Recognize a colleague – employee recognitions for 2023
Employees at VCU are encouraged to fill out the employee registration form anytime a colleague has gone above and beyond. Review the latest recognitions here to see what employees across the university have been doing to help out their colleagues.
March 2024 Nominees
Cameron White 3/10/2024 -- James Draper
My main goal as building manager for the department of Psychology, is to make all occupants feel comfortable. To that end, I have submitted tickets for the many ac units I have spread out among my properties. Cameron is always responsive with timely maintenance - from cleaning and repairing old units to installing new ones. Cameron also carries himself with integrity and will keep me posted on the status of the work he is performing. I can always count on the ticket being closed properly when I know Cameron has the ticket.
Chante Holt 3/4/2024 -- Nick Fetzer
I had a tight turnaround with a sponsor and Chante was responsive, knowledgeable, and kind. She helped figure out an error and got the invoice in on time.
February 2024 Nominees
Sarah Briland 2/23/2024 -- Stephanie Tignor
Sarah Briland has gone above and beyond to support an international student experiencing a very serious personal challenge. She has coordinated with multiple units, including GEO, to support the student, and has show the student and their family incredible empathy, support, and care during a very difficult time. Sarah has gone beyond the role of academic advisor and has proven herself to be an incredible advocate. GEO is grateful for Sarah's utmost care and attention and for stepping up in the way she has.
Roger Butler 2/5/2024 -- Jenna Lenhardt
I could nominate Roger for all of the items on this form: initiative, integrity, respect and responsiveness. Roger is a thoughtful and proactive colleague who gives his all in each interaction. School of Education is a complex admissions operations school, with different needs for different audiences in the admissions process, and Roger works with us as a dedicated colleague as we support future students. He is responsive and takes initiative to think of potential challenges down the road as we solve problems together. I appreciate his leadership and his perspective in each interaction. When we have an issue, he is quick to respond and support. VCU is lucky to have Roger.
Carla Dannouf 2/5/2024 -- Mindy VanDevelder
Carla provides incredible fiscal grant support and goes way above and beyond in making sure my NOAA grant stays on track and that all information is accessible for a non-fiscal person to understand. She's amazing!
Jamie Simmons 2/1/2024 -- Marjorie Nesmith
I recently had to have a contract signed immediately because the requesting department was under a tight timeline of having the contract and deposit submitted to hold the date for an upcoming event. I emailed Jamie (who was out of the office for a few days) regarding this urgent matter and she responded. She took the time (although being off) to review the contract, send to John McHugh for signature, and return it to me. I just want to acknowledge Jamie for going above and beyond to help me get this matter resolved on her days off. I am so appreciative. THANK YOU JAMIE!!!
Nathan Hilsenbrand 2/1/2024 -- Dana Rajczewski
Nathan has been assisting me with a few different website-related tasks, and I am definitely in good hands! He has advised me on photo sizes needed for Portfolio, as well as a bunch of different things on the back end of T4. With whatever assistance he providers, he strikes that difficult balance of knowing when to teach me how to do certain tasks and when to do the more advanced tasks himself, but he explains what's happening in a way that makes sense so I know what's basically going on (even when the mechanics are way beyond my understanding!). His office hours are super helpful, and I feel much more confident in my skills knowing that he is available for questions (or a quick fix if I've really made a mess of things!) and is very patient and understanding - he's a great teacher. Believe me, this goes a very long way! He also follows up to be sure I have the resolution I need to any given problem. Nathan is an awesome colleague, and I'm glad I get to work with him in the School of Medicine!
Jake Franko and Greg Eskridge 2/1/2024 -- Deborah Baines
Jake and Greg received an urgent 7:30 AM request to provide crucial information to a functional team member before 8:00 AM, ensuring timely processing of a highly important process. Collaborating seamlessly, they went above and beyond VCU's regular operating hours to promptly address the user's needs and meet the extremely tight deadline. Recognizing the importance of preemptive action, they revised existing processes to automatically provide the requested information as a part of daily communication in case of future occurrences. Furthermore, they requested to engage with the technical team to investigate the root cause of the issue, exploring preventive measures for its recurrence. Jake and Greg's outstanding responsiveness and proactive approach are truly commendable. Kudos for your exceptional efforts!
Kathryn Bunce 2/1/2024 -- Alex Josephs
I cannot stress enough how grateful my team is for Kathy and everything she does for us, the Procurement Team, and VCU as a whole. She is always there to lend a han
January 2024 Nominees
Chris Parthemos 1/31/2024 -- Meghan Depue
Chris had given an overview of Looker Studio at a session a while back, and I had remembered it when I encountered a need to display qualitative data in my own work. I had not remembered how to do use Looker Studio, so I reached out to Chris with the hope that he would help me out. Chris quickly responded to my email and set up a Zoom meeting with me to walk me through how to accomplish my goal. He showed up to the meeting prepared, used our time efficiently, and answered all of my questions with helpful comments and a smile. I am very appreciative of his efforts to support me as a fellow colleague!
Nery Prera 1/29/2024 -- James Draper
This recognition is for Nery's tireless efforts, as I have observed from Fall 2023 until now. Nery shows integrity, initiative, respect, and responsiveness. Nery always goes above and beyond when called upon for a service request in the 15 Psychology spaces I am building manager for. My most recent request was to paint a faculty office. Not only did he assist in suggesting color selections, he also provided valuable insights on how to paint the office to make the room seem bigger. Nery kept in contact with me during the entire process and the result was impressive for me and the faculty member. This is just one example of how Nery doesn't just show up to do the job, he understands the problem and educates on possible solutions. He is a master of his craft and I could not let the opportunity pass to express my gratitude for the work he has consistently done.
Delores Armstrong 1/26/2024 -- Cathleen Finnerty
Delores has been at VCU for over 20 years and has been in the OVPRI for over 2 years as the Assistant Director of Finance and Administration for our Division of Animal Resources. For the past 7 months she accepted the responsibility of serving as the Interim Director of HR for the OVPRI as well as all the duties related to her permanent position. Her dedication and expertise supported the entire OVPRI with superb HR and finance guidance while the office recruited for a permanent HR Director. Her leadership and attention to detail have been instrumental in keeping our HR and Finance responsibilities on task. Delores, I and our HR team appreciate the time an effort you’ve taken to support our progress and growth. Personally, I can’t thank you enough for your support during this very busy time. Your numerous contributions to the OVPRI have not gone unnoticed and I want to openly acknowledge your efforts.
Jay Draper 1/25/2024 -- Kim Case
This kudos spans Jay's tireless efforts across fall 2023 and into January 2024. And even though I could only mark "initiative" on this form, Jay also exemplifies integrity, respect, and responsiveness. My gratitude for Jay cannot be stated in words, but I will try. Jay always keeps a positive, can-do attitude no matter how many curve balls and unexpected needs comes his way. Honestly, his role requires flexibility, patience, internal motivation to tackle the huge challenges, and a supportive approach to working with staff and faculty. Jay could not be more perfect for bringing all of those traits and skills to our department, but also just makes everyone feel seen and heard. I always know Jay is working hard behind the scenes to make everyone's work life a little less stressful and more pleasant! Thank you, Jay, for finding a way. And specifically, thank you to Jay for helping move into a new office that will support my work for years to come!
Atlantis Johnson 1/24/2024 -- Carla Dannouf
Atlantis has been an amazing addition to OSP. She is very professional and highly responsive. She articulates all phases of OSP involvement in RAMS-SPOT and is willing to go that extra mile to make sure that the department's needs are met. I just want to take a moment to recognize her level of work and say thank you. We are all in this together and Atlantis makes us feel that way. She has even worked after hours to submit a very important grant for Dr. McKnight and we appreciate it. Everyone at OSP is helpful, but Atlantis is golden!
Jennifer Carleton 1/24/2024 -- Scott Stech
Jennifer recently responded to an immediate organizational need in routing contracts for adjuncts within one of our departments. She was able to quickly prioritize the drafting of the contracts and initiate the hiring process for the department in record timing. Jennifer is a valued member of the team and her responsiveness, attention to detail, and ability to be agile is truly impressive and I'd like to recognize Jennifer for her efforts. Thank you, Jennifer, for all you do for the School of Education!
Christy Farmer 1/4/2024 -- Dana Rajczewski
Christy has been working on a bunch of schedules (often juggling availabilities from committee members and candidates that don't always align), and she is keeping everything organized and clear for everyone involved. I don't know how she does it! In the midst of doing all of this work and working on another large logistical project, she helped me with a large project I was working on and took some of the stress off of my plate. This was a seemingly small task that made a huge difference, and this is very typical of the work that Christy does for so many of us. She's an awesome colleague in Family Medicine!
Ken Simon 1/4/2024 -- Evan French
I've had several interactions with Ken this year and in every one of them, he's been so responsive and helpful. Yesterday morning, my computer refused to let me log in, which prevented me from being able to work. I submitted a ticket and all before lunch, Ken emailed me, tried troubleshooting over a virtual session, and finally fixed the problem with an in-person consultation. I was back to being able to work that afternoon, which was a huge relief. I really appreciate Ken's help getting my issue resolved FAST!
December 2023 Nominees
Alantis Johnson 12/21/2023 -- Jose Alcaine
Huge thank you to Alantis for helping us even when the time was tight, the deadline was looming, and we were pressed to the last minute. We cannot be successful with our grant work if we don’t get those applications in and Alantis was most helpful in getting this US Department of Ed submission over the line. Thank you for your continued support and for supporting the School of Education and the research mission at VCU. We appreciate it.
Sabrina Lumpkin 12/21/2023 -- Jose Alcaine
Special thanks to Sabrina for going the extra mile in helping us submit a grant to the US Department of ED. The application had some technical issues and challenges during the submission process and she was willing to help us at the 12th hour minus minutes. She went beyond the call and we appreciate it. Thank you for all your help in supporting the research mission at VCU. My colleagues and I really appreciate your work and help. Thank you.
Rita Crawford 12/19/2023 -- Michael Kyrychenko
Rita is a lifesaver! I procrastinated on Christmas cards (as usual) and needed to rush over to Scherer Hall in the middle of the day to drop them off before the University closed for break. Rita picked up the phone when I called ahead and we made a plan—she even ran outside and picked them up from my car so that I didn't have to pay for parking. Cards delivered just in time. Next year I will plan ahead so that I don't have to abuse her kindness again, but in the meantime I am very grateful for this holiday hero!
Alexis (Lexi) Jefferson 12/14/2023 -- Kirsty Dixon
Alexis Jefferson (‘Lexi’) consistently performs well above average, going above and beyond what might be expected of her in her normal duties. This has had an extremely positive effect on the successful operation of my team’s studies and I am very grateful that she is on our (collective) team. On every interaction Lexi has been knowledgeable on what needs to occur and when that needs to happen, and has even assisted me with organizing things when I have been less organized than I would like. And she has done this with an outstandingly positive attitude. I cannot stress how much this has contributed to the success of our current studies.
Kenneth (Ken) Simon 12/14/2023 -- Kirsty Dixon
I nominate Ken Simon for outstanding job performance. In general Ken is always extremely responsive to any IT needs that arise and able to handle these situations in a professional and timely manner. Recently there was an unusual incident that required Ken's immediate assistance, for which he jumped right in to troubleshoot and resolve without hesitation, going above and beyond what might be normally expected of him. He should be commended for this. Thank you.
