Student-services personnel honored

Seven student service employees were honored April 25 by the Student Personnel Association for exceptional service to students. Honorees are:

Renee Alfano, leadership coordinator, Student Organization Office,
Campus Impact Award

Alfano has played a key role in the “Get Connected” project to help link students living on- and off-campus with student organizations and the Student Organization Kickoff Handbook available at UW–Madison’s Student Orientation, Advising and Registration program.

In addition, she has been a pivotal figure in the Student Leadership Program, which selects a Student Leader of the Month. She also has been instrumental in the Student Leader Program Diversity Education initiative, brought about in response to a request by students for more dialog about diversity issues; and the Leadership Council, which brings together faculty and staff from across campus to discuss ways to incorporate leadership opportunities into the curriculum.

Ron Brockman, program assistant, Letters and Science Cross-College Advising Service
Frontline Award

Colleague Rebecca Ryan says, Brockman epitomizes this award, which honors “first-contact” student services personnel. Known for his “awesome” personality and rapport with student clients and staff, Brockman handles the student database, coordinates advisor assignments, manages communications with advisees and more.

Although he has worked on campus for more than two decades, Brockman has been with the CCAS for three-and-a-half years, and currently is the front office’s only full-time employee. “He has mastered, however, the entire front office operation, and gets his job done 150 percent,” Ryan says. “Not a day goes by that we, as a collective office, don’t thank our lucky stars that we have Ron.”

Gery Essenmacher, coordinator/advisor, General Chemistry Program
Norman Bassett Award

The chemistry department’s advisor for about 5,000 general chemistry students, Essenmacher serves as liaison with faculty and teaching assistants. For example, he interviews, hires and trains teaching assistants, matches them with faculty and troubleshoots when difficulties arise. In addition, he schedules chemistry courses, and is lab director for several introductory classes.

The 1995 recipient of the national College Health and Safety Award, Essenmacher played a primary role in setting up and maintaining the general chemistry Web site. He also has worked summer after summer at the SOAR chemistry table, and provides other staff with training they can use during SOAR to help beginning students make the best possible choices about their chemistry courses. Essenmacher has held his position for 17 years.

Jane Johnson, Travel Center director, Wisconsin Union
Norman Bassett Award

Students scoping out information about work, service and study opportunities abroad have looked to Johnson’s office for the last 23 years.

Johnson envisioned and initiated the program in 1978; it remains one of the very few of its kind in higher education.

Johnson also serves as program advisor to the Wisconsin Union Directorate Alternative Breaks and Travel Committees. Past projects have taken UW–Madison students to soup kitchens in Washington, D.C.; low-income housing construction sites in New Orleans; and the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation in northern Wisconsin. She has emerged as a major player in the development and implementation of the Wisconsin Union’s student leadership training initiative. In addition to her busy schedule at the union, Johnson also has been active in the University Mentor Program.

Mercedes Ramirez-Fernandez, advisor, Cross-College Advising Service/Chadbourne Residential College
Impact Award

A pioneer in on-site advising for students living in CRC, Ramirez-Fernandez has been a vital part of the student experience at UW–Madison since she assumed her job just months before CRC opened in 1997. Beginning her campus duties as an advisor in the Cross-College Advising Service, and currently representing the CCAS at CRC, she quickly established a reputation for going well beyond her job description. Today, she responds to the questions and concerns of the more than 800 CRC residents, and also provides students with an important link to the L&S Honors Program.

Ramirez-Fernandez also has been credited with improving the campus climate for students of color through collaborations with the Academic Advancement Program, Multicultural Center, the Leadership Institute and more. As the CCAS and SOAR consider the possibility of opening more advising offices in residence halls, Ramirez-Fernandez continues to provide vision and experience. For example, she initiated the training of student peer advisors, who help other students during busy times during the semester.

Barbara Schutz, student status examiner, L&S/Department of Physics
Frontline Award

As her department’s graduate coordinator, Schutz processes around 600 applications a year and is commended for her attention to detail. She also coordinates fellowship nominations, organizes visits to campus by prospective students, provides newcomers with information about housing, transportation and other “housekeeping,” and more. According to Don Reeder, physics chair, “Largely because of her efforts, we have experienced an increase in both the quality and quantity of recruits, in exception to the national trend.”

Schutz has worked at UW–Madison for 29 years, the past seven of them in her current position.

Kathryn Simmons, advising coordinator, L & S Student Academic Affairs
Chancellor’s Award

Respected on campus and in the larger community, Simmons’ nearly 30 years at the university have found her as a clinical instructor in the Department of Communicative Disorders, an assistant dean in the Academic Advancement Program and more. Today she is responsible for all SAA advising units.

In addition, Simmons has chaired the Council on Academic Advising; developed, distributed and tabulated an L&S advisor survey; implemented an Advisory Group Resource Inventory; and provided L&S departmental chairs with an inventory of advising services, updated each semester.

As graduating senior Christopher Kemp points out, “She has been a beacon of light for many students who otherwise would have been left in the dark.” Simmons plans to retire next year.

Founded in 1956, the SPA promotes interaction between colleagues and professional development among those working with college students. Librarians, health care providers, housing staff, academic and personal advisors, instructional technology specialists and other student service professionals comprise its membership.

The SPA is open to any student service professional. For more information, contact Greg Iaccarino, (608) 265-9205.