Norse UppreciationArchive2021

The spring semester start date was moved with little notice and this put a ton of work on the Registrar's Office. I just want to give kudos to Angela Calhoun for jumping in, pulling in other departments to discuss calendar impacts, and just keeping the entire project organized but also moving very quickly. Her knowledge and experience really shined through. She and her team had to work day and night and over the weekend to make it all come together and they all deserve our thanks for making it happen!

She met with me right after finals to help me rebuild my schedule along with being encouraging with my new career path. She gave me a lot of advise to help achieve my goal.

So grateful for the support of Steve Sloan and the entire team in mail/distribution. Steve consistently delivers the most excellent service. Most recently, after a large and somewhat complicated order of print materials was delivered, Steve took the lead to sort and manage the distribution of the materials. Further, he saw a need, and volunteered to manage getting envelopes addressed, going above and beyond what anyone expected. It was a tremendous help. Thanks, Steve!

I'm one of the advisors for the NKU chapter of Psi Chi, the psychology honor society, and the psychology club. There are many things that need to be managed (e.g., room reservations, transcripts, meetings, correspondence with applicants, inductees, and graduates, fees, interactions with the national office, programs and catering for the induction ceremony). Tiffany and Christina went beyond what was needed to help the students and advisors. Thank you!

The NKU Mail Distribution Services Department has exhibited excellence in customer service over the past 2 years. As KCM increased our mailings to teachers across the Commonwealth of KY, NKU Mail Distribution Services Department has been unwavering is their efficient shipping of time-sensitive packages to dedicated teachers. I can't say thank you enough to Kevin and his staff who have gone above and beyond in their
support of our KCM programming!

Habib has given his time and energy to establishing effective working relationships with the NKU ROCKS and LAMP programs on campus. Habib even serves as a volunteer coach for the LAMP intermural soccer team!! Habib is consistently upbeat and enthusiastic in his interactions with NKU students.

As the College of Business marketing manager, Allison Buchanan is the person who develops all of the public facing communications about the Haile College of Business. She has re-designed all of the college’s websites and social media. Allison develops public releases and manages major college events. She does this while balancing changing logos, marketing designs and expectations. Allison is appreciated for her ability to execute numerous projects for faculty, staff and students

Siobhan has been working hard providing counseling support to NKU students. She has been planning programming events such as The National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, and drug take-back events.

Dan has taken over being the advisor for the Presidential Ambassadors this semester and he has done an AMAZING job! He supports the organization in whatever we need, but allows the students to make the decisions and do the work! He is always there if we need an advice or support and is overall a perfect example of what a student organization advisor should be!

Mrs. Bowers truly loves her students, she spend countless hours outside of class time to ensure complete success for her students. She is quick witted, knowledgeable in her field and extraordinary in the classroom. She breathes life into course loads that can be otherwise difficult or mundane but necessary to higher education. She sees potential in her students and goes out of her way to nourish those potentials and encourages students to truly thrive. I wish I had met Mrs. Bowers 10-15 years ago because just in a few weeks she has changed my perception of higher education, life and work balance altogether. The kind of hope and passion she feeds into students
is immeasurable and intoxicating. She is a true treasure at NKU and I hope she
continues to teach for two more decades. Bowers is the type of teacher that helps change the world to a better place.  

Dr. Sorrell has been a blessing to us nursing students. Describing how amazing she is literally would take a whole book to do so. Us, nursing students, love the way she lectures, as well as how organized her PowerPoints and canvas shells are. She also incorporates SI into lecture by uploading helpful worksheets, and note templates and overviews. She is definitely an amazing professor.

   But, that is not the only thing I would like to highlight about her. 

   Dr. Sorrell has a sincere caring heart for her students. She checks up on us and listens to us all the time. She is willing to switch due dates if we are going through heavy loads of assignments or exams in other classes. She will sincerely help you become successful. She is very understanding, given she had graduated from NKU and was a nursing student herself. If there’s anything you do not understand in class, she will do everything to make sure you understand it.  

   I can go on and on and on. But the bottom line is, WE LOVE DR. SORRELL AND THANK HER FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.  

Great, caring, and thorough educator!

In the past few weeks or so, my car broke down twice. On one of those days, I had to miss the day where I usually had his class. When I was finally able to come back to school 2 days later, I had Mr. Farkas approach me and ask how I and my car were doing. We talked, and he luckily updated me on what I missed that day. It really seemed like he cared about me as a student, and it made my day so much better. I have never had a teacher that asked how I was doing like that, and I appreciate it very much.

I would like to recognize the continuous support, love, and enthusiasm that Jen shows not only those she advises and teaches, but everyone she meets. Jen is one of the most compassionate, insightful, empathetic people I know and she never fails to make other's smile! Thank you, Jen!  

I have been taking three of her classes. She has
been appreciative, responsive to questions, and open for discussion

Maren deserves to be recognized for her positive attitude in the classroom. She always goes above and beyond to make her students feel seen and welcome. She motivates her students with her passion for Graphic Design. She pushes each of her students to achieve at their highest potential. She is understanding and treats all of her students as friends. I truly feel inspired by her attitude everyday I am in class with her.  

   I am recommending Lori Thaxton for Norse Uppreciation because she regularly goes above and beyond in attending to the needs of faculty, staff, and students in her work in SAP Security. Lori has a vast knowledge base and is a team player who looks at the end goal, working closely with the ESG teams for the matter at hand, be it resolving
issues, supporting upgrade activities, or planning for future operational improvements. It is an honor and a joy to work with Lori - she is smart, equitable, ethical as well has humor and is very personable.

Parking Services      
Jessica, Nick, Jim, Eli, Curtis and Sydney are a great group of people who work with me in parking services; almost every single day they show me how reliable, hardworking and helpful they are. They are intelligent, unique and they will go above and beyond for this University and their fellow staff members. I recently transferred to Parking Services and they have helped me tremendously with settling into my new role here and I cannot thank them enough for their kindness.      
Facilities Management      
My friends/ coworkers in Facilities Management are the people who made me love working at NKU. I have never worked at a place where people genuinely cared about my well being and wanted to see me succeed, I found that with them. They are the backbone of this University, without their dedication this place would not to be able to run efficiently. Ever single day their dedication amazes me. People like Joy, Tess, Jim, Gina H., John, Robin, Bruce, Guy, Sheila and many others helped me along the way there and I am truly grateful. I do miss them and want them to know that their jobs are one of the most important positions on this campus. I loved working with all of you and you deserve the world.  

Beth Lackey is an outstanding professional who takes time to explain complex procedures to faculty, staff and student in the Haile College of Business. Whether it is a question about faculty hiring's, budgets or payroll, she always has an answer or a contact. Her ability to stay focus on the issues and her willingness to assist in finding a solution, makes it a pleasure to come to work.

Jim Parker and his team of custodians and the labor crew do an outstanding job of supporting our efforts to clean and prepare offices for new faculty. Each time they handle a work order, I know that it will be completed in a professional, prompt and courteous manner.  

Gannon Tagher is currently the Assistant Vice Provost for Advising and First Year Programs, and has done tremendous work in her role. She has assisted in the transition of Norse Advising to the First Year Student Success Hub, addressed many issues for Academic Advisors on campus, and has worked on completely transforming the First Year Experience for our incoming first year students all within a very condensed time frame. Many hours of this work have involved presentations, stressful conversations with faculty and staff, and Gannon has handled all of it with poise and grace. She has demonstrated tremendous leadership during a difficult time for advising and first year support during the backdrop of a pandemic, and all of her hard work, effort, and dedication should not go unnoticed and deserves tremendous praise and recognition. When employees go above and beyond, it and her work has been a role model for what that looks like. It is an honor to submit this Norse Uppreciation to make sure that Gannon is given the praise that is well earned and deserved!

Natalie went out of her way to assist me during a time of personal need for my family her with open enrollment her attention to detail and assistance made a complicated situation easy for me to navigate. A heart felt thank you Natalie's way for all she does to keep our operation running smoothly.

Jennifer Brown is the epitome of Norse Up! She works tirelessly to support all aspects within the College of Education assisting the Dean and Associate Dean as well as working with every single faculty and staff member in the college. Jennifer creates and maintains the social media accounts for the college, coordinates social events for students as well as college events, and always does every part of her job with dedication and integrity. She joined the COE during the pandemic when most of the campus was working remotely. This did not stop her from being an incredibly supportive and knowledgeable colleague. I for one appreciate being able to work with Jenn. She works long hours, puts students first in what she does and is an inspiration to all of us in the college of education.  