Nicole Nielsen 12/14/2023 -- Kirsty Dixon
I nominate Nicole Nielsen as an outstanding employee. This is not just for any one single incident but because of her desire to want to provide the best possible service possible every single day. Nicole shows initiative to get the things done that need to get done on a daily basis, has integrity to want to do those tasks at the highest quality possible, and respects those around her while achieving this level of greatness. Nicole is also quite literally the fastest of anyone to respond to and assist with, requests from faculty she works with, no matter the size of the issue. And did I mention both her competence and being a team player yet? Well I should have because these are possibly Nicole's biggest strengths. Her ability to competently manage requests from those faculty she works with even when there are looming deadlines. But she works hard to successfully help push the team forward. She needs to be commended on her outstanding performance.
Amanda Jabri 12/14/2023 -- Kirsty Dixon
I nominate Amanda Jabri for her outstanding job performance throughout the duration of her employment. Amanda routinely manages difficult situations with respect, integrity and apparent ease (I do not know how she makes things look easy and effortless even when they are clearly not). She should be commended for her unwavering positive attitude, commitment to her duties, and the respect and compassion that she shows all individuals around her. Thank you.
November 2023 Nominees
George Artis 11/21/2023 -- Shanea Raj
George provided exceptional customer service and responsiveness by working tirelessly to ensure that my PC would run the file needed to complete a key business process. Throughout the entire process, George remained upbeat and patient as he worked to find a solution. Thank you, George, for going above and beyond.
Ian McCoy 11/9/2023 -- Eliza Robinson
EMC was trying to purchase an app for our Social Media team's iPhone, and after looking into using a VCU P-Card for the purchase but being advised we couldn't leave a card on file within an iCloud account, I submitted a ticket to desktopit@vcu.edu asking for advice. Ian quickly replied, saying Tech Services could purchase the app through Apple School Manager, port the app over to EMC's iPhone then bill EMC using a JV in Banner. It was an efficient solution to what seemed to be a complicated request. Ian always goes above and beyond to provide EMC quick, exceptional service and we're thankful for him!
Barbara Payne 11/8/2023 -- Modestine Carter
Barbara reached out to the Travel team with an encumbrance question. Due to her inquiry we discovered an issue that had been impacting the posting of Travel encumbrances for 2 months. It had gone undiscovered because Travel was receiving the daily Encumbrance Reports. However, only the liquidations were posting to Banner. As we worked to resolve the matter, Barbara was kind enough to work with us through this process, confirming the posting of data, etc. She was very understanding and her due diligence really helped us. We are now putting into place some type of notification method with IT support to prevent this from occurring again.
Taryn Traylor 11/6/2023 -- Jenna Lenhardt
Taryn and I have been working closely on a project for the past few months and her initiative and responsiveness to the needs of our community partners is inspiring. Taryn knows her stuff and she is always ready with a helpful hand and creative ideas on how to best serve our education colleagues across Virginia. She physically took handouts to districts across Virginia over the past few weeks, chatting with partners, and spreading the word by utilizing and leveraging her robust network of colleagues. This type of hands-on and time consuming work is essential to the growth of our academic programs, and Taryn has gone above and beyond to support our academic programs. I have learned a great deal from Taryn and I look forward to continuing to collaborate and build more resources for special education teachers!
October 2023 Nominees
Tanya Smith 10/31/2023 -- Keyetta Tate
Tanya always goes above and beyond to get the job done. I email her often and she is always helpful and responds quickly. I just wanted to take a moment to let her know she is appreciated.
Danny Habura 10/31/2023 -- Ellie Meyer
The new math exchange's projectors have had quite a bit of difficulty functioning to their full ability. Danny has been a truly amazing contact for assistance. As soon as there is an issue reported he responds, makes a physical visit to inspect the space. Treats all of the faculty and staff with kindness and patiences. He is talented at explaining the issues, the next steps, and communicating timelines. The instructors of Math 151 feel a great sense of gratitude for such an effective and pleasant team member.
Sanjur Brooks 10/30/2023 -- Lisa Ballance
At the early hour of 6:45 a.m., Sandy Brooks arrived for a meeting to talk about the VCU Human Research Protection Program Transformation with clinical chairpersons. After a brief kick-off and introduction, she demonstrated impressive value-driven leadership. Specifically, I would like to express my appreciation for how clearly Sandy conveyed a message of quality improvement as the goal, specifically in alignment with our values:
COLLABORATION - Foster respect, collegiality, and cooperation to advance learning, entrepreneurship, and inquiry -- and this is how you really made a difference - being personally committed and available. SERVICE - Engage in the application of learning and discovery to improve the human condition and support the public good at home and abroad -- and you served well by empathizing and sharing your own impressions of timelines. INTEGRITY - Adhere to the highest standards of honesty, respect, and professional and scholarly ethics. Sometimes this means telling the truth, even when it isn't as planned. Change is hard. But leaning on our shared values and focusing on our commitment to serve game across to those in the meeting with the perfect mixture of boldness and grace. While you have a great team supporting this transformation, you are typically the one answering the hard questions. Thank you!
Jamie Simmons 10/27/2023 -- Sania Marcoccia
Jamie Simmons ALWAYS goes the extra mile. She always 100% professional even when your own mistakes or mistakes made by your department make her job harder or more stressful. She never passes judgement or complains, she simply gets it done and regardless of business hours. She is always helpful and shares her knowledge. I appreciate Jamie so very very much.
Sania Marcoccia 10/25/2023 -- Em Griffith
I'd like to convey my deep appreciation to Sania for her unwavering kindness, prompt responsiveness, and remarkable commitment to supporting her colleagues. Her exceptional assistance and guidance, most recently, in aiding my understanding of VCU's new travel booking process, have been indispensable. The work Sania does is truly remarkable!
Ziaire Prevard 10/24/2023 -- Isaiah Moore
Ziaire has been nothing less than professional in my interaction with him concerning the ElevatED LLC. He is always punctual for meetings and last meeting remembered to set the room up for game night. He took all of the responsibility on himself and made the program a success. He is definitely one who can be depended on. His early success is made even more astounding by the fact that he is new to campus and is still becoming acclimated to the environment. He is a great representation of VCU housing. Kudos to him!
Amber Jackson 10/18/2023 -- Dana Rajczewski
I'm so glad that Amber is a member of our department! She is our HR Coordinator and she works hard to make everyone - potential and current employees alike - feel welcomed and heard. She is extremely responsive, and she won't stop working on a task until each person involved has a workable solution. She's been a huge part of ongoing recruitment in our department, and I know this goes a long way to making candidates feel comfortable during the whole process; she serves as a central contact for them and goes out of her way to make the process as smooth as possible. Thank you, Amber!
James Henderson 10/18/2023 -- Rochelle Jordan
James was instrumental in implementing a solution for process improvement in my unit. He provided information on API integration, answered the many questions that I had, and was responsive to my needs. I appreciated his input and suggestions.
Eric Doersch 10/18/2023 -- Rochelle Jordan
Eric was instrumental in providing a solution for process improvement in my unit. He provided information, answered the many questions that I asked, and was quick to suggest alternatives to meet my needs. Eric is always willing to talk things through and assist me with implementing the best solution possible.
Dorothy Walsh 10/17/2023 -- Carla Dannouf
Dottie supports CTL and the residents. Her commitment to the work, her ethics, and willingness to do whatever it takes to get the work done is exceptional. She is a team-player with all who come into contact with her. Her integrity provides a level of sureness to the CTL department. She is rapidly responsive in all that she does.
William Crehore 10/13/2023 -- Rochelle Jordan
Will has been exceptionally helpful in assisting me with endpoint computing needs. His guidance on MACs/JAMF has helped reduce my stress level for having to learn a new set of skills. His responsiveness and time extended to my requests are greatly appreciated especially knowing that he has an extremely busy workload.
William Crehore 10/11/2023 -- Travis Greene
Will recently stepped into the role of macOS System Administrator at VCU, assuming a critical position that was previously held by a long-term veteran in the field. As is often the case with established IT roles, Will had substantial shoes to fill right from the start. Not long into his tenure, our campus experienced a significant outage affecting all Apple-managed devices. This disruption could have been catastrophic, but Will instantly took control of the situation. He collaborated diligently with various internal and external partners, navigating through complex challenges to restore stability to our Apple device environment. However, Will's commitment didn't stop at merely resolving the issue at hand. Instead, he delved deep into the underlying causes of the outage, asking the essential question: "Why did this happen?" Proactive and foresighted, Will is already devising strategic plans to forestall similar incidents in the future, safeguarding the campus from potential disruptions. Transitioning into a new role is invariably challenging, and many individuals might falter when faced with the immediate and daunting responsibilities that Will encountered. Yet, he not only met but surpassed expectations, demonstrating resilience and proactive communication every step of the way. While some organizations tend to minimize communication, Will ensured that the campus community remained informed and updated, sharing crucial information promptly as developments unfolded. Through his exemplary actions and steadfast commitment, Will has assured us all that he is not only the right fit for the role but is also a dependable asset to the VCU community. We can confidently look forward to more of his contributions, secure in the knowledge that our Apple device environment is in capable and caring hands.
Serra De Arment 10/3/2023 -- Jenna Lenhardt
Serra is the picture you see when you look up "teamwork" and "collaboration". She is responsive and supportive of new ideas and making things happen to support student success. When I am trying to connect the dots and figure out a way to solve a complex problem, Serra is there with ideas, good questions and a positive perspective that helps see the opportunities in the challenges. We have a million moving parts in supporting a ton of new initiatives all at once in an environment where everything feels urgent and the top priority. I feel lucky to work with a responsive and thoughtful colleague like Serra.
September 2023 Nominees
Patricia Shazer & Valerie Washington 9/29/2023 -- Eliza Robinson
Last week, EMC was made aware of three overdue vendor invoice payments. Although receipts had been created for these invoices in early August, due to a system error during import, the invoices were not properly matching in Realsource and payments were not issued. Monica Jackson suggested I reach out to Valerie Washington and Patricia Shazer for assistance. Valerie and Patricia both quickly jumped in, reviewing the PO, receipts and invoices, and made the updates needed to allow the payments to be processed and included in the next upcoming check run. I'm so grateful for their responsiveness and attention to detail which allowed EMC to reassure the vendor the overdue payments were now in process. A big thank you to them both!
Cathleen Finnerty 9/28/2023 -- Brandon Seigel
Cathleen has been such a rockstar since Day 1 in my new role. She has been the most reliable and responsive point of contact for any form of support, help, or guidance and is incredibly kind and understanding in her communication with others. She frequently checks in to make sure I have all of the resources necessary to succeed in my role and is quick to respond to any inquiry with substantive, meaningful information. Not only is Cathleen a great HRA, she is a great role model for emotional intelligence in the workplace and deserves all of the recognition she can get. Thank you Cathleen!
Nina Exner 9/28/2023 -- Roy Brown
I meant to do this several weeks ago, but this thank you is in reference to several things Nina has done over the past several months. This year, I have been the chair of the VCU Libraries Peer Review Committee and have aimed to improve the process for those who apply. While I talked to members of the committee, Nina has always made herself available to help me think through and understand the benefits and drawbacks of anything that the committee decided to do. Her counsel has been invaluable and something that I have really appreciated. Over the past several weeks, VCU Libraries has also had several candidates come to campus for interviews. As part of these interviews, the candidates meet with a member of the VCU Libraries Peer Review Committee to gain an understanding of the promotion process. Because of some family emergencies and other circumstances, there were times when a member of the committee could not meet with a candidate. In those instances, Nina never hesitated to step in and fill in as a part member of the committee to meet with the candidate. I just wanted to thank Nina for being such a great colleague and helping out in a pinch. Thank You!
