Eight staff employees will be honored with the Chancellor’s Distinguished Staff Award at a banquet beginning at 5:30 p.m. April 17 at Peabody Private Dining Room. The award recognizes exceptional performance and service to the UI. At the honors banquet, each recipient will be awarded $2,000 and a plaque. Recipients’ names also are inscribed on a plaque displayed in the Personnel Services Office.
Permanent staff employees with at least two years of service or retired employees in status appointments during the calendar year can be nominated for the award by staff or faculty members or students. A committee appointed by the chancellor recommends finalists. The assistant vice president for human resources, the vice chancellor for administration and human resources and the chancellor give final approval.
STEPHEN J. BAKER millworker Planning, Construction and Maintenance Stephen J. Baker had worked in the Mill Shop for 26 of the 36 years he worked at the UI, before retiring last June. His duties included building window sashes, doors and other general millwork as needed. He also trained new employees and apprentices. His knowledge of machinery, general millwork, his eye for detail as well as his patience, made him a great teacher, according to Bradley J. Ward, also a millworker, who nominated Baker. Baker has a positive attitude and a positive influence on others’ morale. He also contributes to the community. For more than 15 years, he has organized a weeklong bicycle ride to raise money for the American Lung Association. He is always willing to help others at work or after hours, often helping move furniture or assisting someone with a remodeling project. Steve’s contributions to the mill shop have increased its efficiency as well. He has built numerous templates for the shops to use as well as building a template for building 7,500 desk tops for Housing, which resulted in saving many hours during assembly. "His knowledge of his trade and woodworking machinery has helped make the mill shop one of PC&M’s most cost effective and productive shops," Ward said.
BARBARA E. CICONE admissions and records officer III computer science When computer science students – both current and prospective – need information or have problems with the department, they turn to Barbara Cicone. She supervises the registration and advising processes, the large volume of graduate applications, and all necessary record keeping in the department’s Academic Office. She also interacts with the other administrative offices on campus and functions as the personnel manager for the office. Leonard Pitt, professor of computer science, wrote that Cicone feels personally responsible for every student in the graduate program. She has been known to work long after normal business hours to meet student needs. Cicone relates well with all those who fall under the purview of her broad range of responsibilities – faculty and staff members and students – and adapts readily to the changes that continue to occur as the department expands. She also has served on numerous committees during her more than 20 years at the UI. She was selected to a campuswide team asked to design and implement a Web-based graduate student application system, now in operation called "Grad Connect." She also serves on the Graduate College Administrative Advisory Board.
PAMELA D. LONG building service foreman Planning, Construction and Maintenance Since beginning her employment as a building service worker in 1990, Pamela D. Long has been considered an exceptional worker. Because of her eagerness to learn the operations, as well as her dedication, she was promoted to building service foreman four years later. She is responsible for many aspects of the department’s daily operations that ensure quality custodial services for the UI campus. Long is best known for taking a personal interest in helping new employees, according to Peggy Roberts, a building service foreman, who nominated Long. "She enjoys helping others succeed in becoming a professional employee, and no matter how much time is needed, she’s ready to offer a helping hand," Roberts said. Long has not only accepted her foreman responsibilities, she also puts extra effort into whatever she does. Because of this, she has been upgraded to the position of custodial supervisor for the early evening shift. She has eagerly accepted the challenges of upgrading, taking responsibility for the more than 130 employees, handling special projects, and taking charge in emergency situations. She has earned the respect of peers as well as upper management and sets a positive example for her fellow workers. "Long consistently promotes positive morale through a congenial, supportive attitude with employees working under her leadership as well as with her fellow foremen," Roberts said.
MELODY M. MCDANIEL building service worker supervisor Housing Division Melody McDaniel is a building service worker supervisor who manages four building service foremen, who in turn manage 45 building service workers, one maid and one linen maid. Her responsibilities include training in cleaning procedures, time-saving techniques and counseling when needed. She has been with the university for more than 25 years and exhibits initiative and creativity in her department, making changes that improve the productivity of areas under her supervision, according to Sharon Cherry, a building service worker foreman, who nominated McDaniel. She makes excellent suggestions on how to improve procedures in her area. Her suggestion of rewriting job assignments to increase coverage of student living areas by staff members on weekends is one suggestion in the process of being implemented. McDaniel also serves on several committees including Staff Advisory Council, the Emergency Response Committee, Focus Committee and is secretary of the Association of College and University Building Service Supervisors and a board member of the Classified Employee Association. She also was involved in the Positive Partnership Program that has been in effect for nearly three years. The program manages employee performance.
