should have gone to, I was sent to Debra's phone. She no longer covers this particular vendor. But, rather than telling me to call the other analyst, she took it upon herself to help me with my problem. With her help, we figured out what was wrong and I was able to contact the vendor and complete my transaction. Debra truly went out of her way to help me. And, I greatly appreciate it. - Tammy Currie, 06/30/17 -- Nominated by Stephen Davenport
I needed Tammy's assistance with renewing a contract, she took the time to do background research and assist me with the process. - Fenol Bellange, 06/23/17 -- Nominated by Isac Crouch
Fenol always goes the extra mile, but today he went above and beyond that by spending the entire afternoon assisting me with tracing out network connections. He has his own projects, but always offers to help with a smile. I am extremely lucky to have a co-worker like Fenol. - Shannon Cain, 06/21/17--Nominated by Jennifer Grey
We arrange photographs for incoming residents annually and Shannon is consistently quick to respond, extremely organized, and very pleasant to work with. I really appreciate the high level of service offered, as well as the friendly voice on the other end of our email interactions. Thanks, Shannon! - Tiesha Brown, 06/20/17 -- Nominated by George Kelly
Tiesha went the extra mile, contacted us, and notified us of a much more efficient way of processing I-9 re-verifications. This came at just the right time when we were about to process approximately 200 student worker transfers and new hires. She is always extremely helpful when interacting with me and my staff. Great customer service! - Raina Fields, 06/12/17 -- Nominated by Florence M. Johnson
Raina is our division's communications director. She has only been with us for two months but has already made a huge impact in raising our visibility via social media and news articles, and with various other communications. I truly appreciate her diligence and connection to our team in such a short time, and I know that my colleagues in Inclusive Excellence join me in giving her a HUGE HIGH 5! Thank you Raina. - Channing Holloway, 05/24/17 -- Nominated by Sheila Baker
I want to thank Channing for promptly responding to getting my son (Keon Nesmith) back into the HR system so that he can continue working as a part-time worker with Physical Plant. - Sharon A. Banks, 05/23/17 -- Nominated by Carol N. Brooks
Sharon was responsible for designing and initiating the new lunch room that our department sorely needed. She planned the design and worked with the craftsmen that painted, hung the cabinets and delivered the appliances. She did an excellent job and helped create a room that is well organized and easy to enjoy. We greatly appreciate her hard work and the wonderful outcome. Thank you, Sharon! - Mariusz Otsasz, 05/03/17 -- Nominated by John Bogan
Mariusz did a fantastic job spearheading the project to integrate Google Calendar functionality into the Crestron RoomView system and get our RoomView panels operational at 111 N. 4th. He went out of his way to stop by and walk us through use, administration, and troubleshooting of the panels and was very friendly, knowledgeable, and courteous throughout the experience. He represents his team very well! - De'Audrea Rich, 04/27/17 - Nominated by Florence M. Johnson
De'Audrea, or "Sha," is a model of initiative. Actually, she embodies all four recognition aspects: initiative, integrity, respect and responsiveness. This is even more impressive as she works part-time and could easily handle her job without the very real dedication she offers every single day. Sha is also a student here at VCU, and I greatly admire that she handles her classes and the responsibilities she undertakes in the workplace, seamlessly. I've never heard her complain or back away from an assignment, no matter how busy she may already be. Her manner is consistently pleasant, her customer service skills exemplary, and her work is always top-notch. She really does reflect the name of our division perfectly: Inclusive Excellence. Sha, you are greatly appreciated. - LeAndra Graves, 04/25/17 - Nominated by Florence M. Johnson
Responsiveness is just one of many reasons I'm offering this recognition 'shout-out' to Le'Andra Graves. Whether I come to her for specific or vague scheduling requests, she is quick to offer guidance and viable solutions for dates, locations, event needs, layout suggestions - you name it! Even when requests are impossible to fulfill, she offers detailed explanations as to why, and doable alternatives. Her professionalism is so on-target, one might be tempted to overlook the very real customer service that infuses her interactions. Her ability, expertise and willingness to go the extra mile are very much appreciated, and I greatly admire her ability to handle it all with grace, especially in such a high volume arena. Le'Andra: Congrats to you for being so very awesome! - Lauren Leavy, 04/12/17 - Nominated by Diane Stout-Brown
Lauren Leavy is an outstanding employee. She has provided the highest level of competence when carrying out any duties assigned to her. I am extremely grateful to her for all of her support with Reunion Weekend activities. - Lieutenant Leonard Dilligard, 04/12/17 - Nominated by Diane Stout-Brown
April 7-9 was Alumni Reunion Weekend. Lieutenant Leonard Dilligard went above and beyond the call of duty by helping out our disabled guests who were attending an alumni reception in the Ginter House. We are very appreciative of his support and willingness to ensure a first-class experience for alumni returning to campus. Thank you. - Demmie Pennix, 04/10/17 - Nominated by Teri Smith