Megan Holt-Smith 9/25/2023 -- Sara Rafuse
We had a student crying in the lobby of the CLC and Megan not only took the initiative to bring her to her office and help get her calmed down, but also build a genuine and caring relationship with the student. Over the course of an hour I listened to their interaction build from wanting to drop out of college to putting together an action plan for the German course that was giving the student anxiety. Megan did not HAVE to meet with the student, but she took it upon herself to be responsive to this student and their needs. She continues to go above and beyond with care and compassion.
Virginia Damron 9/21/2023 -- Samara Reynolds
Virginia joined the VCU Career Services team less than a month ago and has already had a positive impact on the lives of her colleagues and our students. With a number of staff members currently out on both planned and unplanned leave, we have put out a number of internal requests for support and Virginia has since stepped up to deliver a unique presentation, help staff a career fair, substitute teach in one of our career courses, represent our team on committees, and more. Virginia genuinely cares about her colleagues and the student experience, and when she becomes aware of an opportunity to fill a gap or make someone's load easier to carry, she raises her hand to volunteer. I have enjoyed working with Virginia as a colleague for a few years now (when she was in other departments at VCU), but having her on my team has been a true blessing during this busy season, and we are lucky to have her here. A heartfelt thank you to Virginia for her kind, positive, helpful approach to our work and for bringing her energy and experience to our team at VCS.
Hayley Darwin 9/21/2023 -- Erin Nocon
Hayley joined our team when we had been without procurement and finance help for several months. In the short time that she has been with us, she has brought all of our outstanding orders up to date and helped me clean up the department reconciliations. She is always pleasant to deal with and so many staff members have mentioned to me how glad they are to have her on board.
Hillary Parkhouse 9/14/2023 -- Tomika Ferguson
Over the last 3-4 weeks, Dr. Hillary Parkhouse has assumed chair level duties in the absence of the interim department chair. Working with her on time sensitive issues and complicated university requests may not not have been easier for her to balance. However, Hillary has been incredibly responsive, highly efficient, a great team player, and has done this without complaint. Her willingness to jump right in and be a great leader has been much appreciated. I am grateful to have her as my colleague in the School of Education! She is an incredible asset to VCU.
Bob Young 9/11/2023 -- Dana Rajczewski
Bob has been in our department for a year, and he is absolutely awesome to work with! He is a great leader for our administrative team, and he is extremely responsive to any of our questions, suggestions, etc. He is very encouraging of us all to work together to come up with solutions to any issues we may have. He has a really positive attitude, and that makes some of the tasks that seem insurmountable significantly easier to tackle. Thank you, Bob!
Polly Roberts 9/8/2023 -- Dana Rajczewski
Our department has been working with Polly on a pilot newsletter project, and to say that she has been helpful is an absolute understatement! She is very organized, and she is helping me to stay organized and on-target as well, and she does all of this with patience, kindness, and expertise. Any time I've had questions, she has been ready to answer, either via email or by hopping on a Zoom call, and this project would not be possible without her guidance. She has a way of making things that seem intimidating much more doable, and I can't thank her enough for all of her help. I'm enjoying learning more about communications work as well, and she's been instrumental in that learning process. Thank you so much, Polly!
Kathryn Wright 9/1/2023 -- Javeria Kazi
Kathryn exemplifies premier customer service and responsiveness. Late on a Friday evening before a long weekend, Kathryn helped troubleshoot an urgent issue and all with a smile. She was pleasant to interact with and went above and beyond for our team. We are grateful for her assistance, partnership and expediency in this instance and on a regular basis.
August 2023 Nominees
Em Griffith 8/31/2023 -- Nominated by Sandra Mazzoli
In Em's current role supporting the Dept. of Teaching and Learning , they have been instrumental in ensuring requests for late registration are processed in a timely fashion. This responsiveness ensures our students are not negatively impacted. Em is a consummate professional, always ready to learn new tasks and ask questions when clarification is needed. They are a wonderful teammate and colleague!
Jessica Watson 8/17/2023 -- Nominated by Stephanie Tignor
I would like to recognize Jessica Watson for her excellent work coordinating and leading VCU's International Student Orientation yesterday. She stepped up during a time of need and took initiative to plan a very complex, important event for new international students to the university. It was an incredible all-hands-on-deck team effort that went incredibly smoothly thanks to her hard work-- well done, Jessica!
Cameron Delarosa 8/17/2023 -- Nominated by Stephanie Tignor
I am writing to share my sincere appreciation for the great work that Cameron Delarosa has done to create a welcome guide for international students living in WGN. Cameron identified a need among international students and visitors who reside in West Grace North to receive helpful information tailored to their unique needs upon arrival in the dormitory. He took initiative and in a month's time he coordinated with colleagues in OMSA and GEO to create a beautiful, thoughtfully designed booklet that was printed and distributed to the international students who are living in the building. I saw a copy of the guide today and was extremely impressed with the end product as well as how Cameron worked collaboratively with colleagues in Student Affairs and GEO to bring his idea to life. He should be commended for taking this initiative, and working so quickly and collaboratively to see his idea come to fruition! We would love to take this idea campus-wide!
Scott Stech 8/17/2023 -- Nominated by Jenna Lenhardt
Scott regularly goes above and beyond in initiative, integrity, respect and responsiveness. Today was similar to many other days in my experience with Scott. He listened, reflected, and showed an endless amount of respect and dignity to me when sharing concerns and ideas. He has been an incredibly positive, proactive, and supportive sounding board and thought partner when managing an increasingly challenging recruitment market. He shares ideas, asks critical questions, and I trust that he drives positive change for SOE. I am thankful for him as a colleague and appreciate all that he brings to our school and me professionally. Thank you, Scott!
Michael Lay 8/1/2023 -- Nominated by Angie Wetzel
Mike has so much on his plate with our small but mighty communications team. Recently, we asked for his help in updating our website on a fairly tight timeline to accommodate some upcoming meetings that would be using information from our site. Mike worked tirelessly, above and beyond, to get it updated and responded to our tweaks very quickly. I know he had many other things to do, but I appreciate his responsiveness in helping us have our information up to date to serve our school.
Sherrie Dabney-Washington 8/1/2023 -- Emily Olszewski
Sherrie has consistently gone above and beyond her designated role, proactively seeking out opportunities to improve daily processes and maintain efficiency while assisting both VCU's IRB and IACUC offices. She has incredible ability to identify areas that require attention and then takes the lead in proposing and implementing innovative solutions that has had significant impacts on the OVPRI's productivity and success. Sherrie doesn't wait for instructions; she actively takes on various responsibilities for both departments and takes the initiative to tackle them head-on. Her willingness to take on additional responsibilities and support her colleagues without hesitation demonstrates her exceptional dedication and selflessness. Moreover, Sherrie has been a driving force behind several successful inspections and events, showcasing her leadership qualities and ability to adapt to novel situations. Her commitment to the continuous improvement of our department here at VCU and her eagerness to learn and grow make her a valuable asset to OVPRI and VCU as a whole.
July 2023 Nominees
Jennifer Tennison 7/17/2023 -- Nominated by Angie Wetzel
Jennifer Tennison demonstrates initiative and motivation for learning and growth consistently in her role with the Office of Data Analytics. Jen took a leadership role in making the dashboards we use to display admissions, enrollment, and student success outcomes infinitely better. Jen identified challenges with our existing dashboards, in terms of display, end-user experience, and efficiencies. She researched and self-taught features and tools in SAS Visual Analytics to bring new layouts and designs to the dashboards. She also is working with our stakeholders to get feedback and continue to ensure the best design for their needs. All of her efforts resulted in much improved analytics from our office. I am excited to see how these better serve our faculty, staff, and leaders in planning and decision making.
Cathleen Finnerty 7/14/2023 -- Nominated by Elizabeth Fortune
I would like to recognize Cathleen Finnerty (and the entire the VPR HR team for that matter) who stepped up to the plate to assist us with our HR and staffing needs during a period in which our HR generalist position was vacant. Ms. Finnerty took on a large workload of multiple HR functions - ranging from start to finish staff recruitments, graduate student reappointments, affiliate faculty renewals, and other related tasks for our two busy research centers. Ms. Finnerty is always helpful, responsive, resourceful, and demonstrates that she is truly invested in the success of our department. I value her as a colleague and a new friend. I look forward to our continued association.
Katie Cappuccio 7/12/2023 -- Nominated by Samara Reynolds
Katie wears multiple hats and supports our department in many ways as a financial specialist for the SEMSS Division and has been a joy to work with ever since VCU Career Services joined SEMSS. This particular recognition note is regarding how Katie helped our unit, along with Student Financial Services and VCU REAL, to successfully apply for a SCHEV grant this week focused on Transforming Federal Work-Study, which could bring $100K to the University in support of student success and experiential learning. As we began drafting our grant proposal earlier this summer, Katie reached out to offer support and expertise in working with the Office of Sponsored Programs and the RAM Spot system to formally submit our proposal through the proper VCU channels and on to the funding agency. This was my first time serving as primary PI on a grant at VCU, so much of the process was new to me, but Katie provided insight, leadership, and thoughtful guidance, using her keen relationship building skills and attention to detail to make things easy on me and my fellow PI's, while ensuring that our grant proposal was submitted correctly and on-time so we could meet the SCHEV deadline this week. We couldn't have done it without her, and I am very grateful for her dedication to this project, setting us all up for success. I want to send a special thank you to Katie for all she does, but especially for the major part she played in VCU being able to submit our grant proposal for this important effort.
Cheyanne Ferrell 7/5/2023 -- Nominated by Allissa Wolf
This PCT always goes above and beyond for me even when they have other responsibilities to attend to. She does things without me even asking her to, and has been more helpful than any care partner I have ever worked with in my career with 3 different hospitals. She is about to graduate nursing school and she is going to make an absolute amazing nurse and this hospital is lucky to have her. Families and patients already love her and I know they are so lucky to have her!
Alaina Patterson 7/5/2023 -- Nominated by Allissa Wolf
Alaina is an absolutely amazing nurse and I have worked with her multiple times and have noticed how great she is. The compassion she has for these patients and their families is amazing. She cares so much and I can tell how thoughtful she is in her care. Families and this hospital are so very lucky to have such a thoughtful and careful nurse!
Sabrina Evans 7/6/2023 -- Nominated by Jenna Lenhardt
Throughout the past year of working with Sabrina, I have learned a great deal about the challenges facing teachers in our highest needs schools. Her passion for community and the work of education is inspiring and it engages others in the work in a way they feel seen and heard. Sabrina has an incredible amount of integrity in all that she does. She leads with care, compassion and creativity and I am lucky to have the opportunity to work with her. Go Sabrina!
June 2023 Nominees
Amber Paulus 6/29/2023 -- Nominated by Shelley Conroy
Since joining the School of Nursing, Amber has taken consistent initiative across the university tripartite mission. While only one 'recognition characteristic" can be selected, Amber also consistently exhibits the others- integrity, respect and responsiveness. As PhD Program Director, I can say that Amber has without fail responds to every request sent to her- recruiting students, participating in PhD applicant interviews, sharing her expertise and experiences with PhD students during immersions as well as working to engage them in research, updating our courses in alignment with the AACN recommendations, and working with us to strengthen and streamline our On Campus Immersions. As a graduate of our program, she has valuable insights with regard to what works, what doesn't and she brings unique, inspired ideas and solutions to improve our program. Each of these activities serves to make our program the best it can be. I am most grateful to have Amber in our community.
May 2023 Nominees
Talia Anderson 5/1/2023 -- Nominated by Sandra Mazzoli
The School of Education has a number of Summer 2023 admissions submitted this week. Talia has been wonderful about uploading documents that were received after submission of said applications. I truly appreciate her responsiveness and professionalism while we work to get these students admissions applications processed in a timely fashion.
