Staff Council Awareness Month’s

Spotlight Staff Members

March 1st – March 4th

 

If you know someone who you think should be mentioned, please go to http://www.iupui.edu/~scouncil/Development/make-difference.doc ,

complete the form and send/email it to the addresses listed.

 

Gretchen Hueni

(Physical Education and Tourism Management)

Gretchen is an active blood donor. She attends Tabernacle Presbyterian Church where she was the 2003-2004 member of the Network Committee, a program that evaluated members’ skills and matched them with appropriate volunteer positions.  Gretchen participates in the Junior League of Indianapolis where she chaired the 2003 Holiday Mart and is the Strategic Planning VP, Board of Directors 2005 – 2006.  She is also active with the Children’s Museum Guild and helped execute the 2004 Haunted House, the museum’s largest fundraiser.  Gretchen organized the 2004 Simon Mall Season of Giving Event which raised $2000 for PanCan, a Pancreatic Cancer Non-profit organization.  For Ovar’coming Together, she was Co-chair of the 2004 Key to the Cure Event, a fundraiser with Saks Fifth Avenue that raised $25,000 for the organization.

 

Jennifer Browning

(Pervasive Technology Labs at Indiana University, UITS)

Jennifer participates in the following: Speedway Junior High School, “Public Law 221 School Improvement Committee”, Speedway Chamber of Commerce, Old Speedway City Neighborhood Association, Science Education Foundation of Indiana and Women & Hi-Tech.  She is active in Toastmasters where she is President of Golden Gavel Toastmasters and where she earned ATM-Bronze and CL).  Jennifer is a member of the Speedway Christian Church and is on the church’s Membership Committee.  She is active in 4-H and is the Speedway 4-H Club co-leader.  Jennifer is also the Homestay host of campus ELS students.

 

Last year, Jennifer coached “the Micro Chicks” a team of four 12-year old girls in the Hasbro Toy Challenge to encourage girls’ interest in pursuing science and engineering careers.  The team tied for first place in the regional showcase held at the national headquarters of Sigma Xi in Raleigh, North Carolina and received a $250 monetary award.  Through my public relations efforts, the team was able to raise enough money to travel to San Diego, California for the national showcase and meet Sally Ride the astronaut.  The Micro Chicks invention, “World Wide Web Racing” won the “games for the family” category at nationals.  The team also visited campus for Explore IUPUI.

 

Pauline Graf

(University College – Fiscal Office)

Karen Neely nominated Pauline.  “I would like to showcase Pauline Graf during March Staff Council Awareness month. Pauline is known around here as a VIP (especially if you want to get paid)!  She has worked in various positions at IUPUI for fourteen years now.   Pauline currently works at University College for the Fiscal Office and handles the payroll.  I am sure she has many interruptions throughout the day, yet she has a lot of patience with everyone.  I have never seen her lose her temper and is always so pleasant to be around.   This past year she has experienced so many changes in her department, yet she hardly ever complained.

 

Pauline is also a member of the Parking Appeals Committee and the Chili for Charity Committee.  She also volunteers for many events on campus such as Explore IUPUI, Chili for Charity, Honor’s Day, and Team IUPUI.

 

She attends the Little Flower Catholic Church and is on the Arts & Environment Committee, the Funeral Luncheon Committee and is a Eucharist Minister.  During Lent you will find her at the church as a helper on Friday nights at the Fish Fry’s.  Pauline is a great asset to IUPUI and her community and I am glad to nominate her for this recognition.”

 

Marjorie Aprile

(Engineering and Technology Computer Network Center)

Birhan Payli nominated Marjorie.  “  Marjorie Aprile is one of the CNC technical persons that help people with their difficulties on computers. She always has time to help students and staff who work or study at ET and SL computers.  Even she does not have time at the moment, she always goes out of her way to create time to help.

She always willing to meet with someone who needs help with computer on weekends, Saturday or Sunday mornings, in the CNC lab to study together. Marjorie deserves this nomination and the recognition at IUPUI.”

