Recognition recipients

2017

• 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!

2016

• Lauren Mortensen, 11/21/16– Nominated by LaRon Scott
  Lauren continues to receive glowing remarks from students and professionals associated with our certification and master's degree programs. First, Lauren participated in a business call with me that resulted in a possible partnership with a school district. Lauren was very active in the meeting, and our potential partner was impressed with her knowledge and expedience with answering questions and catering to their needs. I also received several phone calls over the past two weeks from students in our certification program about Lauren's courtesy and the level of professional support she provides. Each student called out Lauren specifically, and shared personal stories about how she's helped to make their experience at VCU valuable. Lauren is always professional and is one of the main reasons why my COVE project has a positive image across Virginia. I can say without reservation that without her support that the COVE program would not be experiencing the type of success it has gained over the past 2-3 years.
  
• Georgia Kelly, 10/21/16– Nominated by Michelle Wise
  There has never been a time that I have reached out to Georgia for her professional expertise that she has not responded. Her genuine consideration to my telephone calls and emails in a timely and professional manner has been greatly appreciated. If she doesn't have an answer, she directs me to the correct source. I am so grateful for her responsiveness in our day to day work flow. She has been a great help to me in resolving issues that have to do with the job functions of her office as it pertains to the day to day operations that I encounter in my office. Thank you Georgia for your untiring investment into other people.
  
• Marchelle Key, 10/21/16– Nominated by Miranda Pyne
  Marchelle knew that I was in the middle of transitioning to a new position and that it was an adjustment for me. I had some challenges in my former position. Marchelle has always been there as a colleague for me. Her level of respect for me, my job and the issues I encountered did not go unnoticed. I thank her for always showing in a professional manner and respecting my choices as a colleague and friend. VCU is lucky to have her. I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
• David Plunkett, 8/31/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Delois Alexander
  I would like to recognize David Plunkett. David has always, always, always welcomed me with a smile in his office. He stops, clears a chair and says "come on in, have a seat." He never tells me to come back or suggests we make an appointment. When I have questions, he explains things and breaks things down so they can be easily understood. He never looks at me with that "you should know this by now" look. He has a great personality and a willingness to share his knowledge. He's a great leader. It takes a lot to keep learning and it takes a special person like him to make you feel good about it. His department is blessed to have him on staff. I would like to give David the kind of recognition he so well deserves. Thank You David!
• Rodney Steppe, 8/18/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Connie Jefferson
  Rodney helps me whenever I have a new hire. I have worked with a lot of people over my 29 years here at VCU and Rodney is one of the best. He always gets right back to me to let me know how to move forward. He is always there to help with whatever I need.
• Wanda Williams, 8/10/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Matt Yopp
  Wanda was instrumental in the expedient migration of DAR's entire telephone setup from our 5 former locations to our new home at 111 N. 4th St. She was a gem to work with, always quick to respond, and remained in contact through the worst of the VZN strike.
• Josh Inocencio, 8/10/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Matt Yopp
  Josh has been an incredible engineer to work with for the migration of DAR's networking assets from our 5 separate locations to our new location at 111 N. 4th St. He has been instrumental in the establishment and integration of a new call center setup and has ensured that our tech works efficiently and effectively.
• John Gayle, 8/8/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Matt Yopp
  John (and by extension the Network Operations Center team) have been incredible at facilitating the installation of new Call Center equipment in the University Computer Center despite a very tight integration window. I can't thank him enough for working with us to establish this new configuration with limited notification.
• Dave Spivey, 8/8/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Matt Yopp
  Dave has been an incredible asset in the inception of our GOLDLINE call center, both in the technical setup of the original configuration, and management of the ongoing migration to a Computer Center based setup. He has always been willing, responsive, and communicative in his approach.
• Katy Beisheim, 8/4/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Andrea Groat
  Katy has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to RADAR and is generous with sharing that knowledge. On August 4th, she sat with me and showed me how to find the information, set up reports and gave me a copy of her notes. She cheerfully answered all my questions. I greatly appreciate the excellent hands-on training I received from her. Thanks so much Katy!
• Kayla Watts, 8/1/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Fonda Neal
  This recognition is long overdue. If I could put a date range on it, it would be January 2015 to present. Kayla is an exceptional colleague and team player and is awesome at her job. She has talents that I feel go unrecognized. Early last year, she offered to help me with organizing my student and program information in Redcap. She created a PhD database in Redcap to help me with course projections. She is always willing to help, answer questions, etc. and is very responsive. She is very organized and efficient. I have obtained several tips from her pertaining to Google, Redcap and working in Microsoft Office. She is a problem-solver. I enjoy working with her and just wanted to take this opportunity to formally recognize her.
• Diane Bowman, 8/1/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Fonda Neal
  This recognition is long overdue. If I could put a date range on it, it would span from March 2012 to present. I began my present position in March 2012 and began working with Diane at that time. Diane provides extremely quick responses to communication and I appreciate it immensely. She sends a confirmation email each time she completes a request I send to her which is extremely helpful. It helps facilitate efficiency with VCU processes and procedures and lessens/eliminates anxeity or problems with our students. I enjoy working with her and just wanted to take the time to formally recognize her.
• Rhonda Pearson, 7/26/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Sean Convoy
  As VCU SON's Director for First Impressions, Rhonda is always so pleasant and energizing when people enter the school. First and last impressions are usually the most impactful. Consequently, Rhonda's sustained efforts to shape our milieu are seismic in their influence and I hope this acknowledgement reinforces the same.
• Larvell Davis, 7/8/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Trae Harris
  Larvell went above and beyond to solve our copier quandary. We had lost scan functionality and Larvell came to our aid quickly. He took terrific care of the CCTR team, ensuring that our services were restored and remaining in contact until we were assured that all was well.
• Federico Puma, 6/29/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Kristin Austin
  I would like to acknowledge Federico for facilitating the process of getting clinical data for the Office. He built relationships with key staff in the organization to set up a process to get access to key clinical data needed to support business operations. He has worked tirelessly on this project for months and achieved his goal. His ingenuity and ‘can-do’ attitude are admirable and valued. Thank you for not giving up and seeing this task to completion. Your hard work is appreciated.