Mariah Taghavie-Moghadam 5/16/2023 -- Nominated by Maryanna Stufflebeem
Mariah and Em initiated the proposal for the reorganization of support staff roles within the School of Ed and put in a lot of work to coordinate efforts and make the presentation as good as it could be. I'm grateful for their leadership!
April 2023 Nominees
Candice Tam 4/11/2023 -- Nominated by Sania Marcoccia
Candice Tam is discerning, insightful and well-informed which is why I tend to lean on her with questions, ideas and perspectives. She is ALWAYS gracious with her time and consideration. She is huge asset to VCU and GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for all that you do Candice!
Lora Bailey 4/12/2023 -- Nominated by Kim McKnight
I am writing to recognize the contributions of Dr. Lora Bailey. She has made many contributions since joining the School of Education. There is so much to navigate when it comes to licensure and accreditation and her leadership has supported the successful submission of apprenticeship grants, Surry RTR expansion, and all Masters of Teaching-Elementary Education program change documents, including the construction of all syllabi, matrices, and program rationale and narrative requirements.
Your commitment to igniting student success through curricular innovation is evident in the quality of work that you have produced. Your efforts to transform the curriculum so that more students engage in inquiry and experiential learning to prepare them for the future of work are truly inspiring. Additionally, your focus on care and responsiveness is commendable.
I would also like to acknowledge your dedication to retaining and attracting a diverse community of highly qualified educators that reflects a culture where everyone matters and belongs. Your commitment to ensuring that students have high quality teachers is essential for building a thriving community. Once again, thank you for your help and support. Your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated.
Krista Scoggins 4/19/2023 -- Nominated by Katherine Atran
Krista Scoggins has been the most helpful and biggest support to DAR Veterinary Service program. She has been going above and beyond her duties since I've started in DAR to support all her colleagues as well as maintaining her own duties as the clinical veterinarian. She is innovative, encouraging, respectful, professional, and above all compassionate with both animals and humans. The animals at VCU and the staff would not have succeeded without her support and care. She is one of the amazing people that makes VCU a Great Place to Work.
Jada Wright 4/26/2023 -- Nominated by Angie Wetzel
Recently, a conflict came up that prevented me from attending and presenting at a scheduled meeting of our undergraduate recruitment team. It was a very last minute change to the planned agenda. Jada Wright jumped right in, with no hesitation, offering to stand in for me and present the prepared summary. I appreciated her willingness to pinch hit, her understanding of me, and her initiative to keep the momentum moving to ensure data review and use in our recruitment and admissions. THANK YOU JADA! I appreciate you so much!
Holly Monger 4/26/2023 -- Nominated by Elise Nicewick
Holly Monger has been extremely integral in quick reaction and training new Health System members as well as quickly volunteering to come to fit testing events to help out when she can. She also stayed late to help out.
Suzanna Levey 4/26/2023 -- Nominated by Felicia Harris
Suzanna has gone above and beyond to assist her new team members with pre-award duties. Recently, there were a lot of NIJ grant proposal submissions going in with dual deadlines which complicated the process. Not only did Suzanna schedule multiple meetings with her new team members to show them the process, she continued to check in with them to stay on top of the deadlines and guided them on what to do for the next steps. She also assisted when some of her team members had issues with the web based sponsor portal. Suzanna even took the initiative when a PI didn't route their proposal in enough time to meet the grants.gov deadline for her NIJ proposal; Suzanna suggested to the PI to rework their proposal and submit to a similar grant announcement. Suzanna's quick thinking averted a potential dire situation. Her hard work and expertise not only makes her an asset to the CHS-SPO team, but to CHS as a whole. Thank you, Suzanna, for all that you do!!! The team is extremely grateful to have you!!! Keep up the good work!
2023 Recognitions
Felicia Harris 1/2/2023 -- Nominated by Elizabeth Fortune
Over the winter break, our primary federal sponsor submitted a request for documentation with a nearly impossible deadline. Ms. Harris was able to actively manage the JIT process in an organized and effective manner, working work effectively with Office of Sponsored Programs Special Teams, SOM Research Administration and all the named key faculty participants throughout the process, all while keeping the Principal Investigator and me fully informed. With her help and unwavering commitment, we were able to make that deadline, which will hopefully secure the next stage of grant funding for our Center.
Diane Bowman 1/10/2023 -- Nominated by Chuck Alexander
Diane sets the example for responsive and respectful administration, especially at the beginning and end of each semester. Her patience with multiple demands for course registration is unparalleled and I am so grateful and privileged to work with her. When I commit an oversight with course registration, she helps fix the issue in a timely manner. Ultimately, her acumen helps me deliver the best possible course content for our learners, enriching their learning experience. Diane deserves to be recognized for her hard work.
Andy Kollmer 1/10/2023 -- Nominated by Rochelle Jordan
I reached out to Andy for guidance on the purchase and set up of an Apple computer for a faculty member transitioning from his unit (school of Business) to mine (Graduate School). Dealing with Apple computers was new to me and Andy went above and beyond to walk me through the basics. He provided product information and specifications so that I could recreate a similar computer set up for our interim dean. Andy's responsiveness and thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated and helped me navigate an area that I was unfamiliar with.
Sonja Johnson-Blaziak 1/13/2022 -- Nominated by Chuck Alexander
Sonja sets the example for responsive and respectful administration, especially at the beginning and end of each semester. Their patience with multiple demands for course registration is unparalleled and I am so grateful and privileged to work with them. Ultimately, her acumen helps me deliver the best possible course content for our learners, enriching their learning experience. Sonja deserves to be recognized for her hard work in service to our learners.
Evan French 1/14/2023 -- Nominated by Alex Krist
Evan has taken over providing data analyses of the All-Payer Claims Database for researchers at VCU. We have long had a backlog of requests and not been able to provide the data needed in a timely manner to research. Evan has done an amazing job of learning to do APCD queries. He is amazingly responsive and able to deliver accurate and complete data in a timely manner that is super responsive to requests. Evan is leading and coordinating others in doing this work. He is an invaluable team member and resource for the Wright Center, VCU, and our broad public health efforts. His work is making a difference and helping many people.
Gaby Villalobos 1/16/2023 -- Nominated by Alex Krist
For the past three years, Gaby has led a statewide initiative to provide primary care practices facilitation and support for screening and counseling for unhealthy alcohol use. This study started with the pandemic, which made this a tremendously difficult task. Gaby successfully recruited 60% to 300% more practices than the other 5 national grantees also funded to do this work. We just submitted a paper to JCATS on how the recruitment strategy we used created an equitable and inclusive study population and highlighted how innovative our approach and methodology was. These successes are due to Gaby's hard work, responsiveness, and persistence. She is a critical team member and we could not do the work we do without Gaby.
Felicia Harris 1/25/2023 -- Nominated by Amanda Kain
Felicia, my current supervisor, has taken a new position within another department at VCU. In her last couple weeks with us, she has worked diligently to make sure her team is left with all knowledge necessary to fill in the gaps once she is gone. This includes working overtime, after hours, to put together a list of duties for us all moving forward so we know exactly what will be expected. Felicia has been meeting with us, almost daily, to teach us what we need to know and to make sure we are comfortable with the additions to our current job duties. Not only has she been meeting with us one on one, but she has taken us under her wings to other meetings so we can get a glimpse of how things will work when she is gone. Felicia has left no stone unturned in getting us prepared. She has gone above and beyond to make sure we feel valued, even as she prepares to take on a bigger role herself. Personally, I would not be where I am today without Felicia's guidance and persistence in getting the best out of me.
Caimdyn Stewart 1/26/2023 -- Nominated by Donte Sharpe
I would like to recognize Caimdyn Stewart for being an incredible colleague in the School of Education. Caimdyn is not only knowledgeable when it comes to advising, but is also patient. She takes time to listen and support our students, as well as our team. She is always solution-focused and will take time to explain so we understand. I appreciate Caimdyn for the incredible work she has done and continues to do for our students and for our team.
Sandra Mazzoli 1/26/2023 -- Nominated by Donte Sharpe
I would like to recognize Sandra for being incredible and for her supporting our graduate students in the School of Education. Sandra not only has taken the time to answer any questions I may have regarding graduate student processes, but also help to walk me through those processes. I am fortunate to call Sandra a colleague and want to thank her for all of her help.
Tré Straughter 1/26/2023 -- Nominated by Donte Sharpe
I would like to recognize Tré Straughter for being an incredible person who is a true advocate for our students. I have had the honor of working alongside Tré for years in the Student Commons. He has always been not only supportive of the work I did with student organizations, but has always been and continues to be a listening ear for our students and others. Tré makes every role better and brings creativity to any team that is fortunate to have him as a part of. Tré, thank you for your continued contributions to student success.
Diane Bowman 1/27/2023 -- Nominated by Sonja M. Johnson-Blaziak
Diane continually provides excellent support to the School of Pharmacy - Admissions Office. I rely on her every semester to facilitate and troubleshoot PharmD student record issues; in addition to partnering with me to make sure our students are registered each semester. I know when I send a request to Diane, it will be handled in a timely and efficient manner. She is an asset to the VCU Community and in particular Records & Registration. Her overall value to the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success is immeasurable.
Joshua Young 2/1/2023 -- Nominated by Sonja M. Johnson-Blaziak
Joshua provided excellent IT support with VPN installation problem on my MacBook. Joshua has a relaxed and calm manner while he works. He systematically worked through various steps until he successfully resolved the issue. He's a great addition to Technology Services and deserves recognition.
Janet Taylor 3/1/2023 -- Nominated by Jacqueline C Glover
I would like to recognize Janet Taylor for her great customer service. She answered the telephone call with a pleasant attitude, and providing knowledgeable and resourceful resources. Janet demonstrated active listening skills and took the time to resolve my issue in a timely manner. She is definitely an asset to your department.
Angie Wetzel 3/1/2023 -- Nominated by Kathleen Rudasill
Angie is an unfailingly responsive, thorough, and detail-oriented colleague. She explains complex information to others in a clear and concise way, and always makes sure that she makes time to do so. She feels very passionately about making time for helping others understand data, and when they have questions, she does deep dives to get the answers (and often more). I rely on Angie to provide accurate, clear, and concise information about many of the data-related aspects of our school, and she consistently does so in a timely manner.
Jamie Bittner 3/3/2023 -- Nominated by Kathleen Rudasill
Jamie Bittner is incredibly organized, responsive, and detail-oriented. She figures out solutions to complex problems, organizes her time efficiently, checks in to provide updates, and always provides top notch results. Most recently, I asked Jamie to provide a comparison analysis of two long and complicated promotion and tenure documents. She needed very little guidance and completed the task, along with many other tasks on her plate, in a week.
Jenna Lenhardt 3/3/2023 -- Nominated by Angie Wetzel
Jenna recently developed a new model to promote student participation in our incoming student surveys that we use in the School of Education to evaluate our admissions process and experience. Utilizing new software, she implemented a communications plan that promoted participation while offering education to our students on why we do surveys in the SOE to continuously improve our programs. Her work inspired us to try a similar approach for other surveys we do in an effort to ensure a robust and representative response. Jenna is a great colleague, always looking for ways to partner and innovate. I appreciate how she always pushing us to new and better places.
Jennifer Cousins 3/6/2023 -- Nominated by Jenna Lenhardt
Jennifer has taken on such incredible initiative in the School's time of transition and change. She has served multiple roles while onboarding, training, and supporting multiple departments with a colleague out for extended periods of time. With all of this responsibility, Jennifer is constantly interested in learning, kind, and puts students first in all that she does. I look forward to opportunities to work with her and I hope she knows how much she is appreciated in the School. Sometimes it can be hard during the busy times of year to see one's impact, so I wanted to send a quick shout out to let Jennifer know that the work she does for students, faculty and our leadership makes a huge difference. Thank you!
Danielle Cosby 3/8/2023 -- Nominated by Scott Stech
Danielle has done an excellent job coordinating Holmes Scholar travel and has been very diligent in her submissions of pre-approvals and expense reports for our students. I can be confident that when Danielle is submitting a travel request, receipts, per diems, and folios are uploaded correctly and all travel policies are adhered to. Her attention to proper procedure is valued and much appreciated - Thank you Danielle!
Jenna Lenhardt 3/3/2023 -- Nominated by Angie Wetzel
Jenna recently developed a new model to promote student participation in our incoming student surveys that we use in the School of Education to evaluate our admissions process and experience. Utilizing new software, she implemented a communications plan that promoted participation while offering education to our students on why we do surveys in the SOE to continuously improve our programs. Her work inspired us to try a similar approach for other surveys we do in an effort to ensure a robust and representative response. Jenna is a great colleague, always looking for ways to partner and innovate. I appreciate how she always pushing us to new and better places.
Jason Farrow 3/9/2023 -- Nominated by Shola kayode
I am recognizing Ofc Farrow for 10 years of dedicated service. Officer Farrow continues to be a leader within the ranks and he continues to provide excellent service to VCU community.
Laura Domalik 3/13/2023 -- Nominated by Whitney Newcomb
I would like to recognize Dr. Laura Domalik for 25 years of service to VCU! Congratulations and THANK YOU for your dedication to education!
Misti Mueller 3/16/2023 -- Nominated by Whitney Newcomb
I would like to recognize Misti for 10 years of service and dedication to T&L and the field of education as a whole. Congratulations on this milestone! Thank you for all you do!
Katherine Dabney 3/13/2023 -- Nominated by Whitney Newcomb
I would like to recognize Dr. Katherine Dabney for 10 years of service to T&L and to the field of education as a whole. Thank you, Katherine, for your dedication. Congratulations on this milestone!
Jon Becker 3/13/2023 -- Nominated by Whitney Newcomb
I would like to recognize Dr. Jon Becker for 15 years of service to the university! Congratulations on achieving this milestone and that you for your dedication and service to EDLP, VCU and the SOE!
Jeff Wilson 3/13/2023 -- Nominated by Whitney Newcomb
I would like to recognize Dr. Jeff Wilson for five years of service to VCU! Congratulations on this milestone! Thank you for your dedication and service to EDLP, VCU, and the SOE!
Charol Shakeshaft 3/13/2023 -- Nominated by Whitney Newcomb
I would like to thank Dr. Charol Shakeshaft for 15 years of service to VCU! Thank you for your dedication and service to EDLP, the SOE, and to VCU! Congratulations on this milestone!
Tomika Ferguson 3/13/2023 -- Nominated by Whitney Newcomb
I'd like to recognize Dr. Tomika Ferguson for 5 years of service to the university. Thank you for your dedication and service to EDLP, the SOE, and to VCU! Congratulations on this milestone!
David Clowser 3/14/2023 -- Nominated by Al Byers
In Mr. Clowser's role as the building manager for the VCU Research Engineering Building, he was my primary contact for a jointly held Metro Richmond Science and Engineering Fair on March 4, 2023. With 124 individual student projects, that included accompanying parents, adn 65 volunteers and judges, the effort took considerable planning with David and execution for the set-up of the collaboration hub, the judges lounge (off the hub floor), the command center (classroom off the atrium), and the foyer in Snead that served as our registration area and drop off. David was there and voluntarily assisted in helping break down the stored 8 foot wooden tables (which was such a blessing at 6:30 pm on Saturday night!). I was exhausted and when he saw my wife and I moving them, he stepped right in without being asked. He made himself available via his cell phone for any issue that arose, such as access to the classroom schedule when there was a mix-up in when we could use the room. I cannot say enough about the quality of his pleasant demeanor, his professionalism, and helpfulness. The VCU College of Engineering should consider itself fortunate to have a employee of David's leadership and caliber in their employ. It is with my utmost pleasure that I'd like to recognize Mr. David Clowser for his service to the university and our regional science and engineering fair effort.
Jenna Lenhardt 3/17/2023 -- Nominated by Tomika Ferguson
Jenna is celebrating 5 years working in the School of Education. We benefit tremendously from her strategic planning, passion for students and her work, her collaborative nature, and ability to tackle adaptive challenges. Thank you for all that you do and for your commitment to excellence!
Maryanna Stufflebeem 3/16/2023 -- Nominated by Sania Marcoccia
Maryanna is a newer employee. She has been here less than a year, I believe. Not only is she a quick study, she is amazingly responsive, thorough and all around delightful. I am so happy she has joined the VCU School of Education team. Keep up the amazing work you do Maryanna! Thank you!
Sherrie Dabney-Washington 3/20/2023 -- Nominated by Lisa Ballance
Sherrie arrived early to ensure that everything was in place for our site visitors, reviewed the progress of the day, and invited discussion about learning more about program operations under research subjects protection. She is a person of integrity, always pitching in, and easily adapts to new processes and new situations. Thank you, Sherrie!
Sherrie Dabney-Washington 3/20/2023 -- Nominated by Lisa Ballance
Sherrie arrived early to ensure that everything was in place for our site visitors, reviewed the progress of the day, and invited discussion about learning more about program operations under research subjects protection. She is a person of integrity, always pitching in, and easily adapts to new processes and new situations. Thank you, Sherrie!
Jennifer Cousins 3/21/2023 -- Nominated by Maryanna Stufflebeem
Jennifer has been an invaluable resource as a new employee. She's quick to respond to requests for support and has reached out multiple times to make sure I'm feeling comfortable in my new role. I'm very grateful for her help and guidance!
Procurement Services 3/20/2023 -- Nominated by Sania Marcoccia
I could send a recognition form almost each and every day for the work of Procurement Services. From administrative support, purchasing, accounts payable, card services, travel/reimbursements to vendor and contracts management, EVERY encounter that I have with this team is beyond reproach. Supporting the University is a herculean task which is met by each individual in Procurement Services with respect, patience and support. Thank you ALL for working to ensure the cogs of our collective machine are well oiled and running at capacity. My sincere gratitude and appreciation to each and every one in Procurement Services.
Procurement Services 3/20/2023 -- Nominated by Sania Marcoccia
I could send a recognition form almost each and every day for the work of Procurement Services. From administrative support, purchasing, accounts payable, card services, travel/reimbursements to vendor and contracts management, EVERY encounter that I have with this team is beyond reproach. Supporting the University is a herculean task which is met by each individual in Procurement Services with respect, patience and support. Thank you ALL for working to ensure the cogs of our collective machine are well oiled and running at capacity. My sincere gratitude and appreciation to each and every one in Procurement Services.
Charles Johnson 3/22/2023 -- Nominated by Cleopatra Magwaro
Charles has been a youth advocate for may years. In the summer of 2022, the program for the safety and protection of minors transitioned to Equity and Access Services (EAS). Charles has since shown grit and dedication by working diligently in both spaces. This year, Charles has really risen to the challenge and advanced his vision for youth programing both in terms of the opportunities with the Mary and Frances Youth Center and compliance for the protection of all youth who will come into our VCU community for different activities, programs and services. Thank you for your 5 years of service and continuing hard work! Your work has significance and I am excited that you are part of our EAS team!
Eddie Smith 3/24/2023 -- Nominated by Shanea Raj
With sincere gratitude, I'd like to recognize Eddie Smith for always being helpful. I've contacted Eddie on many occasions for assistance with our ECC data files, and he has ALWAYS responded and is willing to help. I appreciate his commitment to helping our team! Thank you, Eddie!
Talicia Tarver 3/28/2023 -- Nominated by Roy Brown
Last week, I had a scheduling issue that did not allow me to teach a webinar. Even though she was not my backup for the webinar when I approached Talicia, she did not hesitate to help me and lead the webinar in my absence. I just wanted to recognize and thank Talicia for helping me out on short notice. She is a great colleague who can be depended on to help fill in when needed. Thanks again...
Joshua Young 2/1/2023 -- Nominated by Sonja M. Johnson-Blaziak
Joshua provided excellent IT support with VPN installation problem on my MacBook. Joshua has a relaxed and calm manner while he works. He systematically worked through various steps until he successfully resolved the issue. He's a great addition to Technology Services and deserves recognition.
Samantha Hope 2/6/2023 -- Nominated by Jenna Lenhardt
Sam and I have been working together almost daily for the last year on new, innovative, and operational items that many would have gotten overwhelmed with. Sam is responsive and works with the highest integrity and initiative. She solves problems not just for the specific issue that may have come up, but thinks about sustainable changes that can support student success beyond the individual situation. She is an incredible thought partner and colleague who I go to when I hit a snag or need ideas on how to move forward. I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to work with Sam and collaborate on programs that make a difference for our community.
Patrick Shi 2/10/2023 -- Nominated by Dr. Mary Harmon
I would like to recognize the excellent work of Patrick Shipy. Patrick (aka Shipy) has and continues to play a key role in developing the pathway to evaluate the feasibility of clinical trials conducted within VCU Health and, in turn, raise the quality of clinical research conducted at VCU and VCU Health. His work is also contributing significantly to instilling efficiencies to the clinical research start-up process and overall compliance of clinical research. He possesses a wealth of knowledge about Redcap and programming, that background work that most people don’t see but is vital for our everyday work, and freely shares it with anyone who asks. He is a pleasure to work with and we could not do what we do without him. Thank you Shipy!
Molly Case 2/16/2023 -- Nominated by Shana Ryman
Molly took over the lead for the Building Manager Awards processes. This is no easy feat and takes a lot of time and attention to detail. I continue to believe this process means a lot and is essential to recognize our Building Managers who keep our campus up and running in so many ways. She even did it with a positive outlook, so I wanted to briefly recognize her too.
Scott Stech 2/26/2023 -- Nominated by Lanee Prentice
Scott demonstrated a high level of responsiveness to the ideas generated in the Town Hall.
Felicia Harris 1/0/2023 -- Nominated by Elizabeth Fortune
Over the winter break, our primary federal sponsor submitted a request for documentation with a nearly impossible deadline. Ms. Harris was able to actively manage the JIT process in an organized and effective manner, working work effectively with Office of Sponsored Programs Special Teams, SOM Research Administration and all the named key faculty participants throughout the process, all while keeping the Principal Investigator and me fully informed. With her help and unwavering commitment, we were able to make that deadline, which will hopefully secure the next stage of grant funding for our Center.
Diane Bowman 1/10/2023 -- Nominated by Chuck Alexander
Diane sets the example for responsive and respectful administration, especially at the beginning and end of each semester. Her patience with multiple demands for course registration is unparalleled and I am so grateful and privileged to work with her. When I commit an oversight with course registration, she helps fix the issue in a timely manner. Ultimately, her acumen helps me deliver the best possible course content for our learners, enriching their learning experience. Diane deserves to be recognized for her hard work.
Andy Kollmer 1/10/2023 -- Nominated by Rochelle Jordan
I reached out to Andy for guidance on the purchase and set up of an Apple computer for a faculty member transitioning from his unit (school of Business) to mine (Graduate School). Dealing with Apple computers was new to me and Andy went above and beyond to walk me through the basics. He provided product information and specifications so that I could recreate a similar computer set up for our interim dean. Andy's responsiveness and thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated and helped me navigate an area that I was unfamiliar with.