I want to thank Demmie Pennix for all of the great work that she does. She is proactive, efficient, thorough and an utter pleasure to work with. If she says she is going to do it, she does it, no need to follow up or confirm....she gets the job done. She has helped to make the adjunct faculty assignment process so much easier for me as the course scheduler. My time spent working with Demmie is always always full of smiles, her positive attitude and smile are infectious. What a great asset you are to the School of Nursing; I am proud to be your coworker! - Lorraine Anderson, 04/10/17 - Nominated by Teri Smith
I want to thank Lorraine Anderson for always communicating so well with me in regards to the clinical placements and complex scheduling issues that are related to her courses. She is thorough and proactive, not to mention she makes working with her enjoyable as she has such a great personality and sense of humor. Thank you for being so wonderful to work with! - Lee Watts, 04/03/17 – Nominated by Konjit Chitty
Lee is often the person "behind the scenes" on some of the most critical, confidential, and time sensitive university initiatives. Most recently his work contributed greatly to the success of a faculty bonus process. We had a very quick timeframe for the implementation of a faculty bonus process. Lee produced the list of eligible faculty (based on the criteria provided) in a very short period of time at the beginning of the process, generated exception reports to check on any discrepancies towards the end of the process to ensure data integrity, and ensured that the bonuses awarded were processed in Banner in time for a March 31, 2017 payout. Lee should especially be recognized for his technical expertise, his attention to detail, and ensuring the timely production of the bonuses. Please know your efforts are greatly appreciated by many people. Thank you Lee for all that you do for VCU! - Angie Wetzel, 03/29/17 – Nominated by Charol Shakeshaft
Angie has done a terrific job of helping us craft an exit survey for our Ed.D. students. She was responsive, helpful, and thorough. I was impressed with how quickly she works and how much she was able to help me think "bigger." - Pam Moorehead, 03/29/17 – Nominated by Charol Shakeshaft
I've had a number of problems with my computer and printer over the past several months. I have also had difficulty getting the speakers to work in the doctoral hearing room. Pam is always on it. Right away. She and her staff are responsive, helpful, respectful, and they get things fixed. - Samantha Tansey, 03/29/17 – Nominated by Charol Shakeshaft
I needed some help with my FACR budget. Samantha was responsive and helpful. This is not the first time. Samantha has been a great help with a number of things. She's always responsive, - Bruna Bussacarini Martins, 02/01/17– Nominated by Eduardo P. G. Vidal
Bruna has been an example of professionalism since the moment she started working at the Division for Inclusive Excellence a few months ago. Her demeanor helps the Division for Inclusive Excellence to spread our mission of diversity, inclusiveness and excellence. On behalf of my colleagues in the Division for Inclusive Excellence, I would like to thank Bruna for her services by nominating her to this recognition award. Thank you very much, Bruna. - Greg Kimbrell, 01/27/17– Nominated by Deborah Speece, Jose Alcaine, Danise Harmon
Greg Kimbrell was invaluable in the success of the School of Education 2017 Annual Research Colloquium that was held in Cabell Library lecture hall and board room. He assisted in securing the space, designing the layout of the space, ensuring audio visual needs, suggesting catering needs, and facilitating set-up and take-down of both rooms. Beyond the details of these tasks, Greg was unfailingly professional, courteous, and a joy to work with. His presence was welcoming and reassuring. We look forward to working with Greg for future events. - Elizabeth Seward, 01/19/17– Nominated by Yavonda Johnon
I am a new hire in a position formerly held by Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth left the department for another employment opportunity with the university, she is still revered and left a lasting impression on faculty and staff alike. For this reason I requested her assistance with helping me to become more acclimated to my new position as well as internal processes used while in the department. Without hesitation she obliged and took time out of her busy schedule to do just that. Her sharing of knowledge and expertise has enabled me to quickly jump into the daily milieu of the department and perform with confidence. The fact that she shared her broad knowledge about the duties and responsibilities of a PA and those specifically applicable to my role, as well as shared her resources and tools (some of which she created herself) shows that not only is she an asset to her new department, but is a true example of magnanimity in the university. - Demmie Pennix, 01/24/2017– Nominated by Sue McGinnis
Demmie always goes above and beyond. She most recently assisted with the hiring of a new employee at the VCU School of Nursing. She is professional, thorough, detailed, and always follows through. I really appreciate having someone like Demmie on my team at the school! - Derek Poe, 01/23/17– Nominated by Ronna Reiff
Derek provides the most comprehensive customer service on a daily basis - not just periodically. He will often go above and beyond what is required of his position in order to assist a student, fellow workers, parents, etc. It is not uncommon for him to contact other departments on behalf of the student or to go the extra mile by further researching the root of a problem in order to prevent its recurrence. I applaud Derek for his warm and caring approach to every situation. - Allison Wetterhahn, 01/03/17– Nominated by George Kelly
Allison exhibits all 3 areas of the trust triangle - Care, Competence, and Consistency. Whenever I consult her I can always trust in and rely on the information she gives me. Thanks for always going the extra mile!