• Meredith Lane, 6/14/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Austen Gouldman
  Meredith has quickly and clearly answered each question I have had regarding a mid-year health benefit enrollment for my family. Meredith made a process I was dreading quite easy and pleasant. Thank you!
• Amy Barnes, 5/27/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Takeya McLaurin
  I would like to take a moment to recognize Amy Barnes. Amy is always so extremely helpful. There is usually some type of emergency or last minute request whenever I need her help. Even still, she is ALWAYS pleasant, knowledgeable, and willing to help. She never makes me feel like I am bothering her and I know that if she can help, she will help. She is truly a ray of sunshine and is extremely service oriented. She is highly responsive and genuinely cares about the welfare of VCU employees. Amy is truly an asset to HR & Payroll Services. I enjoy working with her.
• Predrag Stojanovic, 5/11/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Jamie Sturgill
  I am getting ready to travel for a meeting and I wasn't able to prepare my poster in time for the SON IT to print it. Predrag went above and beyond and printed my poster at the last minute saving me both time and money. I truly appreciate his help and his always exceptional customer service.
• Jennifer Ohashi, 5/3/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Kristin Austin
  Jennifer is a data analyst and evaluation coordinator on the OHI Data Team. She is responsible for providing data to clinical leadership and staff in the programs we support. She has repeatedly been recognized by her data users for her excellent customer service skills. She has been praised not only for her strong quantitative skills but also for her emotional intelligence and ability to translate complicated data into easy to understand information so that her data users can improve care for their patients. I truly appreciate her listening skills, the way she anticipates the needs of her data users, and responds quickly and effectively to any of their concerns or questions. Thank you, Jennifer, for all you do.
• D'Won Walker, 5/10/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Kristin Austin
  D’won is always willing to assist with special projects sometimes beyond the scope of his responsibility. There are many instances where he could have simply said nothing and not taken ownership. However, he hears a need and stepped up to help with a positive attitude. Thank you are being our unofficially “IT” professional and helping to resolve issues with the Office iPads, projectors, and computers. Thank you, D’won, for seeking innovative solutions to data programming needs such as API in Redcap, data automation, SAS keyboard macros, and all the little things that make a big difference in our day-to-day operations.
• Anne Massey, 5/5/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Kristin Austin
  It is always a pleasure to work with Anne. She is very organized and thoughtful in her communications with all Office staff during tight deadlines and fast turn-arounds. Grant writing can be a stressful process. However, when Anne is the lead, the process is eased and enjoyable. She took the initiative to follow up on items that weren’t even in her purview. She went above the scope of her responsibilities to help us post award, even though she supposed to help with pre-award only. She is responsive to everyone who seeks her assistance. Thanks for having a positive attitude and strong work ethic. It is greatly appreciated.
• Towanda Vaughan, 4/26/2016 – Integrity – Nominated by Kristin Austin
  Towanda has helped me with the budget planning for data needs in the Office. She has helped me post positions and hire several analysts in the Office. She has always answered my questions promptly and with a smile. Initially, I was not aware of VCU’s policies for interviewing and hiring employees and asked a lot of questions. Towanda has taught me so much about these policies. She has demonstrated strong integrity and acts as the “glue” for the office. I could not have contributed to the goals we accomplished in the strategic plan if it had not been for her guidance. Thank you for all you do.
• Ian Hines, 5/9/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Jamie Sturgill
  Ian has taken great initiative at work and keeps the lab up to date in terms of management of all the projects. He has taken it upon himself to organize files and samples and maintain logs for all processed data. He treats all the faculty and staff he works with with excellent customer service as well.
• Beth Hopkins, 4/26/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Sean Convoy
  Dr Hopkins volunteered her personal time and expertise to develop and deliver an excellent presentation that captured the unique challenges that exist between primary care and mental health services for my NURS637 course. Her presentation was strategically chosen for the last immersion of the last class of the program because of its potential impact. Student evaluations were exceptional! This kind of collaboration between concentrations is incredible and I appreciate her time and effort.
• Teri Smith, 4/26/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Sue McGinnis
  We were in quite a bind. We had 30 minutes to cover for an exam and didn't have anyone available. Knowing how Teri is such a team player and always willing to assist, I asked if she would be able to step in and fill the gap. Of course she did without hesitation. Teri is the kind of person that makes the School of Nursing a great place to work. She does a great job and can be counted on when you need a hand. Thank you, Teri!
• Kayla Watts, 4/15/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Susan Johnson
  Kayla, Thank you for meeting with us today - Outstanding Job! Every year that the preceptor placements are completed, you have assured continued improvement. We are so appreciative of your efforts create an efficient process for the faculty, preceptors and students alike! thanks again,
• Daniel Jason, 4/13/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by John Venuti
  After several attempts to reconcile an issue with my benefits, I contact Benefits Manager Daniel Jason on April 8, 2016. He immediately coordinated with VCU Health to resolve the issue, which technically had nothing to do with VCU Benefits. Within a few days, Daniel contacted me with a solution and a point person in VCU Health. I very much appreciate the time and effort Daniel invested, when clearly he could have pushed the issue elsewhere and not taken ownership of the matter. Daniel is a role model and example for all employees at VCU.
• Greg Council, 3/31/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Kawana Pace-Harding
  I am writing to thank and recognize Greg for all the support he provides to the Human Resources team and for monitoring the department's voice mail and email account. He takes the initiative in checking our department's communications and he distributes this information to the appropriate person as needed. I truly appreciate Greg's initiative, responsiveness and team spirit. Thank you Greg.
• Risham Qureshi, 3/22/2016 – Respect – Nominated by Jessica Carey
  We have had recruits coming for campus visits, not all of whom were the easiest to please, but Risham handled each and every one of the candidates with the utmost respect, courtesy, and responsiveness. Her professional demeanor and attention to detail led to a very successful event yesterday and many happy and very satisfied candidates. Her overall attitude and exemplary customer-oriented focus are great examples of VCU's Customer Compass.
• Debra Robinson, 3/16/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Jaime Petrasek
  It was truly a pleasure to work with Debra over the past week! I contacted a few different offices with a question, and Debra followed up and assisted me and got the problem solved very quickly and with a smile. She really took the initiative to help me with a challenge, and I truly appreciate her excellent customer service and winning attitude!