Sonja Johnson-Blaziak 1/13/2022 -- Nominated by Chuck Alexander
Sonja sets the example for responsive and respectful administration, especially at the beginning and end of each semester. Their patience with multiple demands for course registration is unparalleled and I am so grateful and privileged to work with them. Ultimately, her acumen helps me deliver the best possible course content for our learners, enriching their learning experience. Sonja deserves to be recognized for her hard work in service to our learners.
Evan French 1/14/2023 -- Nominated by Alex Krist
Evan has taken over providing data analyses of the All-Payer Claims Database for researchers at VCU. We have long had a backlog of requests and not been able to provide the data needed in a timely manner to research. Evan has done an amazing job of learning to do APCD queries. He is amazingly responsive and able to deliver accurate and complete data in a timely manner that is super responsive to requests. Evan is leading and coordinating others in doing this work. He is an invaluable team member and resource for the Wright Center, VCU, and our broad public health efforts. His work is making a difference and helping many people.
Gaby Villalobos 1/16/2023 -- Nominated by Alex Krist
For the past three years, Gaby has led a statewide initiative to provide primary care practices facilitation and support for screening and counseling for unhealthy alcohol use. This study started with the pandemic, which made this a tremendously difficult task. Gaby successfully recruited 60% to 300% more practices than the other 5 national grantees also funded to do this work. We just submitted a paper to JCATS on how the recruitment strategy we used created an equitable and inclusive study population and highlighted how innovative our approach and methodology was. These successes are due to Gaby's hard work, responsiveness, and persistence. She is a critical team member and we could not do the work we do without Gaby.
Felicia Harris 1/25/2023 -- Nominated by Amanda Kain
Felicia, my current supervisor, has taken a new position within another department at VCU. In her last couple weeks with us, she has worked diligently to make sure her team is left with all knowledge necessary to fill in the gaps once she is gone. This includes working overtime, after hours, to put together a list of duties for us all moving forward so we know exactly what will be expected. Felicia has been meeting with us, almost daily, to teach us what we need to know and to make sure we are comfortable with the additions to our current job duties. Not only has she been meeting with us one on one, but she has taken us under her wings to other meetings so we can get a glimpse of how things will work when she is gone. Felicia has left no stone unturned in getting us prepared. She has gone above and beyond to make sure we feel valued, even as she prepares to take on a bigger role herself. Personally, I would not be where I am today without Felicia's guidance and persistence in getting the best out of me.
Caimdyn Stewart 1/26/2023 -- Nominated by Donte Sharpe
I would like to recognize Caimdyn Stewart for being an incredible colleague in the School of Education. Caimdyn is not only knowledgeable when it comes to advising, but is also patient. She takes time to listen and support our students, as well as our team. She is always solution-focused and will take time to explain so we understand. I appreciate Caimdyn for the incredible work she has done and continues to do for our students and for our team.
Sandra Mazzoli 1/26/2023 -- Nominated by Donte Sharpe
I would like to recognize Sandra for being incredible and for her supporting our graduate students in the School of Education. Sandra not only has taken the time to answer any questions I may have regarding graduate student processes, but also help to walk me through those processes. I am fortunate to call Sandra a colleague and want to thank her for all of her help.
Tré Straughter 1/26/2023 -- Nominated by Donte Sharpe
I would like to recognize Tré Straughter for being an incredible person who is a true advocate for our students. I have had the honor of working alongside Tré for years in the Student Commons. He has always been not only supportive of the work I did with student organizations, but has always been and continues to be a listening ear for our students and others. Tré makes every role better and brings creativity to any team that is fortunate to have him as a part of. Tré, thank you for your continued contributions to student success.
Diane Bowman 1/27/2023 -- Nominated by Sonja M. Johnson-Blaziak
Diane continually provides excellent support to the School of Pharmacy - Admissions Office. I rely on her every semester to facilitate and troubleshoot PharmD student record issues; in addition to partnering with me to make sure our students are registered each semester. I know when I send a request to Diane, it will be handled in a timely and efficient manner. She is an asset to the VCU Community and in particular Records & Registration. Her overall value to the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success is immeasurable.
Jerry Ware 12/05/2022 -- Nominated by Bob Burgess
I have a large surplus and move that I was hoping to get completed prior to Winter Break. Jerry met me for an initial walk-down this morning. After seeing the complexity of the job, he made a phone call and within a few minutes he had a contractor on-site to look at the job and get me put on their schedule. What would have taken me days to coordinate, Jerry was able make happen in under an hour. I respect his knowledge and the relationships he has built at VCU, and as always, appreciate his help!
Scott Stech 12/05/2022 -- Nominated by Jenna Lenhardt
Scott has been a tireless partner in supporting initiatives that support recruitment, even in challenging financial times. He brings his finance and human resources expertise to the table to solve operational issues. He is empathetic and a great listener when trying to work through a challenge. One of many examples is his willingness to think outside the box when we started hiring new FWS students (we hired over 38 this fall!), and pulled in his staff and helped create a process that worked for everyone- with the student's experience at the center of the discussion. In the past this process would take over two months to finalize, and with Scott's leadership and support, all students were hired within a week of when their paperwork was received, if not sooner. I appreciate his initiative, respect and support of colleagues. He is an incredible resource and SOE is lucky to have him.
Erica Boisseau Bratton 12/13/2022 -- Nominated by Danielle Cadua
Erica did a great job transporting the patient to Mri from Gumenick Suites. The patient let Erica know that she had muscle spasms and was sensitive to bumps during transport. Erica took extra caution when going through the halls and communicated to the patient that there may be bumps coming up during transport.
Eric Higgs-Page 12/13/2022 -- Nominated by Danielle Cadua
Eric did a great job transporting the patient to Gumenick Suites to MRI. The patient let Eric know that she had muscle spasms and was sensitive to bumps during transport. Eric took extra caution when going through the halls and communicated to the patient that there may be bumps coming up during transport.
Jacqueline Roark 12/14/2022 -- Nominated by Karen Sharrock
Respect and Responsiveness - Jacqueline took my call today on the Banner helpdesk. She was so polite, and patient with me. I was touched by her empathy, as I'm new to VCU and learning the Banner language. She took the time to explain to me several fields in Banner Production, and answered all of my questions. Her calmness, poise, and equanimity in the face of my many questions, caused me to feel special, that she had time to dedicate to my learning (even though I'm sure she had other callers in queue). I truly felt valued, as if I was her only priority at that point in time. This is admirable, and something I seek to emulate.
Maureen Olmsted 12/16/2022 -- Nominated by Debbie DiazGranados
I just had the most wonderful interaction with Maureen. I was dealing with issues related to clinicaltrials.gov with my previous job. I was extremely anxious and did not know where to even start dealing with the problem. Mareen answered my email last night immediately and we had a Zoom call today. She explained in detail the process, she will help me deal with my previous job and how to resolve the issues. Thank you so much for having such a great employee. She was fantastic!!!!
James Dye 12/16/2022 -- Nominated by Robert Houghtaling
Working as the university-wide Talent@VCU administrator, James Dye provides ongoing excellent service to a variety of stakeholders. In the weeks leading up to the December 1st VCU staff bonus, he had to develop a way to ensure all staff eligible would receive their payment. This involved tracking down staff and managers without annual goals in the Talent system and resolving this barrier to maximize eligibility for VCU staff. His innovative work to always get things right helped not only HR, but in this case his work supported all VCU staff in receiving their well-deserved bonus prior to the holiday season.
Erica Brody, 11/04/2022 -- Nominated by Roy Brown
Erica is a great colleague who is always willing to pitch in when needed. I want to thank her for her willingness over the last couple of weeks to provide her feedback and volunteer her time to provide feedback and insight to the RED intern. Her thoughts helped to improve his instructional approach and, in turn, the webinar he was about to teach. I value Erica as a colleague and hope to be able to return the favor at some point.
Tyrone Jones, 11/10/2022 -- Nominated by Delroy Marston
Congratulation on your first 60 days, you have shown great progress and are willing to learn more in order to further your career while working at Rec Well.
Alexis Bussey, 11/10/2022 -- Nominated by Delroy Marston
Congratulation on your first 30 days as RecWell Housekeeper, your contribution play a critical part of the daily operations in providing positive attitude in all interactions with patrons.
Lacey Seaton, 10/03/2022 -- Nominated by Jenna Lenhardt
Lacey is overseeing five different programs, and she is coordinating between content experts and organizing a complex program, sharing updates, being proactive and thoughtful in her support of students. The different audiences in her five programs is incredibly complex, yet Lacey is positive, and is open to ideas and suggestions on how to support student success. I appreciate her partnership, willingness to partner, and responsiveness to questions even when she has a number of competing priorities. It is a joy to work with Lacey.
Corey Martin 10/13/2022 -- Nominated by Caroline Cobb
Whenever I ask for help or advice Corey is always available and willing to make time for me. He is such a incredible person and asset in our department. So grateful for him!
Amanda Kain 10/13/2022 -- Nominated by Felicia Harris
Amanda is strong asset to IDAS' Business Office Team. She has been instrumental in resolving many procurement issues that come up in our department. She takes the initiative following up on many situations before conflicts arise. In particular, Amanda followed up on a contract with two outstanding requisitions because of an upcoming deadline. Amanda has also been heavily instrumental in sorting out our department's VCU Health System invoices so that valid, correct invoices are paid. Amanda is a true self starter, strong communicator and leader. She is highly dependable and is comfortable stepping up and leading when I'm out of the office. She is extremely pleasant to work with and I'm confident her colleagues feel the same way. Keep up the great work, Amanda!! Thanks for all that you do!!!
Matthew Martin 10/13/2022 -- Nominated by Greg Eskridge
As part of the Banner Cloud Migration project, a 3rd-party integration vendor (AdAstra) set up a site for end user testing. Technical work was necessary on VCU's end to ensure that SSO worked properly with that new test site. I reached out to Matt Martin, who helped me to troubleshoot, helped to provide further information that was needed for the AdAstra representative, and ultimately got SSO working with the new AdAstra test site. He was quick to get this completed, which allowed end users to begin testing the site within 24 hours of my first contact with Matt.
Wes Seals 10/18/2022 -- Nominated by Desiree Dabney
I am sending a special thanks to Wes Seals for guiding me in my new position at VCU I am very thankful and grateful for the guidance through out this amazing process.
Leslie Bobb 10/21/2022 -- Nominated by Elizabeth Fortune
Our admin group recently took over an on-going project, Virginia Opioid Addiction ECHO, a virtual network of health care experts and providers tackling the opioid crisis across Virginia. This required our team, led by Leslie Bobb, to learn the processes and technologies involved in successfully managing the ECHO program while ensuring the continuity of operations. We held our first ECHO session of the new grant year today (10/21/2022), which was moderated by Ms. Bobb. By all accounts, she did an excellent job of getting up to speed on program needs, organizing the agenda and calendar for the rest of 2022, working with the key stakeholders in advance of the today's session - all of which resulted in a successful ECHO session.
Lillie Lattimore 10/21/2022 -- Nominated by Elizabeth Fortune
Our admin group recently took over an on-going project, Virginia Opioid Addiction ECHO, a virtual network of health care experts and providers tackling the opioid crisis across Virginia. This required our team, of which Lillie Lattimore played a key role, to learn the processes and technologies involved in successfully managing the ECHO program while ensuring the continuity of operations. We held our first ECHO session of the new grant year today (10/21/2022). Because of her behind the scenes work, particularly with communications and continuing education, our first ECHO session was a great success. I am grateful to have Ms. Lattimore as part of team!
