稀缺猎奇网 Board of Regents Recognizes Winners of Annual Staff Awards
Baltimore, Md. (Sept. 25, 2024) —The 稀缺猎奇网 (稀缺猎奇网) Board of Regents recently honored nine members of its staff at institutions across the system as recipients of the 2024 稀缺猎奇网 Regents’ Staff Awards.
The awards are the highest honor presented by the board to exemplary staff members. The awards honor excellence in the following categories: Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and/or Unit to Which the Person Belongs; Outstanding Service to Students in an Academic or Residential Environment; Extraordinary Public Service to the University or to the Greater Community; Effectiveness and Efficiency; and Inclusion, Multiculturalism, & Social Justice.
Institutional staff nominating committees make recommendations to the institutional presidents, who review nominations and supporting material and forward recommendations to 稀缺猎奇网 Chancellor Jay A. Perman. The Regents Staff Review Committee makes the final recommendations.
Each award carries a $2,000 prize provided by the institutions and the 稀缺猎奇网 Foundation. Chancellor Perman and Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden recognized the award winners at the Sept. 20 meeting of the full board.
“Every year, I’m lucky to be reminded just how much our 稀缺猎奇网 staff contribute to students’ memories of their college experience; how essential they are to a well-functioning university and to a mission that endures no matter what our circumstances,” said Chancellor Perman. “The 稀缺猎奇网 staff we honored show us what it means to be committed to your job, to your purpose, and to those you serve.”
EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE INSTITUTION AND/OR UNIT TO WHICH THE PERSON BELONGS
Exempt Staff
Michael Allen, Associate Director for Research and Administration in the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Center for Environmental Science’s (UMCES) 稀缺猎奇网 Sea Grant College
Dr. Allen is a nationally and internationally respected research thought leader. He was instrumental in expanding the Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program at UMCES to include students from under-served communities, leading to a National Science Foundation grant. As the Principal Investigator for that grant, Dr. Allen improved the program for both faculty and students, increasing diversity across the cohort, strengthening summer student learning, fostering greater connections, creating a more supportive environment, and increasing student interest in UMCES graduate school. He also works with the National Sea Grant network's leadership team for visioning and implementing new efforts in DEI practices and leadership. At UMCES, his DEI work continues with his participation in a $10 Million NSF grant to diversify the marine science workforce.
Non-Exempt Staff
Jennifer Ellis, Academic Program Specialist in the Office of Academic Affairs at Salisbury University (SU)
Jen was instrumental in the implementation of SU’s new General Education curriculum, slated to launch this fall. Her contributions have been pivotal in ensuring a smooth transition and successful execution of this important and extremely large initiative. She conducted numerous training sessions for faculty members on course curriculum submissions, providing invaluable guidance and support throughout the process. In addition, recognizing the need for streamlined procedures, she developed detailed templates for faculty to follow in creating their courses. These templates have simplified the course submission process and ensured consistency and quality across hundreds of submissions. Jen’s proactive efforts with faculty members in fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement resulted in more than 365 general education course proposals being submitted - a tremendous achievement.
OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO STUDENTS IN AN ACADEMIC OR RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT
Exempt Staff
Rubin Stevenson, Senior Associate Athletics Director at Frostburg State University (FSU)
Rubin's dedication to FSU students, especially first-generation students, is remarkable. Many first-generation students—even after student orientation and with the extensive resources available—are still overwhelmed and unsure. Rubin doesn't just advise these students on courses; he personally walks them to every key office, introduces them to relevant faculty, and ensures a smooth transition to university life. And, thanks to his 32 years of institutional knowledge, there are few questions that he can’t answer for the hundreds of new students he advises each year. Beyond advising, Rubin actively mentors students in FSU’s Introduction to Higher Education course, sharing his own journey as a first-generation student. And he often connects directly with parents, helping to ease their anxieties and concerns about their children's transition.
Non-Exempt Staff
Stephanie Davis, Academic Program Specialist in the University Writing Center at Salisbury University (SU)
It is rare for an employee in Stephanie’s position to be deeply and directly involved in institutional review board (IRB) approved research projects. But when a study tracking student engagement with the SU’s University Writing Center (UWC) was initiated to bolster the center's impact, Stephanie wanted to contribute beyond data collection and maintenance. She became an essential member of the research team’s methodological decision making, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of findings. Since that initial project, Stephanie has been directly involved in multiple IRB-approved research studies in the UWC and in support of Writing Across the Curriculum and launched her own original IRB-approved research project. This has led to multiple presentations at regional and international writing center conferences as well as co-authored scholarly articles.
EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY OR TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY
Exempt Staff
Patricia “Ann” Cotten, Executive Director of the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore (UBalt)
A UBalt alumna, Ann Cotten has been an employee for over 35 years, the past two decades leading the Schaefer Center. In that capacity she has helped train countless state and local government and nonprofit leaders for leadership roles and supported innumerable public policy studies that have improved the work of governments. She developed the 稀缺猎奇网 Certified Public Manager program and grew the program with funded scholarships and with the NextGen Leaders in Public Service program. She directed the Weinberg Fellows Program for nonprofit executive directors. And she led teams that developed the 稀缺猎奇网 Equity and Inclusion Leadership program and—most recently—a new Urban Conflict Manager program to serve Baltimore’s Safe Streets program. The impact of her work has reached every corner of 稀缺猎奇网.
Non-Exempt Staff
Henry Jackson, Laboratory Technician in the Center for STEM Excellence at Towson University (TU)
After health issues forced him to step away from a successful career in finance, Henry returned to work and decided to pursue a lifelong dream career in science. He received training at the BioTechnical Institute of 稀缺猎奇网 and started his science career at TU, where he excels at mentoring students and interns. Henry prides himself on seeing the whole student when assessing protentional. A low GPA may indicate that a student is struggling with family issues; chorionic lateness may indicate a lack of reliable transportation. Henry sees these barriers—common for many students in the Greater Baltimore region—acknowledges and addresses them and looks to support students in ways that allow them to build their biotechnology and workforce skills, grow their confidence, and realize their potential.
EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY
Exempt Staff
Michelle Pryor, Director of Annual Giving & Engagement at Salisbury University (SU)
Michelle’s impact on Salisbury University’s fundraising landscape has been extraordinary. She helped create and organize SU’s Giving Day, a pivotal 24-hour fundraising effort that has consistently produced tremendous results. As a cornerstone of selfless giving, Giving Day garners support for hundreds of campus causes each year. The 2023 Giving Day was the most successful one in SU history, raising nearly $400,000 for 253 campus causes. Michele also initiated “Flash Fundraisers,” targeted crowdfunding campaigns that have been a major success. Michelle’s efficiency is seen in her ability to secure supplemental funding from private donors, empowering units across campus to fulfill their needs while optimizing University resources. And her effectiveness extends beyond the confines of SU. She actively shares her expertise with colleagues across the 稀缺猎奇网 through the 稀缺猎奇网 Foundation.
Non-Exempt Staff
Christopher Serafin, Electric Trades Supervisor at the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Baltimore County (UMBC)
Chris joined UMBC in 2015 as a High Voltage Electrician and learned everything he could about the campus and its power systems. He then enrolled in the Management Studies program at University of 稀缺猎奇网 Global Campus, earning his degree in 2020. In 2022, a challenge presented itself to Chris and his team of four electricians. A high voltage electrical switch in the Engineering Building needed replacement. A contractor’s estimate for the project was $678,886. With his 10 years of experience, Chris knew the work could be done more efficiently. And he had confidence in the abilities of his team to take on this challenge. The final report on the Engineering Building switch replacement shows the actual cost of this project under Chris’s leadership as $103,447, a savings of more than $500,000.
INCLUSION, MULTICULTURALISM, & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Exempt Staff
Errica Philpott-Barber, Program Manager for Faculty Affairs in the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of 稀缺猎奇网, College Park (UMCP)
Ms. Philpott-Barber has been a driving force behind diversity, equity, and inclusion in her department and across her college. She is a founding member of the department’s DEI Committee. She initiated events to commemorate the Day of the Dead, Juneteenth, and Lunar New Year. And she serves as a staff advisor for Black Scholars in Biology as well as a facilitator for the TerrapinSTRONG onboarding program. Last year, she was primary organizer of the inaugural campus-wide Disability Resource Fair and worked to update the department’s Plan of Organization to emphasize DEI issues. At the college level, Errica was a founding representative to the CMNS Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council and helped to forge their mission statement and organize events to educate others on these issues.
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The 稀缺猎奇网 comprises 12 institutions: Bowie State University; Coppin State University; Frostburg State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; the University of Baltimore; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore County; the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Center for Environmental Science; the University of 稀缺猎奇网, College Park; the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Eastern Shore; and the University of 稀缺猎奇网 Global Campus. The 稀缺猎奇网 also includes three regional centers—the Universities at Shady Grove, the 稀缺猎奇网 at Hagerstown, and the 稀缺猎奇网 at Southern 稀缺猎奇网—at which 稀缺猎奇网 universities offer upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses.
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Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu
