Faculty/Staff Award Recipients Announced

Meredith College’s annual Faculty/Staff Awards and Recognition event was held on Friday, April 23 in Jones Chapel. The awards ceremony celebrated faculty staff longevity, honored retiring faculty members and announced 2010 recipients of faculty/staff awards.

New this year was an award recognizing a full-time employee or department who exemplifies Meredith’s sustainability vision. The award has been named the Janice Coffey Swab Sustainability Award in recognition of Professor Emerita Janice Swab’s consistent and long-standing advocacy for environmental awareness and sustainability at Meredith and beyond.

Kirk Nuss, processing assistant in the Office of Admissions, is the inaugural recipient of the Janice Coffey Swab Sustainability Award. Nuss was an original member of the Green Team, the group that formed to support the first year of sustainability work on campus. He has coordinated the Office of Admissions’ efforts to make its operations more environmentally friendly, is the campus coordinator of the College’s partnership with Beausol Gardens, and regularly volunteers for sustainability programs such as a recycling pilot program and the campus trash audit.

Other faculty/staff award recipients for 2010 are as follows:

PAULINE DAVIS PERRY AWARDS
Shannon Johnstone, associate professor of art, Award for Research and Publication and/or Artistic Achievement

Jackie Dietz, professor of mathematics, Award for Excellence in Teaching

The Pauline Davis Perry Award for Research and Publication and/or Artistic Achievement is given to a faculty member who has done exceptional research, publication and/or artistic achievement. The Pauline Davis Perry Award for Excellence in Teaching is given to an outstanding teacher at Meredith.

LAURA HARRILL PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS
One of the Harrill awards was presented to Denise Rotondo, dean of the School of Business, in recognition of her efforts in leading Meredith’s School of Business’ successful effort to gain AACSB accreditation. The other Harrill award was presented to Associate Professor of Mathematics Tim Hendrix, Associate Professor of Psychology Mark O’Dekirk, Dean of Students Ann Gleason and Dean of the Library Laura Davidson for their work as leaders of Meredith’s SACS Reaccreditation and PRISM QEP Teams.

The Laura Harrill Presidential Awards are presented to two faculty members each year, in recognition of their noteworthy contributions to the advancement of Meredith College.

HARRY AND MARION EBERLY FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Kassy Mies, assistant professor of chemistry

The Harry and Marion Eberly Faculty Development Awards are given to deserving faculty members for the purpose of helping them progress in their area of expertise.

The cash awards are funded through the Faculty Applied Meredith Endowment, or FAME, established in 1977 as an independent fund for supplemental faculty benefits.

ACCESS AWARD
Talani Torres, instructor of dance

The Access Award honors a member of the faculty or staff at Meredith College who has made significant contributions toward the advocacy, support, encouragement and success of students with disabilities. Nominations are collected from students with disabilities and are voted on by the Disability Services Panel.

PRESIDENTIAL STAFF AWARD
Ann Troutman, recruitment specialist in the Office of Admissions

Established in 2002, the Presidential Staff Award is given in recognition of exemplary service to the Meredith community. The Meredith College president chooses the recipient.

STAFF RECOGNITION AWARDS
Laura Fieselman, sustainability coordinator
Natalie Herrmann, events coordinator

Staff Recognition Awards are presented annually to two staff members who, through their job performance, have demonstrated initiative, teamwork, extra effort and outstanding customer service to the Meredith community.