Dr. Suk-hee Kim demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to her students, school, college, and university as well as to the regional and national levels. Her significant contributions include mentoring through her funded grant projects and supervision for her graduate and undergraduate students, developing and establishing experiential learning projects for her students and community engagement for significant years. Dr. Kim is very actively involved with numerous community partners, schools, agencies, and organizations. She was also invited as a guest speaker and a several times to present her research and field in social work to the high school students. Her presentation was open to all five of the schools (i.e., Newport high school, Newport Central, Pendleton High School, Owen high School, Gallatin high School, and the Teen Science Cafe Network) service through the Teen Health Science Cafes. This consists of high school aged students and teachers. Dr. Kim had an opportunity to discuss the importance of mental health, including addiction with activity during the session. She is an active community-based researcher and her research involved with her undergraduate and graduate students and other students from the Music Department on campus. Dr. Kim takes her position very serious and strive to find ways to interconnect with effective leadership her teaching, research, and community engagement to support the student success and learning outcome.

Dr. Kim's scholarship and community engagement have been recognized at the university level through NKU's Inclusive Excellence Faculty Leadership Award 2020. She also is nationally recognized scholar through the 2020 Council on Social Work Education's Role and Status of Women in Social Work Education Community Impact Award. This significant award recognizes community praxis that is shaped through the process of social work education and exemplifies the values of feminist leadership models in social work education. She also is nationally recognized as the recipient of the CSWE's Commission for Diversity, Social, and Economic Justice for the prestigious professional achievement of the Community Partnership Action Inaugural Award 2019 at the national level. Most recently, Dr. Kim received a Middle Career Achievement National Award 2020 by the CSWE's Korean American Social Work Educators Association. For this reason, I would like to recommend Dr. Suk-hee Kim for recognition.

The gardens around the fountain in front of the Steely Library are beautiful! Job well done!  

Ryan works tirelessly to help our NKU students!
He is always looking for ways to improve our students journey here at NKU. He
works long hours, puts students first in all he does! He is an inspiration to
me each day!

Steve has worked here at NKU for a long time. it seems like he doesn't get the appreciation that he deserves for his hard work. that goes for all trades people on campus. they brake their back to make this place that much better. if it wasn't for them then this place would fall apart. they may not be a professor or the CEO but they work their asses off for this place and they don't get the recognition they deserve.  

I've never felt as appreciated by a supervisor before I started working with Lori. She is a constant cheerleader, always going above and beyond to make sure my colleagues and I have the support we need to do our jobs well. She advocates for us so that we have the tools and environment most suitable to serving our students while also focusing on staff wellness. Lori is a champion of social justice who promotes equity for NKU students and employees alike. She is a collaborative leader who has earned my utmost respect for her tireless efforts.  

Sue has a “can do” attitude, she is supportive, and always goes above and beyond. I feel fortunate to have her as my colleague.

She has always taken time out of her day to reach out to me and asked if I need anything. She has shown me so much kindness and respect. I was extremely glad to have her as a teacher last year.

At the end of the semester last year, I remember writing about my mental health and how I wasn't doing very well. He wrote back to me and wanted me to take care of myself and talk to someone. At the time I didn't think much of it, but looking back I really appreciate it.  

I would have not survived teaching online without Stephanie’s help. She gave me all the resources I needed and is always in Teams to assist and answer questions.

All of CITE deserves a shout out.THANK YOU!  

Jonathan goes above and beyond to help. He’s always there for us and takes the time to find a solution with you; no matter how busy he may be.

   He’s knowledgeable, funny, kind, and patient. He therefore represents the best aspects of NKU.  

Always ready to help, very nice person!

Professor Burton went above and beyond to welcome us to NKU and to Chase within and outside of her LAPS course. I’ve never had such a helpful professor. She showed us her blue book from when she was a student and allowed us to take photos and copy down anything from it we thought was important to note in our blue books. She gave us a mock torts class so we could be prepared for cold calls. She also has provided us with many guides and examples of outlines, test taking tips, and other skills we would need via email even after the class has concluded. Professor Burton genuinely cares about our success at NKU and has gone above and beyond just teaching a LAPS
class and I feel like that needs to be recognized.  

Professor Kilmer works tirelessly to provide quality education and assistance, both as an advisor and as a professor. Professor Kilmer really cares about every student she works with and it shows in the way she pulls out all the stops to help us succeed. She is the
embodiment of a caring teacher, making sure we have access to a high-quality education and the resources to complete our education.  

Mrs. Fisk really helped me with some questions and concerns I had about my major. She is a very helpful and kind person as she took the time out of her day to have a conversation with me to ease my worries. In addition, she gives great advice and deserves to be recognized.

The international student union helps a lot of international students to meet each  activities for the international students to get closer and know each other better in the international student union also helps international students to get their drivers license or Social Security number etc.  

Jasmine has gone above and beyond in her role as the Academic Advisor for the Online MSW program! Very grateful to have her on our team and she has been a major support.

I would like to recognize James for his efforts to expand the School-Based Scholars program, even in the midst of the pandemic.
Despite the chaos, he has created new partnerships with several new high schools, including some River City Schools; pursued scholarship opportunities to help high school instructors get credentialed to teach NKU courses; and generally worked to expand NKU’s presence in schools across the state. He is
well respected among dual-credit colleagues and high school administrators across the state. Dual credit is rapidly growing in the state and in the country, and James does an excellent job to keep tabs on what’s happening in the movement—to keep NKU as a central player in the state of Kentucky.

Pat is the associate director of facilities with the Campus Recreation Center. While many campus staff members were able to continue working from home through the summer months, Campus Recreation was open and he and his staff were there daily, welcoming guests. It is not uncommon to see Pat on campus early in the morning and late into the evenings until 9 or 10 p.m. On top of all his ‘normal’ duties, it is not uncommon to see him life guarding at the pool or pitching in to train student employees. He somehow also manages to have time to be on committees like Freshfusion. This year he did a fantastic job of mapping all of the tables for Freshfusion. With over 100 organizations, vendors, and info booths, he worked diligently to make sure the students and vendors had the best experience possible. He also did alot of the planning for Rec Fest, which was a huge success. Students across campus frequently mention his great sense of humor and many students look to him as a trusted advisor for a variety of issues. He has been instrumental in providing great service, not only at the Recreation Center but also through the
various programming in which he has participated.

Toni is an angel. No, seriously. We welcomed a record number of new international students over the last couple of weeks, IN A PANDEMIC, and she personally arranged to have 60+ of them picked up at the airport by a friendly member of the NKU community. She worked tirelessly (sometimes getting only 3 hours of sleep in a night) to ensure that the new students had adequate bedding, food, and care from the moment they arrived at CVG airport. These students have been here for only a few days, and already know that NKU is their home-away-from-home because she is not just an outstanding member of our community, but a fantastic human being who I am blessed beyond belief to get to work with every day.  

What can I say?!? The folks at the IT helpdesk are the best! Working with a new computer and transitioning from home to campus, I have had to call them "numerous" times to fix issues. They are ALWAYS so helpful, friendly, and patient! What would we do without them!!! Thank you guys for always taking care of my computer problems!!! YOU GUYS "ROCK"!!!

Chris and Matthew are the most responsive individuals on campus whenever a student needs a new AllCard activated or deactivated (they lose them a lot!) or when faculty need keys or access to new classrooms or lab. They are on top of every technical glitch and go out of their way in the off hours to make sure our facilities are secure, but accessible to the researchers, students and faculty who need them. They never complain, and the turn-around time is amazing considering how many individuals they serve across campus. Thanks!!!

The entire team in Admissions has done an outstanding job recruiting the class of 2025 AND welcoming them to NKU through summer orientation and new student convocation. Many Thanks to Admissions for growing Norse Nation!!

Kevin Rossell, Steve Slone, Connie and their student worker crew have continued to maintain a very positive attitude throughout all the challenges they have faced this past year starting when the campus went to a remote status. They have maintained a high level of professionalism and service even when they took on additional work with vendors not being allowed to deliver packages directly to the different departments on campus. Campus cannot function without our Mail services and I appreciate everything their team has done for the campus and its constituents.

Tommy has been the anchor to the Instructional Design team since I started working in this wonderful department 10 months ago. He has made my work experience with NKU so enjoyable and welcoming and continues to keep our team happy. He often includes our team in meetings or passes information he believes will make our jobs easier or more productive, which has proven helpful as we work with faculty numerous amounts of times. He encourages us to pursue professional development, allows us to attend non-university lectures, workshops, or trainings, and allows us to bring our own ideas and creations to the table to assist with the further development of CITE as a whole. We would not be the same without his  Steely Library and NKU are extremely lucky to have such a hands-on and understanding leader and I hope we can give him the recognition and appreciation he deserves!