• Marie Scott, 3/16/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Matt Yopp
  Just want to thank Marie for taking the initiative to help our team building vendor get an email domain whitelisted. She went above an beyond as the Collaboration Services team is in no way held accountable for a 3rd party vendor's choice of email service. I can't thank her enough.
• Carla Nye, 3/14/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Sean Convoy
  Carla and her team at the Clinical Learning Center have worked closely with the PMHNP program to develop a fledgling patient simulation experience. Carla worked meticulously to craft a great simulation experience only to have winter weather foil the plan on 25-26 January. Thereafter, Carla reworked her plan and stayed very late to compensate for the lost time and deliver a remarkable experience for the students. Carla and her team demonstrate a remarkable combination of competence and flexibility and I am very grateful for the same.
• Lisa Pond, 3/2/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Ananda Newmark
  I wanted to recognize Ms. Lisa Pond for all of the contributions and support she provided the search committee that I co-chaired. Her knowledge and guidance at every step in the hiring process was extremely helpful to the committee and the work the committee was charged to do.
• Lauren Mortensen, 2/24/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by LaRon Scott
  Lauren has received several notes from students about her responsiveness to their needs. Lauren has also been very responsive to the needs of our special education/COVE program. She shows initiative and has led the program to great success.
• Jamie Holcomb, 1/25/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Adria Dunn
  I could have chosen any of the core points Responsiveness, respect and integrity to describe working with Jamie. Jamie Holcomb is a true asset to the University. Her hard work, patience and drive are second to none. Thank you for all you do !
• Debra Fitzgerald, 2/12/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Kawana Pace-Harding
  Debbie is great!
• Joe Lichtenstein, 2/6/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Veronica Shuford
  Joe Lichtenstein and the VCU LMS team consistently provide the School of Pharmacy with exceptional service and support. In November the School of Pharmacy experienced synchronization issues with the ExamSoft Blackboard building. Joe worked diligently with ExamSoft and Blackboard to identify the issue and to test solutions offered. His responsiveness, tenacity, and commitment to working with the vendors to find a solution is appreciated. I am truly grateful for the support Joe provided with this issue. The ExamSoft Blackboard building block has become an essential part of the computer-based testing process in the School of Pharmacy. The ExamSoft Bb building block allows us to be efficient in creating courses, adding student users, and with syncing student grades to Bb; literally saving us days of work.
• Anita Williams, 1/20/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Daynon Smith
  Recently, I moved offices and there were a lot of moving pieces happening throughout the transition. Throughout the entire process, Anita kept me informed on everything that had already happen, what was currently happening, and what I could expect to happen in the near future. The entire transition was well organized, by Anita, and it made me so happy that I could count on her for anything I needed.
• Amy Nugent, 1/29/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Harris Middleton
  Amy has continually gone above and beyond when assisting our department with travel and procurement concerns. She has consistently demonstrated a great deal of courteousness, professionalism, and patience whenever we have presented her with a challenge where we needed an extra amount of help. Amy is an invaluable asset to VCU, and continues to provide us with timely and outstanding support.
• Allison Gregory, 1/27/2016 – Initiative – Nominated by Sean Convoy
  Allison took time out of her extraordinarily busy schedule to offer a substantive and value added presentation to the PMHNP cohort on basic laboratory interpretation. The cohort derived great value from this 90-minute lecture! This kind of effort represents a future blueprint for an integrated FNP-PMHNP program!
• Audrey Horner, 1/20/2016 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Jose Alcaine
  I would like to recognize Audrey Horner in the Office of Sponsored Programs, Office of Research, for her tireless support and help with our sponsored project activities at the School of Education. Audrey and her colleagues provide a tremendous service within a high stress, deadline-driven environment. I am thankful to Audrey for always being so responsive, thoughtful and helpful with her work. The latest example was on January 20 when we had a fairly large and complicated project due to an important federal sponsor. Audrey was responsive in her proposal review, comments, and in resolving any issues with our proposal. Thank you Audrey for all you do for VCU and the School of Education. We appreciate it.
• Daniel Jason, 12/15/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by David Harless
  Mr. Jason recognized and solved an unusual problem, allowing me to (finally) transfer funds from one ORP vendor to another. I attempted this transfer a number of years ago, but was told only that it wasn't possible. Upon trying once again last summer, Mr. Jason recognized that the problem was that funds with the ORP vendor were inadvertently left in the previous Commonwealth of VA ORP when they should have been automatically transferred to the new VCU ORP. Having recognized the problem, Mr. Jason made arrangements so that I could finally undertake the transfer I desired. I want to mention that Mr. Jason answered my email queries while on his vacation and further that he had to contact and follow-up several times with VRS officials in order to get the funds properly reclassified as part of the VCU ORP.
• Steve Davidson, 1/6/2016 – Respect – Nominated by Andrea Groat
  Steve's job is to solve problems. Whenever I ask a question or report a problem he is prompt, courteous and makes you feel like your issue is the most important thing in the world and there is nothing he'd rather do than help you. After I get off the phone with Steve, I feel like I'm his favorite customer....I bet a lot of other folks feel the same way when working with Steve. (Though we can't all be his favorite...so I'm going to stick with the story that I'm his favorite!!) Thank you Steve for solving our building problems and explaining the fixes in terms we can understand!

2015

• Mia Williams, 12/15/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Pamela Duffus
  We had an employee with health issues in need of parking assistance. Ms. Williams acted quickly and professionally to devise a much-needed resolution. Thank you!
• Lydia Nichols, 12/14/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Karen Fields
  Lydia is being recognized because her quick turnaround time in meeting requests is only surpassed by her positive attitude while doing so. She exemplifies the Respect and Responsive compass points.
• Jeanne Salyer, 11/30/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Sean Convoy
  As a senior faculty member, Dr Salyer has her hands in many critical (and commonly time sensitive) functions within the School of Nursing. Notwithstanding these extraordinary demands, she has volunteered her time to function as a mentor to me. Therein, she has dedicated several hours sitting in my classes, reviewing my Blackboard environment, and (most importantly) providing me valuable feedback and sage counsel. I don't suspect I will be able to repay her time and effort she has given but promise to pay it forward.
• LaTina Pitts, 11/4/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Terisa Smith
  LaTina stepped up and solved my problem when Buddy (our building manager) was out of the office. Thank you for taking the initiative to step up and make it happen, you are a true team player. Thank you for making the SON a better place to work and learn!!
• Jamaal Ellis, 11/4/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Terisa Smith
  Jamaal was a true team player today, responding to a urgent clean-up situation that was above and beyond the call of duty. Thank you Jamaal!!
• Thomas Brunner, 11/4/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Terisa Smith
  Tom responded to an urgent clean-up situation in the Clinical Learning Center today that was above and beyond the call of duty. Thank you for being a team player Tom!!
• Marisa Taylor, 10/29/2015 – Respect – Nominated by Terisa Smith
  Thank you Marisa for always being so supportive and encouraging, you make me a better person. Thank you for all that you do to make the entire SON a better place to live, work, and learn.
• Austin Higgs, 10/1/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Shannon Cribbs
  Austin was an incredible help to me in facilitating a retreat. He showed initiative by doing research prior to the retreat in order to be well prepared to jump in and help the group with their work. Throughout the day, he was his usual supportive self, but in addition to being of support, he asked great questions and contributed very helpful suggestions for improving the next retreat.
• Shakeela Noori, 10/28/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Kate Mastruserio Reynolds
  Shakeela goes far and beyond the expectations of her position here at VCU. She stretches and grows to learn new information and become increasingly vital to the ELP operation. She makes sure that our office is well run, organized and professional. She does all this with warmth, friendliness and humility.
• Evelyn Hinant, 10/12/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Brenda Mowen
  Evelyn is instrumental in keeping prime contractors on track in reporting small, minority and women owned business subcontracting (SWaM) payments in an accurate and timely manner. Because of Evelyn's tenacity and grit, VCU FMD has been able to consistently report high SWaM subcontracting numbers, which have greatly contributed to VCU's ability to meet the Governor's overall 42% annual SWaM Goal. Thank you, Evelyn!
• Danielle Hairston, 10/22/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Terri Dickerson
  Since Danielle has been hired as Faculty Recruitment Administrator, she has gone above and beyond to assist and support the School of Education (SOE) in our recruitment efforts. At my request, she visited Oliver Hall to provide specialized eJobs training to a large group of individuals- comprised of Department Chairs, Search Chairs and support staff. She works collaboratively with me behind the scenes to resolve issues and has served as a knowledgeable thought partner. No matter how hairy the situation, I am greeted with an energetic and cheerful Danielle each and every time I call. I had to write this to let Danielle know how much SOE and SOE HR appreciates her.
• Shavonda Gravely, 10/16/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Anne Brooks
  Shavonda is always prompt on responses and if she in unable to answer your question she will strive to resolve the issue. She always has a smile that you can hear in her voice. She is a diligent and dedicated VCU employee who always goes the extra mile to see that all grants information is complete, accurate and processed in a timely matter. It is a pleasure to work with such a wonderful lady.
• Julia Rhodes, 10/7/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Chuck Harrell
  I recently had the pleasure of working with Julia Rhodes for my American Cancer Society grant application submission. Julia was incredibly responsive, efficient, and professional in all of our interactions. Her assistance with this grant submission made everything run smoothly and her efforts allowed me to continue running experiments while the paperwork was being reviewed and submitted. I am hoping to work with her more in the future, THANKS Julia!
• Rodney Steppe, 9/15/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Mark Roberts
  During an uncommon period of personnel changes due to retirement, transfers, or other staff departure, Rodney was always responsive to meet the various needs of my department. Whether it was reviewing EWP changes, advertising positions, updating a eJobs applicant status, or just providing immediate advice, Rodney provided guidance or teamed with other HR staff to take the needed action. Thank you Rodney for always being "Responsive".
• Priscilla Wiggin, 10/14/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by James Wasilewski
  Over the past fiscal year Priscilla has continually succeeded with each task, project and program in which she is involved. She lives the mission of Massey Cancer Center and represents MCC highly in our community and with our donors with whom she interacts on a daily basis. She offers so much, and our successful journey to raise money for cancer research will continue this year.
• Barry Lanneau, 10/6/2015 – Respect – Nominated by Sandra Mazzoli
  Barry is assisting me with ImageNow and WebNow software as the primary tool for Departmental review of admissions documents. He is patient, friendly, and above all, respectful of the School of Education faculty and staff as we learn this software and all it can do. Barry is, in a word, awesome!
• Buddy Weston, 10/6/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Terisa Smith
  Buddy is awesome and continuously goes above and beyond the call of duty. We needed to have 6 total GYN lamps for NURS 631 in the CLC for GYN visits with standardized patients. When we discovered that one of the lights wasn't working, Buddy just happened to be passing by and came in to help. He took the light apart, tried to fix it, but didn't have all of the tools/supplies required to diagnose the problem. He retrieved the tools and Buddy not only diagnosed the problem but he along with Jamaal were able to find additional parts around the SON to fix it just in time for us to use it this afternoon. I personally thanked Buddy, but wanted to make sure that everyone was reminded of what a great asset he is to the SON!!
• Daniel Jason, 9/18/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Julia Kaziewicz
  I emailed VCU Benefits about several retirement plan questions. Daniel Jason answered me quickly and suggested I call him. I called and he answered immediately. Daniel gave me very thorough and clear answers to my questions. He was patient with me as I asked several follow up questions. After we hung up I felt confident about my benefits. I then realized I had another question and called Daniel back. Again, he listened well, answered my questions clearly, and was very easy to talk to. Daniel made the maze of benefits navigable for me. HE IS THE BEST.
• Susan Hall, 9/16/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Amy Adkins
  I wandered into Susan's office after trying to locate a faculty member in Snead for over half an hour. Susan dropped everything she was doing and looked up the individual (who was not even in her department), gave me directions and explained how best to leave my material for the individual. Her kindness and responsiveness is one of the things that make VCU such a great place to work. Thank you!!
• George Kelly, 8/31/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Pamela Radwani
  George is always willing to help with any questions or needs of the Division of Student Affairs. He jumps in to help us in difficult situations and resolve procurement/payment issues.
• Diane Rector, 8/17/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Kawana Pace-Harding
  Diane is always responsive to the HR Employee Relations team. She is not only our administrative assistant, building manager and traffic advisor, she is also our equipment technician. Whenever our printer is jammed or stops functioning, Diane comes to the rescue with her toolkit in hand. She has the uncanny ability, skill and patience to "operate" on our printer and, as a result, the maintenance technician is called infrequently. Thank you, Diane! You are a valuable resource and we greatly appreciate your expertise in maintaining the equipment we use and for your willingness to assist whenever you are called.
