2012 Recipients

Veronica Cook-Euell                   

Supplier Diversity Program Manager

Procurement

Business & Finance

Nominated For:  Diversity and Inclusion & Serving as an Ambassador for the University

Cook-Euell received two nominations, from a colleague and from her associate vice president. She was recognized for her passion about supplier diversity and the many accomplishments she has made in this area in a short amount of time. In particular, she was nominated for the Business Matchmaker workshop she organized at Kent State, which connected entrepreneurs with architects, project managers and procurement staff.

Cook-Euell was also recognized for her role in co-chairing the annual Spirit of Women in Business Conference last March at Kent State. The daylong program had a sold-out crowd of 360 women from across Northeast Ohio and beyond; and she worked on this project while continuing to successfully perform her job responsibilities.

Marcy Curtiss                   

Graduate Secretary

Computer Science

College of Arts & Sciences

Nominated for: Effectiveness & Efficiency, Excellence in Customer Service and Student Success

Curtiss received seven nominations from co-workers, computer science faculty and her supervisor. Several nominators recognized her for taking on additional duties when a position was eliminated, as well as helping two department chairs transition into their roles. It was also noted that Curtiss is the “mother hen for graduate students,” many of whom are international students. “She makes each student feel welcome and lets them know they have a home away from home if they need it.” She was also described as a role model in professionalism and efficiency who comes to work every day with a smile on her face and a positive attitude.

Thomas Farmer                   

Maintenance Repair Worker

Kent Student Center

Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

Nominated for: Serving as an Ambassador for the University

Nominated by a student employee who is a co-worker, the nomination stated that while Farmer achieves any task handed to him, his true strength is the way he represents the university to the students. The nominator stated that Farmer has personally made the experience of many student workers much more enjoyable and welcoming due to his great professionalism, warm personality and cooperative work skills. He was also recognized for always selflessly volunteering his time and energy to go above and beyond to help his fellow workers, even when it is not required. Farmer was also described as the perfect example of the desired abilities and characteristics that a Kent State employee should strive to have.

Dan Karp

Executive Director, Creative Services

University Communications & Marketing

University Relations

Nominated For:  Effectiveness & Efficiency

Karp was nominated by two co-workers, who noted that since he joined University Communications and Marketing two years ago he has been “an engine of positive effort … making what is not good better and what is already good excellent.” The nominators said Karp has vision and demonstrates “big picture thinking” while keeping an eye on the details, and is a very effective teacher and mentor to the junior staff members and student employees at University Communications and Marketing. Examples of his vision during the past year include work on the annual Kent State Day at the Statehouse, the online app for the Kent State Magazine and integration marketing materials for the new College of Podiatric Medicine.

Marlo Kibler               

Coordinator, University Benefits

Benefits

Human Resources

Nominated for:  Collaboration & Excellence in Customer Service

Kibler received three nominations, all citing the exceptional quality of service that she provides. One nominator noted the assistance provided when the employee’s husband had a serious health condition; saying “she made me feel that KSU was going to take good care of me and my family.” Another nominator noted that Kibler spreads a positive impression in her daily interactions and it is her kindness that sets her apart from others. She was also nominated for going above and beyond in her service to faculty and staff at the College of Podiatric Medicine during the transition last year. The nominator stated that while some may say she was “just doing her job,” Kibler cares and it shows

Bryan Molnar                   

Electronic Technician Supervisor

IS Classroom Technology

Information Services

Nominated For:  Effectiveness & Efficiency

An associate professor nominated Molnar for his outstanding support of instructors in the classroom, working tirelessly on a multitude of projects to be sure that the technology in the classrooms supports the instructors' needs and the students' learning experience. The nominator said Molnar is “truly one of the good guys," who can be counted on to promptly respond to issues and problems that get in the way of effective use of technology in the classroom.

Specifically, he cited the support he provided to be sure that the remodeled large lecture halls in Bowman were operational for the first day of class. If the technology in the room had not been working, it would have affected not only the more than 200 in-class students, but also more than 300 online students. The nominator added, “his knowledge, dedication and positive attitude in the face of many obstacles deserve recognition.”

Anissa Strickland           

Associate Director

Student Financial Aid

Enrollment Management & Student Affairs

Nominated for:  Collaboration

Strickland is responsible for compliance, scholarships and grants in the department and was nominated for being “instrumental in collaborating with the College of Podiatric Medicine to implement all financial aid systems with the new college.” This required extensive overtime to accomplish the awarding of scholarships and federal loans for the College of Podiatric Medicine students, and she was also cited for working one-on-one with the financial aid personnel at the College of Podiatric Medicine to train them on Banner.

The nominator also cited Strickland’s collaboration within the Financial Aid Office, working with her staff to improve processes over the past year and managing internal and external audit and researching fraud allegations. The latter required collaboration with multiple departments, and she was recognized for organizing and facilitating the necessary response in a professional manner.

Cheryl Tennant            

Academic Program Specialist

Library & Information Sciences

College of Communication & Information

Nominated For:  Collaboration, Effectiveness & Efficiency and Excellence in Customer Service

Tennant received five nominations from faculty members in the School of Library and Information Science at the Kent Campus and at the Columbus location. The nominators described her as “the wonderful glue that brings faculty and students together,” and the “go to” person and primary communicator for faculty and students who are part of the Columbus program. She was also called a “walking definition of efficiency and effectiveness” that accomplishes all she does with professionalism and respect, and a “solid, central pillar in our school.”

Nominators also noted that Tennant serves on numerous committees, including the School of Library and Information Science Accreditation and Steering committee, the Library Disaster Response Team and the Student Recruitment Committee.