Jeff consistently steers CITE in making sure we are serving the campus well, whether it's through working with the Academic Integrity workgroup and other committees to come up with resources for faculty and materials they can include within their courses. His experience on campus allows him to see which tools will best help students learn and faculty teach.

A huge thank you to Mary Chesnut for sending out handwritten, personalized notes of appreciation to library employees. Mary consistently thinks of others – students, staff and faculty. This was such a sweet gesture and gave a much needed boost to our morale in the library!!

I want to acknowledge the hard work that our custodians and labor crew do. Especially with having to put mask signage on campus after they took old signage down earlier this summer. The Labor Crew also worked diligently putting classroom furniture back to original layouts after being socially distanced. They are all hard-workers and do a lot of the behind the scenes work that doesn't always get the spotlight.  

Bert has worked at NKU for 30 years and continues to add value every day. He works well with his teams and shows kindness and respect to all. He works well with his teams, keeping our jobs interesting, and stressing his staff's strengths. He constantly works to show his appreciation for those who work with him. I feel very fortunate to work with him and have the ability to learn from him.  

Karen is always willing to help you and is quick to respond with any questions you may have. She is a great asset to the Facilities Management team and I appreciate all that she does!  

Thank you to CITE for putting together another wonderful SOFI event. It was such a great week hearing from my colleagues about the different things people have been doing in their own teaching. I walk away inspired for the Fall semester.

Pam’s contributions to Financial Assistance often go unrecognized or considered “a part of the job”. However, her service to NKU has been extraordinary in the face of many challenges. Her support is felt long after she has clocked out and gone home for the day. She is an asset to the department and I’m glad I get to work with her!  

Steve and the Mailing Services department were able to help our organization send out post cards for a student outreach initiative. They were thoughtful and did everything to make things perfect. I truly appreciate their customer service and excellence mindset. Thank you for all that you do!

Josh is truly an asset to NKU. He works tirelessly and always goes out of his way to provide the highest level of customer service. Whether planning the movement of entire office spaces or simply sweeping and mopping a concrete floor Josh always completes a task with a smile on his face. His smile is contagious. Josh is a wonderful coworker and worthy of appreciation.

Brian joined the IT/SAP team 2 years ago at one of the busiest times of the year! From the time he joined the IT team, he has worked very hard to support the HR departments (Benefits, Payroll and Budget). His system knowledge, logical approach and department support are invaluable assets to the people he supports and the University.
   Brian is the key IT person on the Benefits Annual enrollment in myNKU. This is an annual and a major undertaking for the Benefits Team, Brian and Mark Washick (developer). There is so much work to make this run smoothly each year! It is definitely a team effort.  
   Thank you Brian for all the things that you do behind the scenes to simplify the lives of NKU employees and support the IT/HR Team

If you have a payroll or tax question, or an issue with your paycheck, Stacey Horan is the one that you call or email. She will help you and correct the problem! You can count on that. And she always does it with a smile and pleasant response. Stacey is a very hard worker! She's organized, thorough and makes sure that you get paid each pay period. Unless you've done that job; it is hard to imagine the pressure that goes along with it. There are constant deadlines and many questions to answer via phone calls or emails.
   Now imagine that you've lost your boss and are now responsible for running payrolls on your own for 4 months!
   On top of it, it's tax year end with W-2's, annual tax returns and tax reconciliations that have to be completed all by 1/31. For the last 4 months, the majority of the work fell on Stacey and LaVonne to do all those things. But they are a great team; they support each other and therefore support the university in one of the most important ways.....getting everyone paid!

Dr. KC Russell is the Department Chair for Chemistry and Biochemistry. To say that his first year was tumultuous is an understatement. KC rose to each challenge and helped steer the department through each crisis. Through it all, he continued to make himself available to any student who needed help or advice. He is living the motto, "student success is my top priority," and modelling it in his leadership.

I want to specifically raise up the hard work and student success-driven efforts of the Annual Giving, Alumni Association, and Foundation Staff.   
   Through their hard and impactful work, this team raised over $310,000 by connecting with 590 donors in a day! These funds will assist students with scholarships, technology upgrades, and provide for other supports to help NKU be more student-ready.
   #NorseNation has an awesome team to support our students' success on their journey to becoming Norse alumni. #ThaNKU

The student and professional staff of the Student Union have continued to push through COVID-19 related challenges to provide space for the campus community to safely connect, rest, and engage in physically-distanced social opportunities. Thank you!

Rebecca does great work with excellence and precision! She is the glue in The Office of Admissions.
Thanks Rebecca!  

Amanda is committed and dedicated to her work. She works tirelessly to support her team and to organize the various career fairs. She spends countless hours communicating with employers and promoting NKU to them. She is a true light at NKU!  

Tiffany organized a great MLK Day of Service! This event is always a great way to see the NKU community come together and give back and this year was no different. The dialogue was rich, the content intriguing, and the message unifying. Thank you Tiffany to your commitment to NKU and student success!  

Josh is great about quickly responding to all the requests I send to the Registrar's Office and making student registration a top priority! Thanks Josh!  

Julie goes above and beyond to ensure that the grant submissions she oversees are not just acceptable, but the best they can be.  

Ken is a conscientious and dedicated member of the NKU staff. After having received a promotion and moving over to the Budget Office he continued to work wit Facilities Management, not only to fill the void to also help identify, recruit and train his replacement. His service beyond the call of duty must not go unrecognized and unappreciated - thank you Ken!  

Scott Barton is an outstanding employee and even better co-worker. He is always willing to lend a hand, or an ear, to help out and not only is he compassionate and down to earth, he is also 100% Genuine! Scott Barton, you're the real deal! Thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, and longevity!  

This year, the CINSAM team has pulled out all the stops to adapt their work for our changing circumstances at NKU and across our region. There have been so many unknowns that you had to work around or through, and you have done it with aplomb and without complaint. I have been amazed at how well your efforts have paid off (STEM at Home, STEM Peer Mentors, STEM Conference, SCI 110, iSTP and more).
   Your efforts are a perfect manifestation of NKU's innovative, student-centered, and community engaged spirit. Keep up the fantastic work!

Maureen Krebs is the assistant to the dean in the college of Health & Human Services. She is adept at almost any function involving a computer, email, Zoom meeting, web cam, printer, or even a pencil and paper! She is smart, capable, kind and caring and laughs a lot. She is generous with her time and talents, and again - is always ready to see the softer, even humorous side of almost everything. She is a joy to work with and for. I suspect the Dean and our whole College would agree.

Jordan has been working until the brakes fell off and she is still pushing. She is thoughtful, intelligent, thorough, and protective of our student staff when we feel they sometimes aren't advocated for. I cheer her on any time she crosses my mind and when/if she leaves us, I don't know what I'll do!

Carlous is an unsung hero for the love and dedication he has for his ROCKS students. The week of Thanksgiving, Carlous made a late night delivery of snacks, drinks, theraflu and other medicines needed to his students who were stuck in their residences due to being either ill or quarantined. He is selfless in his dedication to being a mentor and even a pseudo-parent to Black students on campus and truly deserves to be recognized in this way.

Dr.Dk is a wonderful teacher. Some professor have office hours although Dr.DK had office hours his door was always open. When I struggling in class with a 54 average I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to succeed in the class. I reach out for help and he took the time to sit with me for at least an hour at a time to make sure I understood the class and wouldn’t get left behind. As a professor they’re time is valuable and limited they’re also pulled many directions with so many students but Dr.DK takes the
time to help his students. He’s a wonderful statistics teacher and teachers in such a way that helps you be successful. I’ve had a wonderful 1st semester here at NKU and it’s thanks to teachers such as Dr.Dk.  

Staff Congress and Faculty Senate representatives all know that Grace is a huge asset to the university with her tireless behind the scenes efforts in supporting these governing bodies. We could not function without her. Thank you for all that you do Grace!!!

Amanda does an amazing job keeping the FH/HE building in good shape. The bathrooms are always clean and mopped. She sweeps our offices and keeps the copy room clean. She is very friendly and addresses any concerns we have (i.e. out of toilet paper or toilet not flushing) immediately. She works very hard to make the building look very nice and I truly appreciate all her hard work.
Thanks Amanda for everything you do for the building!!

Dr. Yazdanpour is a very dedicated and hardworking professor. He is extremely helpful to his colleagues and students. He even spent his weekend times to respond students' request.  

Brooke has been working hard at the front desk of HCSW supporting students with scheduling counseling and nursing services. Supporting nursing staff with running multiple vaccine clinics. She is putting in long hard days and is dedicated to serving students.  