• Elizabeth Miles, 8/18/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Kayla Watts
  Elizabeth was able to comply with my last minute request to have our orientation Echo recorded. I truly appreciate her help in this matter and do not want it to go unrecognized. Thank you for saving me, Elizabeth!
• JaBari Scott, 8/14/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Pam Wiegardt
  JaBari Scott has gone way above and beyond customer service excellence in assisting me with some Blackboard issues over the past year. He came through again last week. JaBari not only solves problems, he connects with me to talk me through solutions while on Blackboard. He offered to talk me through a set up last week to ensure access, as there were some issues last semester. He has even dialed into my class to ensure that real time issues have been resolved. He has been impressively responsive and is a super communicator, never making me feel like my questions/problems are ridiculous. Thanks, JaBari. Your help is appreciated more than you could know.
• Jacqueline Glover, 8/18/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Cherylann Rocha
  I could choose all three of the compass point selections; initiative, integrity, respect, and responsiveness for Ms. Glover. I can always rely on Jackie to not only assist me with any question I present her with, but she is always willing to guide/teach me during the process. I greatly appreciate her assistance and willingness to always offer help above and beyond what I request.
• Claudia C Street, 8/11/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Reggie Brown
  Ms. Street's responsiveness to all requests is admirable, she approaches all tasks with a positive attitude and believes no task is too big or too small. Her dedication to maintaining the presentation of Oliver Hall, as well as other areas of the University should be noted, as she has repeatedly shown what a tremendous asset she is to the University.
• Arielle Rose, 8/5/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Tina Braden
  Arielle to the rescue as I had an individual that couldn't complete the I-9 form and was frustrated. I tried to talk the individual through the process and wasn't meeting the individual's needs. I spoke with Arielle and explained the situation. After I tried to get the individual through the process again and was having the same issues, Arielle spoke with the individual and the process was completed. Arielle was responsive to my needs as well as the individual completing the form. Thank you so much.
• Patricia Shazer, 7/1/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Margaret Goslin
  I would like to recognize Patricia Shazer for her continued eVA support. When I assumed our office's fiscal responsibilities she was always accessible to answer questions I had, help solve quirks that were seemingly unexplainable, and spend time with me during the in-person training sessions to help me understand the why and how of it, not just 'point and click.' I cannot imagine being successful in this role without her.
• Reginald Gray, 6/16/2015 – Respect – Nominated by Danise Harmon
  Outstanding customer service provided to our group from June 16th through June 25th, 2015. The VCU Center for Sport Leadership hosted visiting coaches from South Africa for this two week period. Reggie was responsible for providing daily transportation from a selected site to VCU roundtrip daily. On several of the days we had to deviate from the initial itinerary and Reggie was very attentive to our needs with professionalism and genuine kindness. The coaches loved spending time with him and looked forward to greeting him each morning.
• Miriam Foster, 6/16/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Danise Harmon
  For outstanding customer service provided to me in arranging RamCharter services for the period of June 15th through June 26, 2015. The VCU Center for Sport Leadership hosted visiting coaches from South Africa for this two week period. Miriam assisted me in arranging our transportation needs for the period mentioned. Charter services were needed for Washington, DC, Richmond city, and the surrounding counties. Due to many changes we experienced because of international flights and other logistics, Miriam was very attentive to the charter scheduling and very patient with the numerous changes that occurred. I thank her for her immediate response and professionalism.
• Elizabeth Miles, 7/21/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Sean Convoy
  I had difficulty importing an old course into a new course on Blackboard. As a teacher of teachers, Elizabeth didn't just fix the problem. Rather, she demonstrated remarkable patience walking me through the process. The rate of change with technology is so fast that resources like Elizabeth's are critical. Please don't ever reduce funding for IT as the School of Nursing would not do well without them.
• Jamie Ferguson, 7/16/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Sean Convoy
  Jamie's contributions to the School of Nursing have progressively increased since my arrival in 2014. I suspect the workload she currently carries belies her formal position description. Working with her on MPC and the DNP Implementation Task Force, she has found a way to "corral the cats" in an assertive yet very collaborative way. Whatever success is garnered in the months to come with accreditation will in no small part be due to Jamie's yeoman's effort.
• Kayla Watts, 7/21/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Sean Convoy
  The PMHNP concentration was thrown several curve balls over the past two weeks when established preceptors opted out of taking students for the fall. We are still trying to work through the problem. That being said, if this problem can be fixed, it will be principally due to Kayla's efforts. What Kayla has and continues to do within the School of Nursing is INVALUABLE. Absent any hyperbole, without her my concentration would not be able to meet its mission. Both quantitatively and qualitatively, I suspect what Kayla is doing is well beyond her formal position description.
• Margaret Rigsbee, 6/19/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Kimberly Pedersen
  Margie went above and beyond when helping my co-workers and me gain access to our SQL server space. We all had limited experience with the software and needed to prep for a meeting. Margie worked with us beyond her normal work hours, contacted people for us to help us along and then followed up to make sure we were okay and our meeting went well. She was awesome!
• Tamara Ingram, 7/1/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Mark Roberts
  On short notice and due to the Grants and Contracts Accounting Office Manager having to be away from the office for multiple pay periods, Tamara offered to handle the timekeeping while she is out. This additional responsibility involves data entry/recordkeeping for 40 additional staff on top of her existing timekeeping responsibility for Treasury Services, or other areas in our division. Tamara has effectively communicated with me when she had questions, and her initiative has resolved timesheet errors quickly without resulting in payroll issues. Thank you, Tamara, for your service and initiative in responding to the immediate needs within Grants and Contracts Accounting! Additional thanks to Pam Currey and Jessica Cheatham.
• Leona Jones, 6/11/2015 – Integrity – Nominated by Jean Thomas-Banks
  Leona Jones, Program Assistant in the Performance Management Group (PMG) at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, is to be applauded. Leona is a steadfast co-worker and team player. She consistently makes herself available for the extra tasks that arise from day-to-day. She has a way of prioritizing additional assignments given in an already filled day. She is a value to the school and university with a quiet, strong presence that could easily go unnoticed because she does it with such grace - “as if it was the norm”; but in many instances she has gone above and beyond. For this and more, I express gratitude and appreciation. I applaud Leona Jones.
