Student Personnel Association honors nine for excellence

The Student Personnel Association recently honored the efforts of nine individuals with its Outstanding Achievement Awards.

Founded in 1956, the SPA exists to create cross-campus connections among people who work with students to support, enhance and reinforce the learning mission of UW–Madison.

This year the organization has become a citywide association. Madison College and Edgewood College are partners for the advancement of student affairs professionals in the greater Madison area.

Awards were made in five areas this year, with a stipend of $1,000 for the Chancellor’s Award and $500 for other winners. The SPA especially honored the late associate registrar for student records, Jim Steele, who passed away in January after a lengthy illness.

The Chancellor’s Office, the Norman Bassett Foundation, the Ineva Reilly Baldwin and Ira L. Baldwin Endowment for Student Services, the Division of Student Life and the SPA membership make the awards possible.

Chancellor’s Award

This year’s award went to Jim Steele. His contribution was summarized by the Office of the Registrar Leadership Team and Registrar Scott Owczarek:

“The basic premise behind the Wisconsin Idea is that the University of Wisconsin–Madison should improve peoples’ lives beyond the campus. Jim lived this principle through his actions as associate registrar. As an active member of the campus community, Jim continually strived to improve the services the Office of the Registrar provides to students. While he worked on an array of campus committees, his input and influence on those committees always kept students at the forefront. Jim provided impeccable customer service. He routinely went beyond the call of duty, taking the initiative to work with various offices on campus to insure student issues were completely resolved.”

Campus Impact Awards

– Susan Nelson, coordinator, Center for Pre-Health Advising. Her contribution is summarized by Assistant Dean of Letters and Science in the Center for Academic Excellence, Student Academic Affairs, Consuelo Lopez Springfield:

“Susan’s ingenuity, so apparent in her successful MIU funding to expand pre-health advising services, resulted rapidly in the hiring of a team of advisors who help to meet the intricate demands of pre-health students from all schools and colleges on campus,” she wrote. “Susan’s new team has provided significant linkages with health professional schools on campus, used technology wisely to reach out to students, and developed collaborative efforts to expand health-related informational events that assist students in reaching their dreams.”

– Sharon Marks, student academic support specialist in the School of Medicine and Public Health. Her contribution is summarized by Brent Nelson, learning specialist, SMPH:

“I have witnessed firsthand the difference that she has made in the lives of future doctors. Although she has only been serving the UWSMPH since January 2009, her contributions have been substantial and the value she has brought to both students and colleagues here defies her short tenure. Her mentoring and coaching makes students feel welcome upon arrival at her door and more confident upon departure. Subsequently, there are times when I’ve witnessed students lining up outside of her office door to seek her counsel. Word spreads fast!”

Excellence in Higher Education Awards

– Jim Franzone, area coordinator-Sellery Hall. His contribution is summarized by Cindy Holzmann, assistant director of residence life:

“Jim possesses a special set of skills that allows him to work with other students, faculty and staff to help enact the mission of the residential learning community in the daily lives of residents. Jim is able to help people recognize shared goals and values, able to articulate a vision that gets stakeholders excited, and able to include all voices in a project in way that brings about true partnerships between students, faculty, and staff. Jim has the flexibility to be the leader, the administrative workhorse, the idea person, the implementer, and the mediator as needed by groups he works with in order to create successful collaborative environments.”

– Dan Barnish, student services coordinator, Department of Biochemistry. His contribution is summarized by student Zeeshan Ul Haq:

“I believe Dan has the strongest interpersonal skills of any staff member I’ve ever interacted with, and within the biochemistry department, his reputation speaks for itself. Dan is a unique nominee in that he has created a number of new, effective, and creative incentives for meeting student needs including: the CALS and L&S Science Exploration Workshops, a newsletter for students in Biochemistry, and the new advising system in the Biochemistry department. Dan is also a diehard contributor to the Undergraduate Biochemistry Student Organization.”

Frontline Awards

– Anju Chhetri, financial specialist 3, Associated Students of Madison. Her contribution is summarized by Lisa Aarli, director of staff and programs at ASM:

“Anju’s position is the only one like it on campus because it is so student centered and involves such large amounts of money. In addition to what I have stated, Anju’s never-ending patience with students enables her to teach them about proper budgeting at a complex level. Many students who graduate after having worked with Anju report that they are much more confident in financial matters than they could have imagined. Anju’s role is also unique because she is more than a financial specialist doing the books — she is an educator teaching students how to do their books. I cannot understate that Anju’s patience and quiet diligence in the service of students is remarkable and deserving.”

– Patricia Geske, of Madison College. Her contribution is summarized by Gretchen Rixie, also of Madison College:

“Patty strongly influences students, alumni, employers, and community member’s perceptions of Madison College. She is tirelessly committed to serving students and alumni in their employment endeavors. Additionally, Patty advocates on her own time about college offerings, employment resources and her passion for her school and employer. A smile speaks a thousand words — Patty is quick to smile, offer a kind word and provide needed support to everyone.”

Norman Bassett Awards

– Kathy Prem, College of Engineering. Her contribution is summarized by John Archambault, College of Engineering:

“Kathy has stepped in during staff transitions to lead and plan the COE Leadershape Program to South Africa and advised the Engineering Expo team which brings thousands of guest to campus to explore engineering. Kathy has also been the work with a team of campus staff to develop the campus website careers.wisc.edu. What makes Kathy unique is her positive attitude. She’s always willing to try new things and provide the best possible service to students, staff and our employers. Kathy has always offered to help out with any new projects or temporarily cover during staff transitions.”

– Diana Maki, of the Cross-College Advising Service. Her contribution is summarized by Emily Dickmann and Brian Bischel also of the Cross-College Advising Service:

“Diana has incredible vision combined with a strong work ethic and collaborative nature that has made several positive changes on campus possible. In the time that we’ve known her, she’s helped to create a solid slate of Exploration Center workshop programming, established the Majors Fair as a significant campus event, and grown the CCAS SOAR peer advisor program into a national model. We notice how Diana pays attention to the details in a way that makes her a mentor to colleagues and students alike. On a personal note, Diana is one of the primary reasons we value working at CCAS so very highly.”

In addition, the board of SPA for 2012-13 includes continuing members Kelly Cuene, Shawn Johnson, Julie Klein, Heidi Lang and Lori Berquam and newly elected members: Cody Ostenson, Kelly Ocasio, Cindy Holzmann, Scott Owczarek, Kathy Kruse, and Stephanie Salazar.