I would like to recognize Dr. Ma for being a fantastic professor and instructor. She goes out of her way to make her content relatable and interesting and is probably the most approachable professor I have ever had. She is very understanding when things come up and is willing to work with you to make sure you succeed. It is evident that she truly cares about her students and always manages to make me smile when I attend her class. (Which for chemistry classes isn't always easy!)

Kristi is an amazing boss and works very hard to ensure that students at the library are taken care of.  

I honestly do not think I would have completed my Bachelor's degree if it was not for the kindness of Dr. Erin Masters. She believed in me when I was struggling to believe in my own abilities. I went through a life-altering traumatic experience while taking her course and the patience and understanding she showed me were beyond anything I could have expected. Here I am, months later still struggling after these same issues; except, now I am working on my master's degree. I found myself in one of her courses again. I have a son who is special needs but does not qualify for specialized care. I cannot have anyone else watch my son because he can be unpredictable and suddenly violent. He can be a threat to the safety of himself and others. I started off the beginning of the course really rough. However, Dr. Masters has graciously allowed me to bring my son to class with me. This has made all the difference in my education. Dr. Masters really focuses on using evidence-based methods of teaching. The pre-reading assignments are brutal sometimes but they really are incredibly effective at ensuring students understand the content before they can proceed. Additionally, she gives assignments that get us to work on our critical thinking skills and apply knowledge to real-life situations. She provides a full spectrum type of approach in her lectures. She doesn't just address textbook accounting topics but situations in entering the field that we may not be aware of. She introduced her accounting students to networking and other important concepts outside of journal entries and income statements. I honestly feel like Dr. Masters wants nothing more than to see all of us succeed in life and that is a feeling I will always treasure from my time at NKU. Dr. Masters has changed my life in more ways than she could ever know. I am eternally in her debt.
Thank you.  

These two teachers have understood my events that I personally had in life and worked with me. I could have easily quit. Had 4 deaths and 3 personal sickness yet they have answered all my emails while struggling and told me to hang on. I appreciate the fact they actually cared. You do not see that too much today! Thanks to their advice on hung on and might pass....

She went the extra mile with helping me get my graduation paperwork in order. The registrar messed something up but she sorted it out for me!

Beth is someone who radiates kindness and norse pride wherever she goes! She is always hard at work in her position, even on vacations and off-days. She is always willing to offer her knowledge and experience in order to help anywhere who may need kindness. She is extremely generous, compassionate, and always lending a helping hand as well as great advice. Outside of the office, Beth is always spreading norse pride, promoting the school as much as she can by attending sporting events, wearing NKU gear, and praising the university as a whole. Beth not only helps the university, but also acts as a volunteer in our community through the Barracks Project, which offers support and resources to veterans. Beth is a great example of kindness
and excellence here at NKU.  

Dan Ginn is one of the people who make NKU great. Not only is he one of the proudest alum I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, he is also an absolutely amazing advisor, who goes above and beyond to connect his students with the resources they need to be their best at NKU. In addition to the work he does in COI, this year he started as the advisor for Presidential Ambassadors. This role, in which he does completely on his own time, truly demonstrates his love for NKU. He provides support for the organizations while still allowing its members to make their own decisions and forge their own ways.  

NVP is such an amazing resource on campus!

Georgia took a training that I was supposed to run with a half hour's notice and ran it for me when I fell ill. Instead of having to reschedule, Georgia stepped up to keep things running smoothly.  

Candice is one of the kindest and most helpful people at NKU. I am a staff member and also a student. Candice is a wonderful advisor and she cares about the students she helps; she goes above and beyond for them. I unexpectedly had to do a medical withdraw and she walked me through all of it with kindness and understanding. Candice is a gracious and caring faculty member and I am grateful to know her.

Paula joined Chase Law at a very difficult time, and, as such, she has gotten lost in the shuffle! While this note cannot adequately "make up" for our team's shortcomings, it is sent with much gratitude for all she does and for who she is.  
   Paula has worked tirelessly to bring transparency to our business operations, which serves to make everyone feel like part of the bigger system. She has spent her time training staff in processes that are important to keep us functioning, and this training is done on her own since NKU does not have a robust staff training program.   Paula also "shows up" everyday with a desire to serve. She is bright, kind, funny, and sharp as a tack! She truly cares about creating an inclusive environment and seeks to make people feel supported in their roles. Paula's contribution to our team is invaluable.

I am a new employee and since I've been hired SFA has had a lot of changes. In my opinion, Sherri has been the backbone that has kept us together as we face these changes/challenges. She is a resource and she is always helpful as I navigate the new office and the changes. We are all wearing different/new hats and Sherri has not been afraid to step up and make sure we keep moving forward. She is appreciated and should be recognized.  

Lori is always willing to help with any SAP access issues. She is kind and helpful, and doesn't make those who are "less technical" feel inadequate. She provides screenshots to ensure everything is clear. Her understanding and compassion in helping others are
most appreciated!

Ben is an invaluable resource to Sculpture and Ceramic students. He is technically proficient in the use of all studio equipment and freely shares his knowledge in the absence of professors, ensuring student safety. He also has in-depth knowledge in ceramic, metal, and woodworking techniques. Students frequently seek his suggestions in problem-solving or request his assistance in performing certain tasks. His desire to build community among students is best demonstrated as the Pizza Master on Fridays. Ben brings ‘from scratch’ dough from home and fires a dedicated kiln with the sole interest of attracting students to the studios to
make and share pizza…and hopefully also work on their art. Ben is the heart of the studio. He keeps the equipment working, ensures materials and supplies are stocked. A frequently overheard question is, “Where is Ben?” He is also called upon by people outside the department to make awards or assist with theater props. I’ve never heard him deny a reasonable request. His interest in helping students succeed is overwhelmingly evident every day.

I understand that these folks are used to working under tight deadlines and high pressure situations, but Heath et al. were so incredibly patient and responsive during my recent interactions with them that I think they deserve some uppreciation. I'm new to the world of grants and felt like I was under trial by fire as unfamiliar acronyms, terms, and formulas were thrown at me by the collaborating institution's budget office. But Heath really helped explain each step and truly saved the day when there were last minute changes requested by the collaborating institution.   I also think it's important to mention that this remarkable service occurred while they are currently short-staffed. In short, thank you to everyone in this office, but especially Heath. Your calm helped me stay calm and get the grant submitted on time.

I would like to give a shout-out to Steely Library for accepting workers with disabilities. This shows there is diversity within the work space and it is a welcoming environment for all students. Seeing individuals help clean, check out books at desk, and take part in
actually being employees is something truly cherishing to see. Thank you Steely
for being so accepting.  

Julie, Thank you for your tremendous help as I was learning a new task. Your willingness to answer my questions made my learning process smooth and ensured my success. Thank you once again for your help and support. I’m extremely fortunate to have you as a colleague

Professor Vise always makes her class a fun and enjoyable environment! She helps her students in anyway she can and is always open to new ideas for the class. Her positive  welcoming and I loo forward to her class because of it. She also pushes her students to think outside the box and to never be afraid to ask questions! I am so glad to have her as a teacher and I can't wait to see where the rest of the semester leads!

Steve Slone embodies what it means to be a Norse! He and the team in mail/distribution services always go above and beyond in supporting everyone across campus. Steve is helpful, hardworking, and dedicated to making NKU excellent. He has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic supporting all of us through the services offered through his office. I for one always appreciate working with him.  

   I am a new adjunct instructor for NKU. I am teaching a lab in the nursing program. Angela Powell has not only allowed me to sit in on several of her classes to observe, but she has definitely gone above and beyond to make me feel welcome and ensure I have all of the necessary tools to be successful. She has oriented me to the classroom and equipment, walked me around to meet other instructors, and shared with me her PowerPoints, notes and resources. In addition, she physically walked me to
the AllCard department when I asked her to direct me to it. She tracked down a textbook for me to have when the one ordered for me had not come in yet. She ensured I had a space to work when on campus prior to my class since I am only here 1 day a week and do not have an office. None of these things were required of Angela.
Angela has demonstrated true compassion and leadership characteristics in her interactions with me. I have no doubt that she treats her students with just as much time and attention as she has with me. Her
students are blessed to have a such a kind and caring professor. Angela deserves recognition for her efforts to make sure I have been onboarded appropriately. I can't give enough thanks to Angela for such a positive experience in my start at NKU.  

Terri has been a staple at NKU for nearly 38 years now! Even after retiring for the first time more than 10 years ago, she continues to come to work each day with a positive attitude and is always willing to help others. There is no way to truly explain how great of an asset she is to NKU, but we want her to know that she is appreciated, uppreciated, and loved on campus! Thank you for all that you do each and every day!