• Janet Knisely, PhD, 6/29/2015 – Respect – Nominated by Christine Paine
  My 92 year old Mother-in-Law has just been transferred from a 2 week stay in St. Francis Hospital to a Skilled Nursing Facility. Even though it is the end of the month with much work to be done, Dr. Knisely insisted I leave at 3pm yesterday so I would have a chance to meet with the staff and hopefully the doctor. She was right. I got more information in 15 minutes than I did in the preceding 2 weeks. This is how Dr. Knisely watches over her staff, regardless of how much she has on her plate. She is always respectful and understanding of their problems, shows interest in their welfare and acts in any way she can to help! Much as she treats the problems and welfare of the clients in our program.
• Florence Johnson, 6/29/2015 – Respect – Nominated by Tammi Slovinsky
  Florence is kind, genuine and honest. I always enjoy seeing her on campus!
• Adam Caldwell, 6/24/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Kelly Severo
  Adam has been extremely helpful, responsive, and supportive of the Office of Student Success and the MSW Student Success Advisors. Whenever the advisors are challenged with communication concerns and issues with current and incoming students, Adam is always available and quick to respond. He almost always has the answers to our questions and on the odd occasion when he doesn't, we can rest assured that Adam will get the answers to those questions in a very timely manner. Registration for the fall 2015 semester was today at noon and Adam supported our goal in providing informational, preparatory emails to all incoming students before registration to help make the process as smooth as possible for new students. The Office of Student Success is lucky to have such a supportive team player on our side who makes our work a lot easier.
• Tarra Thomas, 6/10/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Shiori Silver
  As a brand new hire, Tarra has done a fantastic job onboarding me not only to the VCU community, but also the Richmond community as well. Since I had to move from California to Virginia, Tarra has done an absolute job answering any and all questions I may have about my move, community, and living space. In addition, I feel that Tarra has done a great job being attentive to my needs as a brand new employee to the university. Therefore, I would like to thank and recognize Tarra for her responsiveness.
• Kimberly Woolf, 6/10/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Florence Johnson
  It’s impossible for me to pick a single date with regards to Kim’s consistent, positive and thorough responsiveness. I consider her to be the guru of things financial; banner, eVA and other systems, and though we have never worked in the same division, Kim is always willing to help me. She was referred to me years ago as someone who could advise me regarding an area of procurement processing that I was unfamiliar with and over the years since then, her willingness to assist has never wavered. I would make a hefty bet that there are many others at VCU who agree. Kim has a ready smile in her voice no matter when I contact her. Her customer service is truly beyond reproach. If asked a question she doesn’t have a ready answer to, she offers to call back with that answer, and does. She exemplifies the qualities that help make VCU a ‘Great Place:’ knowledge, hard work and genuine team spirit; a sincere desire to help and, quick responsiveness in doing so. In a word, she’s awesome! I know Kim is not alone in being one of the best and brightest at our institution, and I sincerely hope she will be one of those who are officially recognized for their unique and very real value to VCU. From all of us who work with you Kim, Thank You!
• Jacqueline Glover, 6/17/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Mark Hicks
  Ms. Glover has done an excellent job in providing not only myself, but other personnel within my department, with very timely and useful assistance concerning the procurement process through eVA/Banner. She is always quick to respond and very kind and friendly, making for both an informative, and enjoyable conversation. It is a pleasure to deal with her, and I am sure she will continue her exceptional service into the future.
• Arielle Rose, 6/2/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Karen Fields
  Due to a sudden event, our facilitator for the "Timekeeping Policies" course was unable to teach the class. Although Arielle had been promoted to another position within HR, she did not hesitate to step in on short notice to teach the class so that the participants could gain access to the system without delay. Arielle's responsiveness to her colleagues exemplifies the teamwork so prevalent throughout Human Resources. It is a pleasure to work with Arielle.
• Elise Kepus, 6/15/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Amy Adkins
  I would like to thank Elise for her responsiveness, in addition to unceasing kindness and support, with scheduling and listing the Great VCU Bike Race Book classes. She has gone out of her way to help me with this initiative and, in the rare instance she could not directly do so, contacted others for me to make sure my problems were addressed. Thank you!
• Krystin Davis, 6/2/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Riki Gottlieb
  Ms. Davis has been extremely helpful since she started working in the SoD office of admissions 4 years ago. She has implemented many initiatives and actively participated in advancing the mission of the school and the university. As Ms. Davis' career evolved, her responsibilities increased significantly. One of her strongest skills are in customer service. She is always willing to help faculty, students and staff, even if that means working harder to get her assignments done on time. A few days ago, I asked Ms. Davis to help me with an unplanned report. She willingly assisted me, although she was working on an extensive project that was due soon. I've changed the report requirements several times and each time asked her to collect more data. She smiled and said she was happy to help. She completed the report without hesitation and before the deadline. She also knew that her other assignment was important and she prioritized her work duties to complete everything on time. It is a great pleasure to have a reliable and responsive employee on my team. I would like to take this opportunity and recognize Ms. Davis with this award.
• Jerry Helton, 4/17/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Tito Luna
  Mr. Helton responded quickly and effectively to aid VCU's neighborhood outreach office. He immediately contacted vendors to secure mulch for a next-day neighborhood beautification event. When none was available on short notice, he assessed his inventory, secured in-house mulch, and ensured that it was delivered to the right location in time for the event.
• Valerie RiChard, 4/17/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Tito Luna
  Ms. RiChard responded immediately and effectively to a request from VCU's Neighborhood Outreach office for mulch. It was needed the next day for a neighborhood beautification event. Ms. RiChard realized the sense of urgency and worked with her staff to secure and deliver mulch in time for the event. Her responsiveness helped VCU in its relationship with the Randolph community.
• Derotha Mateen, 5/26/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Gail Bartee Canter
  Over the years I have had to make several financial requests to Miss Mateen in Procurement Services. Each and every time that I contacted her, she either answered her phone or responded to my call immediately and always resolved the issue that same day. Her customer service skills are exceptional and I want her to know she's appreciated.
