Seven student service professionals honored

The UW–Madison Student Personnel Association honored the efforts of seven individuals with its 2005 Outstanding Achievement Awards. The honors were distributed at a luncheon held on April 20.

The Chancellor’s Office, the Norman Bassett Foundation, the Ineva Reilly Baldwin and Ira L. Baldwin Endowment for Student Services, the Offices of the Dean of Students and the SPA membership make the award possible.

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. Awards were made in five areas this year, with a stipend of $1,000 for the Chancellor’s Award and $500 for other winners. They are:

Chancellor’s Award: Susan Fischer

Fischer is described as a tireless leader both professionally and personally, who provides direction and inspiration to the Office of Student Financial Services’ diversity efforts through creative collaboration.

As associate director there, she has a longstanding commitment to service to communities that are marginalized because of race, sexual orientation, or other forms of societal discrimination.

She has served the office for 26 years, helping to take the “mystery” out of financial aid. Fischer plays a pivotal role within her department and is known as a consummate team player who makes the people around her more effective.

A major contributor to the Wisconsin Council of Churches, her commitment to social justice issues extends beyond the campus.

Kay Reuter-Krohn, Norman Bassett Award for Excellence In Student Services

One nominator describes Reuter-Krohn, director of Residence Life in University Housing, as “straightforward, extremely competent, calm, and just plain nice.”

Over the years she has earned the reputation of being task-oriented while keeping an eye on the big picture, always putting student needs as the first priority.

Her greatest accomplishments include bringing the sometimes disparate ideas of faculty, staff and students into a cohesive vision in the Residential Learning Communities; introducing and developing the Multicultural Resident Consultant program and LGBT liaison program and facilitating the growth of the Center for Cultural Enrichment into a satellite of the campus Multicultural Student Center.

A testament to her skill in achieving these accomplishments is the management of a large staff that turns over almost every year, as most of the students and entry-level professionals are not intended to be long-term employees.

James Hanson, Norman Bassett Award for Excellence in Student Services

Hanson, associate counselor in the Adult and Student Services Office in the Division of Continuing Studies, has been described as the consummate student personnel professional, balancing roles as a student advocate, admissions officer, academic advisor, and educational and career counselor.

Using an extensive campus network to help solve problems for students, Hanson is known as the person colleagues seek out on advice for helping a student in crisis. Always willing to try new approaches, he has helped teach colleagues how to interact successfully with students who have emotional disabilities.

Hanson coordinates a program for students receiving Social Security disability income who audit classes, and has extensive contacts with representatives of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the McBurney Disability Resource Center, and community advocates for disabled students.

In addition, Hanson serves as a crisis counselor with the Counseling Center on his off hours. He makes a difference in the lives of non-traditional students by making the university a helpful and a friendly place to contact.

Ruth Dahl, SPA Frontline Award

Dahl has served in a frontline position since 1971, holding her current position as a Student Status Examiner 2 for the Undergraduate Programs Office in the School of Business since 1980.

Over the years, many aspects of her position have evolved, ranging from typewriters to computers, the old records database to ISIS, and assignment committees to touchtone registration to Web enrollment. Through it all, her problem-solving skills and ability to embrace change have helped better serve students.

Dahl is known as a positive person who lives and performs her work with an upbeat, glass-is-half-full attitude. She is motivated by an internal sense of work ethic. Students are her first priority and she continues to do everything she can to help ease their anxiety, allowing them to concentrate on their course work.

Annette McDaniel, Campus Impact Award

McDaniel is described by her peers as spirited, smart, affable, intellectually curious and steadfast in her role as an advocate for students.

As a student services coordinator in the Undergraduate Programs Office of the School of Business, her work has made the SOAR program a more engaging experience for students and has helped the entire office understand the value of developmentally appropriate advising.

Her commitment to the Leadership Institute, service to the Madison Academic and Career Advising Association, the National Academic Advisors Association, and serving as the co-chair of the SOAR Advising Committee have set the bar for outstanding leadership and campus involvement.

She is innately skilled at bringing together people with various strengths, to form a cohesive and effective team. She does this with an open door, a willingness to listen and an ability to provide meaningful and perceptive advice.

Maureen “Mo” O’Connor, Campus Impact Award

O’Connor, associate student services coordinator in the School of Business Undergraduate Programs Office, is known for her thoughtful, caring personality. With every interaction, she brings a wonderful sense of humor and also maintains a positive outlook and encourages the same in those around her.

Her passion for working with students is apparent and her openness has eased the anxiety of many students. One colleague writes: “I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with this recipient. I have enjoyed her goofy side, admired her passionate side and learned from her thoughtful nature.”

In her current and previous role as career and outreach advisor in Letters & Science and Human Ecology Career Services, O’Connor has a deep and profound commitment to serving under-represented populations.

Some of the new programs and partnerships she helped develop include weekly advising hours, workshops, and presentations at the Multicultural Student Center, spearheading the annual Multicultural Career Fair, establishing Career Links, a networking event for alumni, staff, and students of color on campus, continual involvement in Terrific Tuesdays and the Pathways to Excellence Radio Show.

Debb Schaubs, Award for Excellence In Student Affairs

Schaubs is described as a “master of all cultures” and is steadfastly calm and resolute in her service to all. Schaubs, director of the Eagle’s Wing child care center in University Apartments, is recognized for creating linkages and nurturing bonds between the campus and community. At the same time, she is very understanding and accommodating of students and families on campus and she acts with their best interest in mind.

She serves the children of students and recognizes the special challenges experienced by UW–Madison students who are also parents. She first implemented the University Housing sponsored child care services at Eagle Heights in 1992 and was involved in the development of the child-care facility in the Eagle Heights Community Center that is now licensed for serving more than 100 children.

She initiated a reading program called “My Favorite Story,” wherein faculty, staff, and students sign up to read at the center twice a month.

Schaubs has developed quality programming for children of student parents who come from all over the world, recruiting and working with teachers who speak several different languages. She spends a lot of time role modeling the environment she wants to create.