Justina Winston 10/28/2022 -- Nominated by Delroy Marston
Justina went above and beyond in her onboarding with our two new housekeeping staff and that's why I want to recognize her continued effort in helping our staff.
Ayana Clayton-Brooks, 09/01/2022 -- Nominated by Felicia Harris
Since Ayana has been with IDAS, she has been a joy to work with. She stays on top of her workload and has developed her own system with keeping the petty cash balanced daily and replenished in a timely manner. She thoroughly assists the research teams in our department, ensuring retention of research study participants. Ayana has no problem asking questions and lets me know as soon as possible if anything is out of sync, resolving issues BEFORE they become bigger problems. She is a strong team player and is a true asset to the IDAS Business Office Team. I appreciate you, Ayana!
Joey Noble, 09/01/2022 -- Nominated by Dana Lapato
I do not want to imagine trying to work at VCU without Joey Noble as part of the team. He is a selfless team member who consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that everyone--faculty, staff, and students--receives exceptional technology support. He has worked tirelessly to connect new students with essential software and hardware as well as facilitating the return to in-person work. Yesterday morning alone, I saw him go from troubleshooting a software issue to providing training on using conference equipment to reconfiguring multiple laptops and cataloguing hardware needs and upcoming software updates.
Joey is not only responsive, but also proactive. Everyone at VIPBG has benefited from his willingness to take initiative. For example, I needed to connect my new laptop to the institute printers. When I went to the VIPBG IT wiki, I saw that Joey had revamped the help pages to contain the most recent information so that anyone needing to connect to the printers had the best experience possible.Aimée Walters, 09/09/2022 -- Nominated by Edward Howard
Aimée's work on recent noncredit events has been indefatigable. With very short lead times, she worked tirelessly to create a very extensive multi-level conference website and related resources. Although she always goes the extra mile, these past few engagements were particularly demanding (in complexity, timing) and she rose to the challenge with positivity, leadership and exceptional detail. She worked very late on many evenings and weekends to get this done. I can speak for myself and VCU Online and Continuing and Professional Education to say, we appreciate you very much Aimée!
Travis Greene, 09/15/2022 -- Nominated by Houston Griffith
Travis helped me quickly solve an issue with an MECM task sequence I was having trouble with. His PowerShell script was easily adaptable to my situation and pretty much instantly solved my issues. This was while he was already dealing with a major MECM issue and helping the Endpoint Computing team troubleshoot task sequence issues that were impacting all of VCU. Truthfully, I owe him many more of these recognitions for the many times he has helped me personally with MECM related issues. He is truly an asset to VCU! Thank you Travis for all of your amazing work (and your immense PowerShell expertise)!
Matthew Chatham, 08/02/2022 -- Nominated by Curtis Diessellhorst
Officer Chatham, while working to handle a potential threat outside of the VCU Health ER, due to gun shot victim arriving, assisted me while I was trying to navigate parking after my partner having just been involved in a bad car accident and arrived by ambulance. I was in a bit of a panic. He assisted by getting some sort of "pass" to allow my car to remain parked where it was so I could get into the ER and see my partner, after I had moved it multiple times only to have the Passport app tell me the spot was not available. He was very busy, yet remained calm, his demeanor helped me stay calm, and his assistance allowed me to get to my family quickly. This really meant a very lot to me at that moment, and he should be recognized for his dedicated service. I too am a VCU employee, and he exemplifies the customer service and community support that we all should strive to provide and be. I'm very grateful that he is part of our team here at VCU.
Brandon Burneson, 08/10/2022 -- Nominated by Roy Brown
I wanted to take a moment to recognize and thank Brandon for his contribution to the Research and Education Department of the Health Sciences Library. Over the last several weeks, as he has been preparing to transition to leave VCU, he has taken the time to ensure that all his projects are in a good place. This extra effort is particularly true regarding the work he has been doing with the intern in our department. I know this has been an additional task that he has taken on, and I want to recognize the exceptional effort he has undertaken to ensure the intern's annual report project is successful. This effort on his part is just indicative of all the great work he has done while a member of VCU Libraries. So again, thank you, Brandon, for your responsiveness when asked, not just in the last couple of weeks, but any time I have called upon you. You will be missed when you leave, and thanks for everything.
Scott Stech, 08/19/2022 -- Nominated by Kathleen Rudasill
Scott Stech is unbelievably responsive to the many requests he gets from folks across the SOE, especially related to HR where he has been working without a full staff for months. Yet he maintains a positive, kind, and patient demeanor when juggling multiple demands. I am so grateful to have Scott on the SOE team! I want him to know how much he is valued.
Sanjur (Sandy) Brooks, 08/22/2022 -- Nominated by Lisa Ballance
Dr. Brooks (Sandy) has had many legacy issues to uncover and address since joining VCU in the midst of the pandemic last year. She has been fair, thoughtful, and working under highly unusual circumstances and during already stressful times. Nevertheless, is always eager to share background information to teach and guide. Sandy's professionalism and character shine through the business of the day!
Julie Norman, 08/23/2022 -- Nominated by Sandra Mazzoli
Julie's timely response for a late Fall 2022 admissions decision has greatly helped our new student. This student needs the coursework and ultimately the degree to maintain employment. Thank Julie for all you do!
Rani Sisavath, 08/26/2022 -- Nominated by Jen Elswick
Rani took over the management of the humanitiescenter.vcu.edu website this year and has done fabulously in this role. This is an especially difficult site to manage - probably the hardest in CHS - because of the way some of the elements are engineered. Frankly I have been shocked by how quickly Rani has figured out its complexities and gone off and running with its management. She has an especially well-developed analytical sense along with keen attention to detail and a good eye for layout and design. If she were so inclined and keeps building her skills in this domain, she could definitely make a wonderful web developer one day. Keep up the great work, Rani!
Kevin Kim, 08/30/2022 -- Nominated by Felicia Harris
I am recognizing Kevin Kim for being an awesome grant accountant. He is always responsive and extremely thorough. Any questions that I have regarding the grants in my department are quickly answered and if Kevin doesn't happen to know the answer, he has no issue finding out. My interactions with Kevin are always pleasant and he is always willing and ready to help. He is an excellent team player and is truly an asset in the G&C department. I'm taking this time to recognize his hard work. I appreciate you, Kevin!
Kathy Thomas, 07/08/2022 -- Nominated by Dana Rajczewski
Not just today, but every day - Kathy is such an incredible asset to the health system! She is incredibly responsive to scheduling requests of all types, and she manages calendars for people with complex schedules. Additionally, she is really helpful as a resource for so many different admin tasks; I suspect lots of people ask her advice when they have an admin problem to solve - I know I have! Thank you, Kathy, for being an awesome colleague!
Karen Lamb, 07/13/2022 -- Nominated by Camilo Medina
I'd like to recognize Karen for how helpful and responsive she is. On countless occasions I've reached out to her with a complex question and she's gotten me what I need, and then some, within the same day. I admire her willingness to help and commitment to helping VCU succeed. Thank you Karen!
Cecilia Scott, 07/26/2022 -- Nominated by Jen Elswick
The launch of a new website is a fraught time for a webmaster. Of the many things that can go wrong, though, it is such a relief to know that the biggest part - getting the development site transitioned to a live site with its many associated tasks - will always go right when Cecilia is steering the ship. Her attention to detail is impeccable and she conducts all the tasks flawlessly. Further, I always appreciate that she reaches out directly to me to let me know as it's happening and to provide direct contact and support during the transition. This is very reassuring and helpful to me and demonstrates her commitment to service excellence. VCU is fortunate to have such a caring, thorough, and attentive steward of its CMS. Thank you, Cecilia!
Erica Brody, 07/27/2022 -- Nominated by Roy Brown
Over the last several weeks, Erica has taken extra steps to help me to provide a meaningful experience for the intern in the research and education department. This effort was not something she had to do but wanted to do. It was a huge help as I have been out of the office and had other things going on that did not allow me to focus on the internship experience as I wanted. I just wanted to thank her for her responsiveness and willingness to assist in helping the intern learn what is needed to be an effective future medical librarian. I value Erica as a colleague and look forward to returning the favor when she needs my help.
Modestine Carter, 06/27/2022 -- Nominated by Andrea Groat
I needed help figuring out why a flight charge did not hit our index. Modestine investigated it, explained what happened and gave detailed instructions on how to fix the problem so it would not happen again. (Traveler set up his profile incorrectly.). I appreciate her fast help during this busy time.
Krista McDonald, 06/22/2022 -- Nominated by Felicia Harris
I'm recognizing Krista for her poised and professional attitude during a petty cash review meeting with an internal auditor today. She handled herself very well, explaining the department's procedures and answering all questions accurately. I truly appreciate her example of integrity which is displayed on a daily basis. Keep up the good work, Krista!
Emma King, M.Ed., 06/17/2022 -- Nominated by Catherine Brown
I am the program coordinator for the Post-Bac Certificate in Clinical Research sponsored by the Office of Research and managed via the Wright Center CTR. The program launched in Fall 2020 and our first students completed May 2022. Being new to my role and managing a new program there has been much learned along the way. Use of DegreeWorks, the degree audit process, submitting waivers and exceptions and monitoring student progression toward program completion and graduation procedures are all new. I reached out several times via email to Degree Audit group but realized I needed for one on one support. Emma has provided exceptional customer service and expertise via email communication and a scheduled one on one meeting. She was friendly, supportive and extremely knowledgeable. She met with me for over an hour on Friday, June 17. Here follow-up was immediate and specific on outstanding items. We covered a great deal of information. She addressed all my questions and made important connections for me along the way. I now have an understanding of the role of the office and a specific contact if needed in the future. Emma was and continues to be immensely helpful as I work through prep and audit of our first students graduating. Exceptional customer service!
Ryan Pander, 06/28/2022 -- Nominated by Pamela Hendrix
Ryan was able to quickly rectify my huge reservation mistake. I enjoy working with such a true professional!
Amber Peranski, 05/04/2022 -- Nominated by Shana Ryman
Amanda reached out to me to ensure I am set up for BEST practices with records management as I continue to development our VCU Remote Workers Community of Practice. Furthermore, she organized a meeting for us, shared resources, and offered to present at a future meeting. I feel supported with a colleague like Amanda to do my best work within compliance and wanted to take a moment to recognize her
Mark Ryan, 05/04/2022 -- Dana Rajczewski
While this example is from today specifically, it is applicable to every day working with Dr. Ryan! He anticipates potential questions/issues that may arise when we set up complicated meetings, and he is extremely patient and helpful with the ever-present scheduling challenges. He makes it easier to find solutions to difficult problems, and he does that with grace, humor, and understanding. Believe me, it is appreciated by many people, and we are so glad to be his colleagues!
Katie McColgan, 05/04/2022 -- Jenna Lenhardt
Katie has helped our central School of Education HR team as we have been down a team member. She has been responsive, kind, has followed-up, and has gone above and beyond to support the hiring and HR needs of our large Enrollment Management student team. She brings a process and human focused lens to the work, and communicates incredibly well. She is detailed and also understanding and helps explain complex processes or needs of hiring someone. Where a hire used to take 6-8 weeks, Katie has shortened that process to two weeks. Katie has been helping out for a while, and this is well beyond the call of duty. I have been thankful for her support and responsiveness and cannot thank her and the RRTC team, who allowed us to borrow some of Katie's time for so long. She should get a million gold stars and a huge kudos for all she has done for our School.