• Jennifer Farrell , 5/26/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Tanya Brown
  Over the course of the past week, Ms. Farrell has assisted the Residential Security Division with personnel actions. She accepted these admin duties without hesitation and handled all tasks efficiently. She is commended for her willingness to support management as well as her positive interaction with potential new hires. Thank you Jennifer!
• Jeanne Salyer, 5/18/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by KYUNGEH AN
  She has been helping faculty to publish research articles by providing proof reading, editing and making suggestions for change.
• Angela Starkweather, 5/11/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by KYUNGEH AN
  Dr. Starkweather has been a chair of the department. The way she mentors junior faculty and provide support for the faculty is above and beyond of an average faculty chair.
• Buddy Weston, 5/14/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Samantha Mitchell-Dix
  Buddy efficiently and effectively provides high quality service to internal and external clientele.
• Brandon Hoadley, 5/8/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Trescinda Cull
  Brandon programmed, developed a web based budget and commitment system for the Vice President for Research. Through his initiative and skills, he enhanced the unit's ability to track financial obligations over multiple years and tied financial commitments to a budget system. This will greatly improve the understanding of budget vs. expenditures and will assist with long range budget planning.
• Alison Crehore, 5/8/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Sharon Glenn
  I want to thank Alison Crehore and recognize her for all the hard work that she does in scheduling rooms for all the classes that are being taught in the School of Nursing. This morning I went to her office for some important course information that I needed and she not only took time out of her busy schedule to sit with me and provide me with the information, she did it with a smile. Her hard work, attention to detail and professionalism and kindness deserves recognition and my formal thanks and appreciation. The School of Nursing is lucky to have a hardworking, dedicated employee. Thank you Alison!
• Melissa Koch, 4/24/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Lauren Mortensen
  I sent Melissa an email about a report that I needed for processing adjunct summer contracts, which I am doing for the first time. Melissa recognized that I didn't have access to the particular report, she could have easily told me that she couldn't help and to contact my HR department about getting access to the report. Instead,she pulled the report for me (and another one that she anticipated I would need), offered to come to my office and train me directly on processing summer contracts, and emailed my HR department about what I would need in order to have access to the report in the future. Melissa's initiative and responsiveness was incredibly helpful and appreciated.
• Wayne Crown, 2/6/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Amy Olex
  I have been running some computationally intensive programs on our department's VM. After talking with a few others, Wayne was contacted to see if he could allocate a few more CPUs to our machine. Wayne was very helpful, and was able to re-allocate the CPUs quickly. I have been happily using them ever since! Thanks for your help Wayne--it is very much appreciated. Keep up the good work!
• Kenneth Perdue, 4/8/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Amy Olex
  Ken is the admin for our department's VM, and I have been corresponding a lot with him about it for several months now. I am always delighted by the initiative Ken takes to answer my questions in detail and to provide me with helpful links that explain concepts I am not familiar with. Ken continues to help me understand VMs and servers better so that I can optimize the programs I run on them. Ken, your help is always appreciated and very helpful, so thank you for working with me!
• J. Adam Craig, 4/8/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Amy Olex
  Adam used to be the admin for our department's VM, and was always responsive and helpful whenever I had questions. However, even now he is still helping me with issues and is wonderful to work with! I really appreciate everything Adam does. Keep up the good work because you are great at what you do!
• Jason Jacobus, 4/8/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Amy Olex
  Jason has been wonderful in helping to resolve issues with the large storage drive used by our department. Most recently we installed a faster connection between the drive and our department's VM in the hopes of resolving some of the I/O bottleneck issues. There are still some kinks to work out, and Jason has been so responsive in trying to get them resolved. Thank you for all your work Jason! It is really appreciated!
• Lori Do , 3/27/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Alyson Williams
  In the absence of an administrative assistant, Lori Do volunteered to adjust her workload, position, and schedule. She has been proactive in learning office systems, acclimating to new routines and tasks, and making everyone's day run a little smoother at the CDC. Lori is a dedicated and passionate employee, and I appreciate her flexibility very much!
• Ashley Akers, 3/17/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Paula McMahon
  Ashley is helpful and responsive to all my scheduling needs. She is willing to be creative and brainstorm with me when I need to envision how to set up a space for the groups that I am working with. She is unfailingly cheerful.
• John Hutton, 3/18/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Sherry Sandkam
  I want to thank John and recognize him for all of the hard work that he has done in developing and editing Graduate Bulletin copy for all programs in the College of Humanities and Sciences. This has been a lengthy and time-consuming project over the course of the last two years and essential in preparation for the upcoming implementation of the degree audit process for all graduate programs at VCU and for the implementation of the CourseLeaf project. His hard work, attention to detail and professionalism, as well as his good cheer, deserves recognition and my formal thanks and appreciation on behalf of the Graduate School.
• Jamillah Martin, 3/6/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Jana Avery
  Jamillah exceeded the expectations of her work responsibilities and demonstrated exceptional customer service on the morning of March 6, 2015. Campus opening was delayed until 10am due to inclement weather, and although Jamillah is not part of the on-call rotation, nor was she asked to check the help request system before work hours, she chose to check before 6:00am and discovered numerous requests from students who were unable to get into their Blackboard courses.
• Predrag Stojanovic, 3/3/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Sean Convoy
  I encountered a problem with my VCU work computer that resulted in 100% work stoppage. Without an appointment, I dropped by Predrag's office to see if he could be of assistance. He immediately dropped everything that he was doing to assist. When the problem couldn't immediately be identified, he was willing to work the problem overnight and offered me a loaner computer. I came back by day's end to find that he was able to isolate the problem (which was very much a "user error") and got me back working in short order. What was particularly exceptional was that he was able to explain the problem to me in such a way as to not make me feel like an idiot (because it was a "user error").
• Tonya McKinnon, 3/3/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Pamela Duffus
  Tonya responded quickly and was able to resolve my issue.
• Jeff Smith, 1/5/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Sue McGinnis
  Over the winter break Jeff was the project manager for an AV project here at the School of Nursing. During the holiday, Jeff took the time to keep the vendors on track and focused on meeting their deadline. The project was finished and Jeff made sure that all work met or exceeded customer expectations. It is Jeff's ability to go above and beyond that makes him such a valuable asset to VCU.
• Julius (Lee) Watts, 2/12/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Jeannie Rummel
  During the week of February 9, Lee created customized compensation/job history reports for Massey Cancer Center to help us analyze budget and compensation history. He worked with specific data requests and created several meaningful reports to help us analyze trends.
• Jesse Oremland, 2/10/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Samieh Shalash
  Jesse took the initiative to give me access to t4 so that as an editor, I could edit website copy directly within a test site. This is an idea that has been floated for more than a year. Our team can now work much more quickly and efficiently on proofing and launching websites for VCU clients.
• Tiffany Murray Robertson, 1/29/2015 – Respect – Nominated by Jean Thomas-Banks
  It is with highest regard that I speak of the qualities of Tiffany Murray Robertson who is a pleasure to work with, has a broad knowledge and skill in graphics and communication with an ability to stay calm under pressure. Tiffany brings a good sense of balance to get things done in an exceptional way. She always maintains a willingness to assist you whether in the scope of her skilled areas or stepping out into areas that are not general run of mill for her. She is an asset to any team and believes in supporting community. I applaud Tiffany Murray Robertson.
• Frank Pitchford, 2/18/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Jean Thomas-Banks
  I imagine it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to work with various people from day-to-day that may not have the same amount of skill and technical savvy with technology, but Frank Pitchford does it daily at the Wilder School. He listens to details to determine your technology issues, even when you may not have the terminology that is appropriate in identifying the problem with your computer or other system problems. He has an excellent sense of humor, is courteous, and balances the work environment that makes it easy to receive his instructions in a way that helps to get the information needed to resolve the technical problems. I recognize Frank Pitchford with a verbal applaud. Thank you.
• Courtney Lanier Baytop, 2/13/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Jean Thomas-Banks
  Courtney Baytop is organized and provides analytical responses to complex situations. She pays strong attention to details and provides support that is invaluable. Courtney came on-board providing skilled review and recommendations to projects with positive feedback. She provides a well needed eye for the detail and is a valuable team player. I applaud Courtney Baytop and her willingness to bring a well thought out finished product to the table with a different view and in many cases a better result.
• Tenecia Dixon, 2/19/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Lorna Macleod
  Tenecia is such a wonderful, pleasant and reliable person to work with. I know that I can ask her a question and she will return to me with useful information. I cannot thank her enough for being so reliable and thus making my life easier regarding practical things useful for running the lab.
• Laura Napky, 2/13/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Kim Flournoy DiJoseph
  Laura has truly been a valuable resource, support, and team player to the Office of Student Success this semester. She has been proactive in problem solving, responsive to a multitude of requests, and had a wonderfully positive spirit throughout what can be a hectic time of the semester.
• Andrew Daniel, 2/6/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Carolina Wilson
  The office had just closed on Friday, and Andy was just leaving work. I called him before he left the office because I had a flat tire in one of the campus parking lots. My husband was working late, and Andy came to fix my tire in the campus parking lot. Though this act of kindness is not work related, I believe he showed initiative to assist someone in need of help.
• katedra mitchell, 2/2/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by June Jones
  I would like to recognize Ms. Katedra Mitchell who works in Records and Registration. Katedra is always very prompt and efficient in responding to my request to obtain official transcripts for students who have completed our masters of teaching programs. This is important as the quicker I receive the transcripts, the quicker the student's paperwork for licensure can be processed. She is very pleasant in her communications and a great asset to the department.
• Predrag Stojanovic, 2/2/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Sharon Glenn
  It is hard to pick a specific date in which I have seen and experienced Predrag Stojanovic be responsive. As a fairly new employee, almost a year now, he always has been responsive and courteous to everyone at the School of Nursing. His friendliness and outstanding customer service, his wealth of knowledge about computers and all related technology and willingness to help everyone made a lasting impression not only on me but others that work in the School of Nursing. He is definitely the type of person and employee that any department or school at this university would be proud to have on their team. He is always willing to take the time out of his busy schedule to answer any questions and fix any problems that we have with our computers or any related technology issues that arise at any given time of the day and he does it with a smile. It is not only his responsiveness, but his integrity and compassion that he has for his love of the type of work that he does and the love of making sure that everyone has the help that they need to do their jobs and make their days go smoothly that make him one special human being and co-worker. I am so proud to call him a friend and co-worker and so very glad that he is on my team.
• Kayla Watts, 2/2/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Sharon Glenn
  Ms. Kayla Watts demonstrates superior customer service, professionalism, responsiveness, and integrity in her daily responsibilities as Clinical Coordinator for the School of Nursing. She wears many hats and faces many challenges each and every day dealing with the placements of students and obtaining the proper affiliation agreements and documentation with outside entities for student clinical placements. Having said this, she has always been willing to help me and others by showing us more efficient and time saving ways to help us in our day to day duties. She always takes time out of her busy schedule to help. Most recently, she has set up many RedCap surveys for me to obtain the information that I needed for my boss in a time constraint situation. These requests require a lot of extra work and time on her part to help with. She always does it with a smile and never says no. She is always very quick to respond and very thorough with the data. I am exceptionally grateful for her constant willingness to help, and the fast and professional way that she always approaches my request. She is a real asset to the School of Nursing and has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to offer.
• Jim Vencl, 1/19/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by Suzanne McGinnis
  Jim went above and beyond this weekend assisting the School of Nursing. One of our Echo 360 devices did not successfully upgrade due to an unfortunate oversight on my part. Jim let me know right away that there was an issue with the device. He took the initiative to work with Echo 360 support on a holiday to get our device back and running. The School of Nursing thanks Jim for his initiative and responsiveness - even on a holiday! Thank you so much for the continued excellent application and device support for Echo. You really came through for us, Jim!
• Adam Craig, 1/9/2015 – Initiative – Nominated by James Vencl
  There was an attack on one of my echo360 server's that was unsuccessful and VCU security was questioning the status of patching against Shell Shock and Adam responded within a matter of minutes detailing the test results of not just this one server, but all server's under his administration for my application (16). The results were excellent and timely. This has become the standard for his performance and just wanted to recognize it again.
• Kyungeh An, 1/5/2015 – Responsiveness – Nominated by Holly Buchanan
  Dr. An has been instrumental in helping me get off the ground running as a new faculty member at VCU. She has made herself widely available and has consistently touched base and made contact at various points throughout the semester. Her passion for her students and their learning and growth is highly evident and contagious!