Sheila goes above and beyond her job. She is here at 4:00 a.m. every morning. She is more than Assist Supervisor. She works other peoples floor when they are not here. She keeps up on the laundry from cleaning rags, mops and dust mops, plus all the Supervisors duties. She is constantly on the go. I just wanted to Thank her for a fine job she is doing.

The Access Services Department of Steely is home to some of the most hardworking and dedicated staff at NKU. They give their all to Steely, and their dedication does not go unnoticed. Working mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays, Access Services is the backbone of Steely. Each member goes above and beyond to help students, faculty, staff, and their student workers in any way they can.

   Thank you to all of the staff members in Access Services for being such wonderful leaders and supporters despite the craziness and uncertainty of recent years. You make coming to work enjoyable—even on the hard days!  

Dr. O'Connor goes above and beyond for her advisee's, I have needed her more times than I can count this semester and she has been far more than an advisor, she is someone I can only hope to be 1/10th of. Thank you for always being an amazing, wildly intelligent woman to look up to.  

One doesn't think of NKU without thinking of Melissa Gorbandt. She works tirelessly to promote and recruit students to NKU from our region, state, and across the country. Each fall Melissa organizes the new student orientation weekend which includes FreshFusion, VictorFest, and Northern Exposure. Her and the entire Admissions team staff's herculean efforts pay off with students who are excited at becoming Norse and parents who know that their children will have an amazing experience at NKU. Melissa works tirelessly to support those students as well as many faculty and staff across campus. I for one, appreciate all that she does to make NKU a special place to be.  

As the academic assistant for the department of teacher preparation and educational studies, Sarah Hellman goes above and beyond in supporting the department and the college as a whole. She is always supportive and understanding and works to create a vibrant environment. Sarah is the glue that holds our department together!

She’s a great instructor who cares about her students.

Andrew has only been working at NKU a couple months but he has hit the ground running. I have seen him accomplish so much, while also supporting the student  running the Greek community. He is an incredible advisor and is so helpful. The last two  months have been chaotic but we appreciate everything he has done!  

The first day was one of the hardest that I have ever experienced. I was stressed, overwhelmed, and I missed home. My mother encouraged me to talk to someone at NKU, a mentor or a faculty member. I went to my music advisor, Joan Brummer, and as soon as I sat down in her office, she immediately directed all her attention to me, she listened to me, she gave me a hug, and she told me that I would do it. Later that day, she took the time to personally walk me over to seek more help, asked if I wanted her to wait with me, and told me to check in with her the next day. I checked in with her for the next two days and the one day I did not stop by her office, she personally emailed me to ask if I was doing ok and to check on me. I have never experienced such care from a faculty member before, and she was incredibly kind, sincere, and supportive of me. I am beyond grateful to her for helping, and I think that her love for her students should be recognized. Thank you!

I purchased the wrong bundle for a class and because it was opened I could not researched and got the cheapest loose leaf option so that I could purchase it
from the bookstore. HUGE help

Professor Boltz is the only professor in the Chase College of Law, thus far, who has expressed an appropriate concern for us and our families' exposure to COVID-19. While administrators seem intent on ensuring our repeated exposure the the variants, in entire disregard of our and our families' health concerns, Prof. Boltz has responded to our fears with clarity and honesty.

   Professor Boltz is the only faculty member who I presently trust to advocate for student's legitimate concerns. The NKU and Chase Law administration seems more focused on ensuring our presence on campus, and our consequential need to spend money on campus, for NKU's benefit and their own (see: parking passes, mandatory meal plans).

   Professor Boltz deserves to be recognized for her forthright, realistic, and altruistic approach to this semester.  

Dr. Fieler always goes above and beyond for her students. Not only is she an amazing professor, but she takes the time to get to know students and make sure they are doing well inside and outside of school.
Dr. Fieler works hard to ensure students have access to resources they
can utilize and help those around her. She also works non-stop to keep courses
current, and helpful for student’s progression and education. She is willing to
always listen to her students ideas about all aspects of courses, and is willing to make changes for the better of her students. Dr. Fieler inspires me to work hard for what I enjoy and has built my self confidence in skills that she has helped me foster.

   I would like to recognize a true rockstar, Kelsey Haskins. For the past few years, Kelsey has done the work of multiple people as offices and positions have shifted within Admissions. She works with folks across campus and in our community to not only support the admission of students to NKU but to create pathways, grow partnerships, and further NKU’s strategic plan. She always has a smile on her face and brings a positive attitude to every meeting. So much of what she does is
behind-the-scenes type work, but she’s really a star player

All three of these young people, along with an army of Global Ambassadors, had a significant and positive impact on incoming international students during the onboarding of Fall '21 international students.    

Student worker, Bijay Rimal, organized and oversaw our team of Global Ambassadors and other student volunteers who assisted international students just finishing quarantine with essential tasks such as taking them to the HCSW Office for COVID testing and vaccinations, escorting them to advisor appointments and immigration check-in workshops, and giving them tours around campus.  

 Marketing Intern, Dylan Nguyen, was indispensable as our liaison between NKU Housing and the Center for Global Engagement and Int'l Affairs Office keeping us updated on changing room assignments for quarantined students and even personally delivering both quarantine meals and the essential extras requested by students in quarantine such as bottled water, antacids, and pain relievers. 
   
Student Worker, Victoria Butcher, "held down the fort" with grace and kindness as many of our staff members were occupied with airport arrivals and quarantine meal deliveries to area hotels along with their normal immigration and admission duties. The volume of student traffic to our International Student and Scholar Services and our Office of Education Abroad office was significantly higher than in past years, yet she assisted each student with utmost professionalism.  
   We are so grateful to each of these young people for embodying the care and concern NKU has for the personal and academic success of each and every student. 

Scott Beseler, our university photographer, consistently goes above and beyond capturing the most important and everyday moments on campus. He takes pride in his photography and it shows! Scott can be found daily on campus and at events in the evening and on the weekends. His photographs are an integral part of the history and branding of the university. Not to mention that Scott always has a smile and brings positivity as a colleague and ambassador for the university.

Jasmine Riddlespriger has been a great addition to the CHHS Advising team. She is very prompt and always willing to learn new things to better advise her students. Keep up the great work, Jasmine!  

So Grateful for the partnership with the Office of Financial Assistance as we collaborate to help students apply, verify and understand their aid. The work of financial aid is tedious and difficult ...and essential. Thank you for the many hours the team has devoted to processing awards, answering questions, and partnering with colleagues at NKU

Erin has been so helpful with acquisition requests. Even when she is not able to find something, she comes back with information about other things that might work. She's knowledgeable of the process and always happy to help.Thanks for making this process so easy.

Sherry Cucchiara, Director of the NKU Grant County, has a wider breadth of duties than anyone at NKU and manages those duties with great success.   
She is the only administrator for an entire program of the university 40 miles from main campus. She recruits students, supports students, and provides student services such as a food pantry. She supports faculty, maintains computers, oversees the grounds (including some gorgeous flowers), finds and oversees maintenance workers, and addresses many maintenance issues herself (and keep in mind the building in Grant County was built about 20 years before NKU was established.) She does marketing, community relations, and runs a variety of events. She builds the program’s schedule, supervises student workers, takes care of security, and I have seen her shoveling snow to provide access to the building.  

   Jeff is one of the best manager/leaders I have had the pleasure of working with. He listens to the needs of the staff, accommodates in every way he can, and always has our backs even in difficult times. He goes out of his way constantly to make sure we have what we need to do our jobs efficiently, and always makes us feel like valued members of the team. His wife even made us sweet little cards just to say thank you for the work we do with CITE/the university which was just so sweet of the both of them. We'd be lost without him and I would love for the Library and the whole of NKU to know how much we appreciate all he does for us!

Tommy has shown great leadership and has been a wonderful mentor, as I am a new staff member at NKU I have learned so much and I know I will continue to learn even more under his guidance. During the time of working remote, he was always there to help me get up to speed here at NKU and that is hard to do when working remotely! 
He is calm in stressful situations and fun to work with every day!  

As part of an effort to offer new professional development for NKU faculty and staff, I needed a web page put together on very short notice. Tim took a simple mock-up and made a great-looking, completely functional page in record time.  

Megan LaDow helped Norse Advising all summer with New Student Orientation, and it involved a lot of effort to pivot to new changes, to work on lists for all advisors in our unit daily for which students
were attending for each day and their needs, and to monitor constant changing situations with student attendance for the various orientation dates all summer long, along with employees who had to adjust schedules based on personal needs. It can be tricky to manage many moving parts at the same time, and Megan handled each situation with grace and poise. The whole orientation process for our office went very smooth in large part to her dedication and effort which was tremendous all summer long! She certainly deserves a Kudos and appreciation for this work!

Teresa's dedication to NKU and the College of Business is beyond exceptional! She is the true definition of a Team Player.
Just in the last year, she has stepped up twice to take on a 'double' role, covering the responsibilities of a second staff position during vacant periods of time. She takes such pride in her work and works endlessly to make sure the needs of students, faculty, and staff are met.  

Without the efforts of our amazing staff, it would be impossible for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to be as efficient as it is and serve our students as well as we do. The transition online and then to a hybrid model meant the stockroom was responsible for preparing hundreds of samples so each student had their own set of chemicals and could work with proper social distancing. In addition to that Kris and Jim did an incredible job reconfiguring all of our teaching labs so students and faculty could work safely through the pandemic. Going remote also created challenges in the front office, but Christine never missed a step. In fact, she is usually one step ahead, making sure our faculty and students have everything
they need when they need it -sometimes even before they even know they need it.

Allison Schmidt goes out of her way to embody all that a Norse can be. She works through FUEL to provide resources and ensure food security for students. She is caring, compassionate and puts in extra time and effort above and beyond regular work hours. I’ve witnessed Allison ensuring that students have access to all the resources they need beyond FUEL to connect them with meaningful long-term supports in student services. She serves as a role-model and mentor to students across campus. NKU is fortunate to have someone as caring and compassionate as Allison.

Karen goes above and beyond everyday to support the teams and offices she works with. Karen adds a positive attitude, smile and lightens the mood of every meeting or job that she does.   
   Her level of detail insures that the work she does is accurate. She holds herself accountable and is extremely thorough in the work she does.
    I've worked with Karen for many years and am so lucky to call her my co-worker. Thank you Karen for all you do!!

Dr. Guy is not just an amazing professor, he is an amazing person. His upbeat, positive, can-do attitude, and sense of humor make him a student, faculty, and staff favorite. He always finds a way to make those around him feel appreciated for their work even though he is very busy with teaching and research. I wanted to be sure to recognize Dr. Guy who recognizes all the good things done by others. He is quick to help, offer encouragement and praise, and he is incredibly humble despite all he does for students, the university, and his community. He is a wonderful asset to the NKU Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and all who are fortunate enough to know him.

Kudo's to our incredible faculty who with very little notice last March moved their classes online. Moving labs to an online format was especially challenging, but the faculty rose to this challenge and has worked so hard to keep students engaged and learning at the same level in an online and hybrid teaching environment. As difficult as it has been, they have consistently risen to the occasion, and have not only met the online need, but gone above and beyond to make sure their students had the help and resources they needed to succeed. I am incredibly proud of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department Faculty and their hard work and dedication to the students of Northern Kentucky University.  

As the IT consultant for the English Department, where I am a faculty member, Ed Trujillo has been enormously helpful in supporting my ongoing adjustment to online teaching. He is kind, patient, professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to go the extra mile. I know for a fact that my and others’ teaching quality is greatly enhanced because of his help and support. I sincerely believe that Ed Trujillo deserves this recognition for his exceptional work ethic and service.

Roads & Grounds are continuing to keep us safe during the winters months by keeping the roads and sidewalks clean of snow and ice. Even though there is a significantly decreased community on campus no corners have been cut and those of us here daily appreciate the hard work and effort they put into our beautiful campus!

Hayden processes the paperwork for all of the the College of Business internship students. He stays on top of all the paperwork and is always ready to help with any student issues that arise. He is also great about developing ideas to streamline processes and serves as a liaison for many constituents. Thanks for your continued partnership!  

Denzil helped me quickly handle a student enrollment issue that resulted in the student being able to accept a co-op position. I appreciate Denzil's commitment to NKU and student success!  

Beth has served the NKU community for more than 3 decades now. She has been dedicated to our student-centered and community-engaged mission throughout, guiding us to do the right thing and helping us find the best way to do it. And she does it all with equanimity and a smile!

Given the turmoil the nation has witnessed, over the past several months related to racial, social and political unrest, the officers of University Police have continued to work diligently to ensure a safe and secure campus. Despite the negative coverage law enforcement has received during this turbulent period, our Police has continued to perform their mission with professional pride and a sense of service. In my limited encounter them with them around campus, throughout the pandemic (and earlier) I have found them helpful, respectful, caring and always serving with a smile.
Chief Gaffin and Lieutenant Love have led their team by example - thank you!

Amanda Kilmer represents the ideals that I have come to appreciate at NKU. She works tirelessly to ensure students are listened to and supported in their academic endeavours, taking the extra step to connect students with a person rather than just a website/office. She looks for options and opportunities that have made the difference between graduating or having to 'sit out'. If there is a way, she will find it. She is willing to share selflessly of her knowledge, experience and resources--often foregoing any recognition for her hard work, but instead encouraging and showing appreciation
for the other individual's efforts. She cares more about helping a student then being recognized for her commitment and labor towards student access and completion. As an advisor, she is easily in the top 5 on campus and number one in my estimation. She has the historical knowledge of where to find obscure information that may help a transfer student make the best use of their existing credits and the network to help incoming students make tough decisions about how to incorporate a secondary area of focus. As faculty, she is keenly aware of our students needs and provides a student - centered approach to building courses that help our students apply what they've learned in the 'real world'. I cannot say enough about what a treasure she is to our community and how she has transformed my ability to advise and teach in our department. We are all richer for having her in our campus community. It is for these reasons and many more related to collegiality and student success, that I strongly recommend her for recognition.

I want to appreciate the NKU facilities employees who have done an incredible job this year keeping our spaces clean, beautiful, well-stocked, and safe for everyone. You all have always do this, but this year, you've been working in difficult situations as our essential workers. Thank you very much!

Amanda Kilmer is the Organizational Leadership Program Coordinator. Along with our Program Director and Dept. Chair, Amanda works tirelessly for the benefit of our program's students, wearing three 'hats' to successfully balance administrative responsibilities with her teaching and advising responsibilities. From recruitment and admission through graduation, Amanda supports Organizational Leadership students tirelessly, guiding them through the unknown, directing them to resources as needed, helping them to understand the path toward degree completion, and assisting them in finding the most beneficial and direct path possible for each student. Her compassion and empathy are immeasurable. She recognizes that each student's journey is unique and provides the appropriate level of challenge and support to facilitate their growth and success on their journey. For this and so many other reasons, I'd like to recognize Amanda with "Norse Uppreciation". :)  

Dr.Ball has been the most phenomenal teacher I have come across in my academic career both from high school experience to college experience. I graduated high school by just an inch. I struggle a lot in high school and chemistry was a subject I ran from. I was nervous about taking chemistry again as my previous experience informed me i might not do well.
Dr.Ball is an excellent teacher she is able to explain things in such a way to anyone truly could learn from her and succeed. She goes above and beyond for her students providing more material than most for practice and any question you have either in her class or another she will gladly answer and help in any way she can. I have three little ones and during the semester there was a positive COVID in the ELC center where my daughter attends and I had to miss class while we quarantine and she made what should have been a stressful situation anything but stressful. In my experience college professors don’t have to go the extra mile. You show up do the assignments assigned they read from a slide and then that’s all you get. Dr.Ball is truly a gifted teacher and she loves her job and her students and it shows in the way she teaches and the amount of effort she puts into her students. I could talk about her superb teaching skills till my face turns blue but I had to take the time and let NKU know what a wonderful asset Dr.Ball is to the chemistry department if there’s a teacher of the year award she really should get it. I barely made it thru high school chemistry but I received an A in her class which is far more than I had expected to receive. I truly believe she gave me all the tools I needed to be
successful and then some.

Lisa is always so helpful in answering my Accounts Payable questions and helping me troubleshoot various invoice issues. She is patient when explaining how things work on her side of our financial systems and has been an excellent resource overall. Lisa has also been great about connecting me with her coworkers when my accounting question falls more into someone else's purview. Thank you for all that you do!

Samra always goes above and beyond. She is always positive and helpful to us.  

Hayden manages the co-op/internships for the COB and does an amazing job with the process. He answers countless questions from students, employers, and staff daily. Most recently, he trained the other Experience Managers on how to use BW reports, saving them tons of time on record verification! Thanks Hayden for being a colleague who goes above and beyond to help others and put students first!  

Over the past several years, Gwenette has patiently and tirelessly assisted me as I navigated my undergraduate journey. Before I was even attending and was just working on getting to a place where I could start, she answered each email and each call without fail. She has spent so much time helping me to find the easiest way to my goal of finally obtaining a bachelor's degree.  