Madrenna Horn, 05/10/2022 -- Elizabeth Seward
I have had several interactions with Madrenna Horn and each time I walk away feeling grateful for her assistance. Her response time is awesome and she always gives clear instructions on how to proceed. I feel confident knowing that if I have questions or need assistance she is here to help. A lot of times we only contact supervisors when there is a problem but I really wanted to let you know that she is doing a great job.
David Morefield, 05/12/2022 -- Jeny Beausoliel
I want to recognize David for a whole lot more than just initiative: yes to the other categories listed (initiative, integrity, respect) as well. David has helped me through troubleshooting the Zoom-with-Google slide coordination for graduation, with added music and video from our department head not able to attend the event. David is an unflappable treasure, helps calm me so I don't go screaming out of the building--this is just not my area of expertise, at all--and a true pleasure to work with. Working on graduation this year, without benefit of a graduate program coordinator in place, has been a real challenge. This is usually a three-plus person effort, and we have made due with two. David has certainly made an impact on our department, and I and we appreciate him
Dana Rajczewski, 05/13/2022 -- Jeny Beausoliel
I want to recognize Dana for a whole lot more than just initiative: yes to the other categories listed (integrity, respect, responsiveness) and also for myriad other ways that she goes above and beyond helpfulness as a colleague: she is creative, thoughtful, a wonderful problem-solver, always willing to help find workable solutions. She is an unflappable treasure and a true pleasure to work with. Working on graduation this year, without benefit of a graduate program coordinator in place, has been a real challenge. This is usually a three-plus person effort, and we have made due with two. Dana is nothing short of amazing, and I am here to sing her praises.
David Sparace, 05/24/2022 -- Julia Norman
I would like to formally and sincerely express my gratitude for the amazing work David accomplishes every day. He shows initiative, integrity, respect and responsiveness in every situation or issue that he working on. David’s willingness to jump in and help us with our data analysis directly contributes to our successes and demonstrates his dedication to his position and the university. His actions directly impact the university by being an active member of our team helping us with our daily needs with our Slate application/implementation. I would like David to know that I value the amount of effort he puts into his work and that he is appreciated as a part of this team.Once again, David, thank you for your hard work. I look forward to seeing your future achievements and successes!.
Lillie Lattimore, 05/24/2022 -- Lauren D. Harris
I would like to recognize Lillie Lattimore for her contributions to our upcoming research symposium. She has been a team player and very responsive in our weekly meetings, which has prevented avoidable project delays and mistakes. Had it not been for her, I wouldn't have gotten through the planning process. I appreciate her calm demeaner and the level of professionalism she has exuded to our presenters and moderators. I know our upcoming event will be a success, and its partially due to her.
Lori Landes, 05/26/2022 -- Dana Rajczewski
Not just today, but every day - Dr. Landes is so helpful with making things easier for others, and this has become increasingly evident and appreciated when we are working through administrative transitions. She's clear and concise when giving guidance and assistance, and she often goes above and beyond to help take things off of others' plates (though her plate is quite full too). She's a great team member and a huge asset to everyone in our department and beyond - thank you, Dr. Landes!
Joe Derrico, 05/26/2022 -- Dana Rajczewski
Joe has been a great source of information and guidance as we are working through administrative transitions in our department! He is with us in an interim role (as he is headquartered in another department) but you would never know it based on the level of service he provides. He is very helpful and encouraging and it is very much appreciated by his colleagues. Thank you, Joe!
Scott Strayer, 05/27/2022 -- Dana Rajczewski
Dr. Strayer has been extremely helpful with taking some things off of my admin plate (when he has an extremely full plate himself!) as we go through a substantial administrative transition, and it has not gone unnoticed! He is very understanding of the need for a work-life balance, and he's helped me with that quite a bit (including when illness has knocked me out unexpectedly). I really appreciate his kindness, guidance, and willingness to think creatively about coverage as needed. Thank you, Dr. Strayer!
Dana Rajczewski, 04/11/2022 -- Nominated by Jeanine Giles Larson
Dana helped me find information that was crucial to completing a faculty member's grant proposal. I would not have been able to complete this task and Dana helped me tremendously by pointing me in the right direction. Thanks, Dana!
Harris Middleton, 04/11/2022 -- Nominated by Jeanine Giles Larson
Harris assisted with the references section of a proposal due this week. He was very gracious in offering his time out of his busy schedule. Harris, thanks for using your expertise in Endnote to help Dr. Bradner finalize her proposal. It takes a team to ensure faculty success and I am glad you are part of ours!
Jennifer Tennison, 04/27/2022 -- Nominated by Jenna Lenhardt
Jennifer has been a wealth of knowledge, support, and thoughtful feedback as we continue to update and revise programs to meet the needs of a changing future student demographic. She is responsive, respectful, and is always willing to go the extra mile to support her colleagues. Jennifer excels at anything she is tasked with, and comes into each situation with a can-do and positive attitude that is refreshing. I am thankful to have her as my colleague.
Jennifer Cousinis, 03/22/2022 -- Nominated by Nora Alder
She is always efficient, willing, friendly and patient.
Sandra Mazzoli, 03/23/2022 -- Nominated by Jenna Lenhardt
I work with Sandra daily and she is always ready and willing to go above and beyond to help students. Her knowledge of VCU is expansive and her positive attitude is contagious. Sandra is a genuine and kind person who is responsive, supportive, and teamwork focused in everything she does. I feel lucky to work with her every day.
Caimdyn Stewart, 03/17/2022 -- Nominated by Jenna Lenhardt
Caimdyn is always thinking about ways to improve our processes in order to maximize our time with students. She is student focused and her students LOVE her. She is approachable and collaborative. Recently she saw a need to connect different resources to students going into their experiential education phase of their program. She reached out to me and my colleague Jasmine to create resources and a presentation because she knew we both had a passion for career development. Caimdyn sees the full person andcolleague and openly shares her enthusiasm for teamwork and collaboration across our teams. I am inspired by her passion and how much she cares for our students.
Joanna Bell, 03/28/2022 -- Nominated by Lisa Abrams
Joanna is a highly dedicated colleague and has worked tirelessly to develop budgets, budgets layouts, and reporting systems to support faculty, staff and administrators in the School of Education. Her attention to detail and commitment to providing timely fiscal information and in formats that are easily accessible has helped to make the work of many of her colleagues much easier and more efficient. We are so fortunate to have Joanna as part of our SOE team and appreciate her and her contributions!
Carolina Wilson, 02/01/2022 -- Nominated by Sandra Mazzoli
Carolina is a highly valued member of the VCU Ramily and has always been able to help me find solutions to the unique situations presented by our students and advisors. Most recently, a student registered for the incorrect courses for Spring 2022. It was disclosed that the student had suffered an unexpected loss and unable to correct the registration error on their own. Carolina ensured that the Special Action request was processed in a very timely fashion thus alleviating the student's anxiousness and worry.
Stacey Wahl, 02/09/2022 -- Nominated by Roy Brown
Stacey is a valued member of the research and education team at the Health Science Library, and I have always enjoyed working with her. She has always been willing to help me out when asked. Over the last couple of weeks, she has helped me with two issues on short notice. Each time she did so without complaint. First, she helped me figure out the best way to address a problem with a citation tracking project and then made sure a VCU School of Nursing faculty member could have her questions addressed by meeting with her. Her assistance in both instances was a huge help. I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you and let her know that I value her as a colleague. Thank You!
Deidre Henley, 02/16/2022 -- Nominated by Dana Rajczewski
Deidre has been working to get a check to an external organization for months, and it's been a very long back-and- forth process to get it where it needed to go. She was persistent with the external group and worked with VCU Procurement to find a solution. She was very responsive to follow-up request from me and from the external org, and she followed through until we got a resolution today. I knew it would be solved since it was in her hands, and that reassurance is most appreciated. Thank you, Deidre!!
Andrew Kollmer, 02/23/2022 -- Nominated by Jeff Smith
Andy came to me with a question about something he was hearing from alternate sources about how well he (and his group) were helping me with my technology needs. I really appreciate the fact that he simply cut out the noise and just came to talk to me directly so we could be on the same page and not have any conflicting perspectives. I am so thankful to have such an ethical perspective as it makes things so much easier.
Tabatha Dunlap, 01/13/2022 -- Nominated by Koshie France
Tabatha goes above and beyond to take the initiative to assist her colleagues when needed. She is beyond knowledgeable; willing and able to devote time to developing others, sharing expertise and skills without being asked. Tabatha values the opinions and initiatives of others while providing guidance and constructive feedback in a respectful manner. Ms. Dunlap is respected among colleagues of all levels and demonstrates a positive attitude. She is truly an asset to the team.
Dana Rajczewski, 01/18/2022 -- Nominated by Lauren Jackson
Dana is the quickest, most responsive employee I have maybe ever met. She never hesitates to jump in for scheduling needs and countless interviews and meetings would be put on the back-burner if it weren't for her and how quickly she's able to coordinate. Thank you for all that you do, Dana! You're a rockstar.
Julie Norman, 01/18/2022 -- Nominated by Sandra Mazzoli
Julie is always helpful! Recently we've had several students in the School of Education with unique admissions/readmissions situations and Julie has always been able to provide guidance and solutions. She is a positive and professional member of the team and highly valued colleague.
Christopher Gorbutt, 01/19/2022 -- Nominated by Isac Crouch
Chris and I work on the same team here in Technology Services. The main reason that is prompting me to recognize him is that he is ALWAYS willing to assist me (and others) when something is needed. An example of this is yesterday we received a last minute request from a customer and I was already on the road headed home. I called Chris and he assisted me with working on the issue and got the work done promptly and accurately. It is nice to work with someone with responsiveness like Chris Gorbutt.
Justin Woods, 01/20/2022 -- Nominated by Chuck Alexander
I'm currently working a staggered schedule while I finish out my paternity leave, so effective and efficient coordination with people that are on campus is extraordinarily important. Justin Woods stepped into that role with vim and vigor today. Coordinating a caregiver panel with multiple parties (and their knowledge, or lack thereof of the tech involved) for the entire SOM Class of 2024 in Studios 7 & 8 - including the ability to field questions with the faculty providers in the room - could not have gone smoother thanks to Justin's immense talents. There were no tech issues, no echoes, no audio problems... nothing. Justin nailed it and deserves to be recognized.
Felicia Harris, 01/21/2022 -- Nominated by James Bjork
Diligent admin work enabling successful repackaging and resubmission of grant application. Felicia took on a larger-scale grant application with only an effective 10-day lead time before School of Medicine would want to see the application. She worked late and diligently to get the application (to a novel federal agency unfamiliar to her) routed and prepared in time.
Caimdyn Stewart, 01/21/2022 -- Nominated by Samantha Ray
Caimdyn always goes above and beyond to assist students and colleagues. She is a pleasure to work with. Thank you for all you do!
Rami Hatoum, 01/21/2022 -- Nominated by Pam Hendrix
My laptop unexpectedly stopped working. Rami was able to replace it the same day and I had minimal disruption. He's true professional and asset to our team.
Lauren Harris, 01/28/2022 -- Nominated by Antonio Abbate
I would like to recognize Lauren Harris, MS, MEd, for all the Initiative, Integrity, Respect and Responsiveness that she has shown during the past two years. I chose however Initiative as the primary reason because at time of need, Lauren has shown leadership and the ability to fill in multiple roles. Lauren also does that with kindness and respect. Thank you for being an inspiration during these times of darkness.
Earlene Charity, 01/31/2022 -- Nominated by Elizabeth Seward
Ms. Charity provided excellent customer service. When I contacted her for assistance and clarity on different contracts, she went above and beyond to provided accurate information. When I contacted her with follow-up questions she again delivered exceptional service.