VERA MITCHELL library technical assistant I Afro-Americana Library Vera Mitchell is enthusiastic and cheerful, helping each library patron with a smile, giving them a lesson on not only how to use the Afro-Americana library where she works, but also the entire library system, according to Connie Dillard-Myers, a library technical specialist, who nominated Mitchell. Her current responsibilities include reference assistance for library users and processing acquisition orders for the African American library materials. Mitchell was recruited by the first librarian at the UI’s Afro-Americana library 25 years ago. To date, there have been three librarians supervising the unit, but throughout the entire life of the library, Mitchell has been the supporting LTA. She has demonstrated excellence in overall work performance during her 25-year tenure at the UI. Twice she found herself as the acting unit head of the Afro-Americana Library. She has been a stabilizing force of the unit in times of transition between librarians and the guardian of the collection in general. "She enthusiastically accepted the responsibility and performed duties above and beyond what is normally expected," Dillard-Myers said. Mitchell also has been active doing volunteer and public service work for the university and community. Currently she volunteers Saturday mornings at the Douglass Branch Library helping develop skills for underprivileged youth, ages 10-16. In addition, Mitchell provides sound advice and guidance for continual improvements to the library system.
CHRISTINE A. PIERSON staff secretary UI Extension Christine Pierson has contributed outstanding work performance, staff leadership and dedicated service during her 18 years at the UI. She currently is a staff secretary for UI Extension and serves as an assistant office manager. She works cooperatively with other staff members to ensure clerical assistance to five additional Extension specialists, two Extension assistants and the assistant dean/director for 4-H Youth Development. She supervises the work of up to 12 part-time student employees and three extra-help staff members. She also assists in the development of 4-H marketing/outreach programs, compiles statistical reports and trend analysis data and provides support for numerous statewide activities and events. These programs include the 4-H Ambassador program, 4-H CAN Make a Difference program, 4-H Legislative Connection, 4-H Day at the UI, as well as participation at the Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair where an estimated 1.5 million people connect with UI Extension. Pierson frequently travels and works long days or weekends to help ensure the success of these programs. In addition, Pierson has stepped forward twice to help when there were vacancies in the office manager position. "Not only did she superbly perform the duties required of the office manager, but she also maintained the heavy workload of her own position during a particularly busy time," said Sharon R. Petefish, professor and UI Extension specialist, who nominated Pierson.
ELIZABETH "BETTY" R. TAYLOR staff secretary special education In addition to fulfilling her traditional clerical duties, Betty Taylor helps manage a five-year $2.3 million training grant, acts as a liaison with project officers, supervises graduate and undergraduate students, and manages department data. "In the 18 years that I have been on this campus, and the six years on previous campuses, I have not met anyone that would compare to Betty Taylor," wrote John Trach, professor of special education and rehabilitation. She always goes beyond what others would do when performing her work duties, he said. "Her willingness to learn new facets of a job and her fearless approach to the technology challenges that continue to evolve present a vitality and optimism that I continue to point out to existing and new staff," Trach said. In addition, Taylor generates good feelings and positive attitudes in everything she does. During the most stressful, busy times, she maintains an upbeat attitude that positively affects those around her. She also has served as a mentor for graduate and James Scholar students, as well as teaching assistants.
JULIA D. WOLLER administrative clerk Division of Academic Outreach in the Office of Continuing Education When Julia Woller announced her retirement last year, she took it upon herself to prepare documentation that would assist her successor and her supervisors. She began working in the Office of Continuing Education in March 1985, and as an administrative clerk for Academic Outreach, Woller was responsible for maintaining a number of financial accounts, overseeing various course activity and fiscal reports, and assisting with budget predictions and information. The Division of Academic Outreach has relied heavily on Woller for budget management. Woller also has served as the primary contact on account and business matters for recent programs in Africa and Europe. Academic Outreach has received compliments on her work from administrators here and abroad. In a recommendation letter, one nominator wrote "[Julia] has the respect of all the people with whom she works. At a recent event honoring her tenure with the organization, she was treated to the same level of celebration as are retiring division heads – this is rare and speaks to the respect she has earned from supervisors, colleagues, and clients."