   Without Gwenette, I don't believe that I would be an NKU student, let alone be a year away from graduating. Thank you NKU for hiring such caring and dedicated staff to help "adult learners" like me to achieve our lifelong dreams! The support of Gwenette and NKU has changed my life and I'm so thankful. NKU Rocks!  

Tina not only left a legacy at NKU during her time as a student but continues to make an incredible impact on the students she works with daily in her role as a COI Academic Advisor and adjunct professor for INF 100. Tina is the type of person you can rely on - without fail - to work hard, go above and beyond, brighten your day, and simply be a
genuine human being. Even on busier or more stressful days, Tina is looking out for her team and her students to make sure everyone has what they need to be successful. Most importantly, Tina is a kind, funny, and thoughtful person who we are all fortunate to know. So thankful for Tina every day!

Rusty is working day in and out for each and every student he comes into contact with. I've seen him weave in and out of meetings tirelessly to build the Veteran and Norse community. He is truly passionate about helping people and ALWAYS responds to his emails and little notes students leave with questions for any situation. He is kind hearted, friendly and really the kind of person colleges need to make school feel less
like an institution and more like a nourishing educational home. He is building a beautiful community foundation here at NKU that is much desired and needed.
He's quick to honor others sacrifices and work but he himself deserves recognition.  

I would like to recognize Professor Nordheim because she goes above and beyond for my NRS 250 class. This was a very hard semester transitioning from fundamentals and she always shows her concern for us not even in just her class but how we are overall. We do not have supplemental instruction this semester, so she gives us some SI questions that help to prepare us for the exams. Thank you for all that you do Professor Nordheim!

I have had Professor Moffet for many English classes. Each class she has gone above and beyond in teaching her courses. During COVID when we were all on zoom she made her classes as online friendly as possible. Which sometimes was hard because many of the workshops we do are best done in person.  

   Because of Professor Moffet my spark was relit. There was a time during COVID that my focus on studies started to suffer. I could not find the joy and excitement anyone in any of my projects. But the writing classes Professor Moffet brought that joy back. I’ve seen more grow in my writing and self confidence in one semester then I could ever hope to see.  

While I admit that Dr. Cho's classes can seem unconventional at first glance, I believe he offers a great deal to students in not only explaining complex subjects in a succinct manner but also his daily reminders of affirmation when facing very difficult tasks. Dr. Cho takes no time to remind the class each day that, although the subjects we are dealing with are difficult to grasp in both their theory and implementation, we are
"smart and capable" and that we should not put ourselves down or give up.

Nick's passion for art is truly contagious. He inspires his students with his excitement and positive encouragement. He is dedicated to creating an engaging classroom for his students. Although I don't currently have him as a teacher, he still waves to me in the halls and makes time to talk to me. He makes me and all of his students feel truly included in the NKU community.

Donna has been working in NKU's SOTA building for many years. Donna is known for her wit, fierce heart, and friendly personality. Not only has she has been a friend to everyone who walks through the SOTA doors, she has personally been an uplifting spirit during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

   The custodial staff doesn't receive much appreciation as faculty and administration for their hard work, but they should! I have seen Donna fight for accommodations on behalf of student wellbeing and better conditions for her fellow staff. Donna speaks to students about their problems, their dreams, and just their everyday life. She shows up everyday with an open heart and Norse spirit. She and the rest of the custodial staff who work to keep the facilities at SOTA running everyday are most deserving of Norse Uppreciation.  

Alyssa comes to work with a smile and a great attitude. She does whatever we ask of her without complaint. She works hard and is always willing to help with whatever is asked. Her work is accomplished quickly and efficiently. We know we can always trust that she has done a great job for us!

Chris Middendorf is an outstanding employee and Co-worker. He works in the Custodial Department. He is always willing to fill in on an open floor to clean. He always has a smile on his face. He has a good attitude. He is committed to his job. He is a hard worker. Chris has had some personal issues this year. He has stayed positive through the whole thing. He tells me "Somebody has it worse then I do". Sometimes he works 14 hrs. overtime and never complains. He never lets it slow him down. I just
wanted to give Credit where Credit is do. I just wanted to say "Great job Buddy". Thanks for all your hard work.  

Michael worked with me on a project for the programs for Spotlight on Scholarship. He went "above and aboard" to help get the programs produced and printed, even correcting a mistake on my part, and had them delivered in time for the event! Thank you Michael...excellent service as usual!!! You are so "uppreciated"!!! :-)

Christy has developed, directed, and provided the material resources in providing the weekly drop-in Creativity & Connection Support Group for students allowing students an opportunity to enjoy art activities as an avenue to both converse and engage in self-care behavior.

Brigitte works hard to ensure NKU's web pages are accessible and meet Section 504 and 508 compliance standards. She works with web editors from all across campus to help them ensure their web pages meet compliance standards. She often meets resistance, but she continues to offer her assistance to ensure NKU does not receive federal complaints from the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Civil Rights. She is a true advocate for NKU and accessibility!

Stacey is always so helpful and quick to respond to any requests. I greatly appreciate her and the amazing support I know she provides to all across campus!  

Patrick assisted my family and me during a moment when we had a safety concern around MEP. Patrick helped us while he was leaving for the day, and I am thankful for his willingness to demonstrate NKU's values around collegiality, campus safety, and excellence. Thank you for your help, Patrick!

Thank you for your help with my project. I never knew the extent of the skills and expertise you possess in this domain. Working with you was a great experience, and your knowledge and skills are phenomenal.

THANK YOU RAMI! Rami has continually gone over and beyond for our students.
He has offered multiple CPR trainings for our nursing students so that they meet their clinical requirements, he has offered additional dates to fit their schedules, and even done one-on-one trainings so that students do not miss their clinical experiences due to being out of compliance.  

Rose Tempel and the Health Services staff's effort, dedication, and support for our campus community over the last 18 months have never wavered, and their work has only grown.
   
   While I wish it were a box of $100 bills, I hope you’ll accept our collective thanks and gratitude. I, personally, am in awe of the amount of emotional, physical, and mental labor they have managed, and am proud to work alongside them.
   
   Thank you and take care.

Vicki is a wonderful Staff Congress representative. She really cares about her work and supporting the staff of NKU. I know whenever I have a question related to being a staff member at NKU I can go to her and get an answer or information for where I can get an answer. We are lucky to have her on our team.

He puts actual effort into his lessons to make them internetting to his students!!

Kacie says hi to every student she sees, no matter what she's doing or what time of the day it is. She always has a smile on her face, and keeps the classrooms organized. I her here, our students would not be receiving the same quality of care we are
now. She brightens our day.  

Kyndreck works at Housing and in the Kenton Garage. He goes absolutely above and beyond for his job, this university, and for his peers/coworkers. Going into projects, no matter how big or complex, the result is always one that makes the situation better. Kyndreck is a problem solver, he is reliable, and has an extraordinary work ethic, balancing his love and loyalty for his jobs, alongside being a student and an intern. He is always willing to help out and takes his tasks seriously, not to mention, he always
has a bright smile and a way to make you laugh along the way. He deserves
recognition for his hard work and complete loyalty to making NKU a safe, happy
and enjoyable place!!

Michelle has been deeply involved with the writing community on campus ever since stepped up to be the faculty advisor for Loch Norse Magazine and has been a great help to the organization. She has inspired writers to get interested in publication and is a gem to have for workshops. She has an undeniable belief
that all of her students have great writing within them, and she helps bring that talent out in class. She went above and beyond this year for Loch Norse by helping us navigate our work through a national pandemic and make sure our virtual open mic nights were still as special as in person. She’s understanding, supportive, an excellent teacher and mentor, and just fun to be around. She will continue to do amazing things for NKU’s writing community and deserves recognition for her dedication.  

The staff is very approachable and knowledgeable when it comes to fixing any problems with technology. They helped me fix and work around a problem I had with my chromebook.

With over 100 new international students pouring into NKU this year, ISS and OEA have worked tirelessly to make these students feel at home. It has been especially challenging for them with Covid throwing new problems their way. From quarantine to transportation, this team has jumped through every hoop to keep our new students safe and healthy.  

   I am a student and also a GTA working with Dr. Jen Cellio. Dr. Cellio has also been my teacher for several classes. She is a mentor at heart, and leads by demonstration, modeling for her pedagogy students how to lead, teach, and in conjunction with what we study. So to speak--she walks the walk. Her dedication to student success is seen in her compassion for everyone and her belief in everyone's abilities. She also holds her students to a standard in academics that ensures we leave her classroom with a full understanding of the material through in-depth conversation within our discourse.

   To say she goes above and beyond is an understatement. She makes herself and her knowledge everyones. We met all summer as she helped me to plan the ENG 101 class I am teaching this fall and she comes to every meeting we had/have with an open heart and patience and above all: trust. Her
faith in me allows me to continue to see my own capabilities in new situations.

   Dr. Cellio's passion for rhetoric and disability studies, as well as the composition world are easily witnessed through class time and conversation. On top of this she's amazingly brilliant, while also humble and I love talking to her about a variety of topics pertaining to these areas of study broadly. Her passion, to bring it up again, is palpable to the point it starts to fill you up as well, I mean to say she really shares that with her students. She brings it all in the best of ways.

   And she is there for you. She even talked me through a situation on her way home from work, recently. She is the picture of dedication and care, and the kind that shows up for all of the right reasons. And, at the end of it all I really, really enjoy her company and conversation.

   Thank you for the opportunity to share this with the NKU community.  

I am recommending this person for recognition because she has worked extremely hard since the start of her job here at NKU to ensure that us as students are successful. Not only through our academics, but also through our programming techniques. I appreciate all she has done for students on campus and I believe she is the true definition of a hardworking woman

A teacher who is dedicated to helping her students achieve a successful future. She’s always putting a smile on her students faces and always willing to help in situations she can.  

Kristi cares about student success more than any staff person I’ve met. She cares for her student employees and is willing to do anything to help them, and she cares for the students who use the library as well. She never stops advocating for students

I would like to recognize Diane Williams for her unwavering leadership. Whether in a routine meeting, dealing with surprises, figuring out operations during COVID, and everything in between, we can always count on her to bring a balanced perspective and positive attitude. She is a fierce supporter of the people in her unit and works unceasingly to help keep Learning PLUS as a crucial hub of student support, whether through tutoring, bringing dual credit to schools across the region, or expanding transfer pathway partnerships.

Dionna’s level of professionalism, integrity, and collegiality are exemplary. She is always available and always collegial, and on that rare occasion when she has to say “I don’t know,” she follows up with “but I’ll find out.” And, she does find out.    
Dionna’s job performance and quality of work are beyond reproach. She takes pride in what she does. Her positive energy and enthusiasm for the university in the role she plays are contagious. The most difficult tasks seem less challenging when Dionna is assisting with the resolution. And, not only does she meet the challenges that face her with positive energy and creativity, she roles up her sleeves and helps others do the same, making a daunting task seem less insurmountable. Dionna is one who doesn’t ask “why”when it comes to assisting, but instead asks “why not?” She is a team player that I would always welcome to have on my team.

Rose is kind and compassionate to our faculty, staff, and students. She has worked long hours to keep us safe and has provided COVID-19 tests and vaccinations to our campus community. Thank you for your dedication to NKU and for all you do. Sending a virtual hug to Rose!

Staci Hunt is a great team player. She's always willing to help out and assist in any way she can. She has assisted me tremendously with a lot of my tasks and questions. Thank you for all your help!

Due to being short-staffed, Michael has been given many new responsibilities that go above and beyond a daily load. Not only is Michael extremely knowledgeable, always keeps NKU brand and image in mind he is also very creative in his approach. Michael always gives 110% and does it with a smile and true positivity. I wanted to somehow give Michael props for always delivering and being a wonderful person to work with. Norse Up!

Hayden is an individual who has been here in-person through it all. He is the first to come in and the last to leave. Our students are well taken care of because of his loyalty.  

John is one of our NKU custodians. I have seen him in many buildings across campus making sure we have a clean and safe place to work and learn. John always has a smile and a hello. He is always working hard and each time I see him in a building, I know it will be well cared for.   
 John is just one in a group of great custodial staff here on campus! They work hard, so that we may remain productive and healthy. I am sure it has been exceptionally hard for them through the pandemic, with all of the extra cleaning/sanitizing measures NKU has in place. However, they never seemed phased by it and their efforts never seem to diminish. Thank you!

Jeff has shown great leadership and has been a wonderful director, always fighting for his department and pushing us to be our best. During the time of working remotely, he was always there to help me and supported me from the first day! He is calm in stressful situations and fun to work with every day!  

Thank you to Denice for bringing together such a wonderful event with the Norse Educator Summit. The theme was timely and the conversations productive.The privilege activity, keynote, and breakout sessions were all great.

I would like to highlight the incredible work Toni does for our international students. She works tirelessly to make each and every student feel welcomed, supported, and loved at NKU. Toni often works after hours or on the weekend to pick up students from the airport, check them into their accommodation, deliver meals, take them to medical appointments, help them get a social security card or driver's license, support them and guide them through a myriad of questions as they adapt to life far from their home country, and on and on. She is their American mother! Thanks Toni!

I submitted a special request to parking this week and a decision on the request was made immediately and without any red tape. Action to fulfill this request started immediately and I was just so blown away that this not only made my day, but my whole week. Thank so much to parking services!

Kenny Goins is an amazing person. He is incredibly hardworking and a caretaker. The MEP building is one of the busiest buildings on campus but he keeps it thoroughly clean and takes the time to know everyone in the building. He is compassionate and dedicated to NKU. Kenny embraces the spirit of NKU by going out of his way to support the faculty and staff in MEP. Throughout the pandemic he has worked to ensure not only the cleanliness of the building but the safety of those in it. Kenny empties the Norse way.

Sara Bibee represents all that is great about NKU. She goes out of her way to assist with technology needs in the College of Education with faculty, staff, and students. She is a quiet leadership who focuses on excellence and caring. NKU is better because of Sara.

Julia Bedell serves as both the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department Freshman Advisor, and as a professor teaching CHE 125/CHE 115/ lecture and/or labs. Julia is a mentor and a cheerleader for our students and goes above and beyond to help students plan their scheduled and succeed. This year was a particularly challenging one to deliver that kind of personalized experience while being socially distant. Julia handled it with expertise and stayed in touch wither her advisees. I don't think we would have the kind of student retention we have in our department without her hard work and dedication.  

Brittany Campbell is the academic assistant for the College of Arts and Science Advising Center. She is always responsive, supportive, and professional in her interactions with students, staff, and faculty. She has assisted me over this past year in multiple ways and always with good cheer.This has been invaluable especially during a challenging year. Thank you Brittany!

Rick has found so many ways to be so effective in the remote environment. He has approached the past 9 months as an opportunity. He has continuously brought forth new ideas and new processes to make his job more effective, and in doing so, has made SOTA more effective. The pandemic has hit the visual and performing arts especially hard as we have given up audiences and many of our in-person operations. Rick has remained responsive and effective in getting our online productions, performances, and exhibitions online and disseminated to as broad an audience as possible

Peg is great to work with and always works to put students first! I submitted an Early Alert for a student who was not attending my class and would not respond to my emails. within 24 hours of submitting the alert, the student reached out to me and told me they had spoken with Peg and how helpful she had been! Thanks Peg for helping our students succeed!  

Stephanie is great! Countless times I have worked with Stephanie to re-open closed sections of a class and to switch course instructors. Stephanie's response is always quick and with a virtual smile

Shauna worked to help me get a time sensitive student situation quickly resolved. She is always so kind and great to work with!  

Bob Fox and Paul Hundemer are superintendents in O&M who have set a high bar for those who will follow in their footsteps. They not only continued to lead their respective teams in preventive and corrective maintenance but voluntarily took on additional responsibility of managing large projects. This additional work load without jeopardizing the quality of routine work, enabled Facilities to handle deferred maintenance projects keeping a project manger position open for more than a year. Hopefully, as this position gets filled, they will get some relief and go back to their regular duties.

I would like to recognize Monica for her hard work over this past summer with getting the Health Counseling and Student Wellness office up and running with video telehealth. Monica was instrumental with coordinating, planning and arranging the transition to video telehealth. Working to make sure that paperwork was made available digitally online. And making sure that all staff were set up and trained in how to use the new systems. Monica also demonstrated clear effective and persistent communication skills with a company notorious for poor and slow communication. I am grateful to her for stepping up and leading us in making this transition happen.  

I want to recognize Carlous for his consistent hard work and dedication to the NORSE community, more particularly, the African/African American/Black community. He has been able to provide high quality to programs in the face of continued adversity. I understand we all are short staffed, but I believe he deserves recognition to the highest. Without having several full time support staff, he has been able to offer programming that meets the needs and interest of most of the students and campus partners he serves. I know that hard work also needs to come with intentional self care, and I want to acknowledge his selfless work and love for the students and the campus community.

Jeff has shown immense dedication to NKU through his constant efforts to help in any way he can. He shows grace under pressure while managing multiple projects at once, which never seem to go as planned. He goes above and beyond to make sure that any user he interacts with receives the top notch service and their request is completed within their timeline...which is not always an easy task when coordinating with multiple vendors! NKU is lucky to have such committed staff with great work ethic! Thank you, Jeff!