 

 

Staff Members of the Week

March 7th – March 11th

 

Beth Haggenjos 

(Kelley School of Business Career Placement Office)

Beth was featured in the Indianapolis Buisness Journal and the New York Times related to her community involvement and internships.  She was awarded the 2004 Award of Excellence from the Indiana InternNet.  Beth is a Norman Brown Program-Mentor, and is in her second term as the Director for Midwest Cooperative Education and Internship Association.  Beth serves as co-chair for the Intern Connection Fair – IUPUI and as Conference Co-chair for the 2005 MCEIA Conference at the Hilton Indianapolis.   She is responsible for creating the Honors Academy, a new Kelley School of Business student organization for which Beth is also the staff advisor.

 

Wanda Colwell & Chizoma Sherman 

(Cavanaugh Hall)

Kelly Tully-Needler nominated Wanda and Chizoma. “Please recognize: Wanda Colwell and Chizoma Sherman.

 

Upon seeing this request, Wanda Colwell and Chi Sherman came immediately to my mind. I do not know the nature of their community involvement, but throughout my time at IUPUI, I have been thoroughly impressed by their competence. Our English department would not function well at all without them. Their competence, hard work, and dedication makes them worthy of any recognition of thanks and gratitude from me.”

 

Carl Rhine

(School of Public and Environmental Affairs)

Professor Greg Lindsey nominated Carl.

 

“Carl Rhine Director of information and network systems at Helpnet in SPEA.  In this position, Carl also serves the Schools of Business and Library Science.  Carl has developed into a strong leader who consistently looks for opportunities to improve service to the academic units and who has been effective in addressing the needs of the staff who report to him.  SPEA operates more efficiently because of Carl’s leadership and managerial skills.  But the main reason for this nomination is Carl’s service to the community, not the school. 

 

In addition to the leadership Carl provides with Helpnet, he volunteers weekly as an English/Spanish interpreter to serve the health care needs of indigent families at the free, Good Samaritan Health Clinic in east Indianapolis. Located at Rural and East Washington Streets, the Good Samaritan Health Clinic provides healthcare (visits, medicines, etc.) to a population below the poverty line and mostly of Hispanic origin. Carl and Artur Plett, a research scientist in hematology/oncology, provide a language bridge to reduce the barrier between the English speaking medical professionals and the Spanish speaking population they are serving.

 

There are no federal funds that support the clinic's operations and it provides a needed service to the community by taking care of people who do not have the ability to take care of themselves, consequently reducing the suffering of the poor in our area. The doctors and nurses are volunteers and the medicines are mostly donated by local companies. 

 

SPEA faculty and staff believe it is important to give back to the community.  Carl goes about this service in a quite, unassuming way, and he doesn’t broadcast the good work he does.  In doing so, Carl serves as an inspiration to his staff.  Carl is a great ambassador for SPEA and IUPUI, and we believe strongly that he merits this award.”

 

 

Staff Members of the Week

March 14th – March 18th

 

Carlene Webb-Burton 

(Medical Student Affairs)

Melissa Titus nominated Carlene Webb-Burton

 

“Carlene is the most politically and socially conscious person around here. She participated in so many community events and fundraisers during the past year that it is hard for me to keep up with her activities. She gave up several weekends traveling around the state of Ohio to help educate voters about the issues in the last election. She spends time regularly with an elderly lady who has no family, driving her to the grocery store, helping her clean, and just talking to her so she won’t be lonely. She is a Girl Scout troop leader, Boy Scout troop leader, volunteers time at schools, and, in general, is always willing to help a cause she cares about. She volunteers at soup kitchens and takes her children to visit elderly people in nursing homes. Many of us talk about issues that we are passionate about, but Carlene shows true compassion when she gives of her most valuable resource: time. She is very worthy of this award.”

 

Becky Thacker 

(UITS)

Delana Gifford nominated Becky

 

“Becky has worked at IUPUI in UITS for 20 years, and is  currently serving her third term on Staff Council.  She is in her first year on the SC Executive Board as a Member-at-Large, and has also served as Staff Advisor for the Advocate Student group for about 10 years.

 

Outside of IUPUI, Becky helped organize the new Keystone-Epler Neighborhood Association, where they are looking forward to their first neighborhood clean-up this May.  (If you enjoy picking up trash, contact Becky!)

 

Becky has been instrumental in the cell phone collection program sponsored by Staff Council for the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  Once reprogrammed, the cell phones are distributed to domestic violence survivors as they leave shelters.  She is the Indianapolis Women’s Chorus historian, volunteer coordinator, and backstage caretaker since the chorus began in 1994. 

 

Becky has published a book titled the “Amazon Girls Handbook”.  She has also had many of her contributions published in various local magazines, as well as in “Hear Our Voices”, (which is a compilation by the Domestic Violence Network), and in the Journal of Lesbian Studies.  Becky has just finished writing and illustrating a children’s book titled “The Chorus Kids Memorial Day Parade”, and as you read this, it is on its way to a publisher for consideration.

 

Michele Farris 

(Dental School)

Delana Gifford nominated Michele

 

“Michele participates on the IUPUI Staff Council.  She also participates on the Team IUSD Race for the Cure, and at one time ran bingo at a local nursing home.  Michele is a board member of the Indiana Neurofibromatosis Inc., and organized the Scully Marathons for Neurofibromatosis. She actively participates in choir, on the Liturgy Committee, and as the Eucharistic Minister at St. Rose of Lima Church in Franklin. 

 

In the past, Michele has participated in the following groups and organizations:

 

·       St. Rose Youth Group

·       Boy Scouts of America

·       Archdiocese of Indianapolis Youth Ministers Association

·       St. Rose Women’s Guild

·       Sunday School Teacher

·       Crop Walk

 

Erin Kilbride

(Kelley School of Business)

Erin has been with the Kelley School of Business for less than one year.  She also works part-time at the Ronald McDonald House. 

 

Erin volunteers her time and energies to the following organizations:

 

·       Mozel Sanders Thanksgiving Diner

·       Irish Festival

·       Aids Walk

·       Making Strides against Breast Cancer 5K walk/run

·       Wheeler Mission for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals.

·       Bell Ringer for the Salvation Army

·       Counselor for the Indiana Youth Group

·       Damien Center food pantry and food delivery

·       Indiana Sports Corp special events

 

 

Staff Members of the Week

March 19th – March 25th

 

 

Lena Woods

(UITS)

Lena is a Campus Campaign coordinator & Chancellor’s Pyramid member.  She is a very active volunteer.  She participates in United Way as the United Way Campaign coordinator, as a Key club member, and in the Chili for Charity cook off.  Lena is the captain of both the United Way Day of Caring and Race for the Cure team. She is also the floor warden in the emergency evacuation of the IT building.

 

Lena is participates in Staff Council as a unit representative (three terms), a Member-at-Large on the SC Executive Committee, Chair of the Web committee, and is the architect and designer of the SC Election System.

 

Lena is a member of IndyChoruses (IC) Board of Directors.  IndyChoruses is a non-profited membership organization.  Its mission is to build bridges of understanding, promote acceptance of the Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Bisexual community, and create unity through musical excellence.  She has performed at various events in Indiana, nationally and internationally.  Lena is co-chair of IC Technology Committee.  The objective of this committee is to position the IndyChoruses to be a major chorus music organization locally and nationally by enhancing administrative function through technology.  She is actively involved in many funding raising activities.  Lena is a founding member in the creation of the Office for Women.  She volunteered in 2004 City-Council Councilmen election campaign.

 

Susan Canady

(Campus & Community Life)

Holly Holliday-Jones nominated Susan.

 

“Susan Canady is extremely involved in the community of IUPUI.  She works in Campus & Community Life, and is the Assistant Director for the department.  As part of duties, she is in charge of running the Student Activities Center in University College.  In her role as Assistant Director, she has taken to heart developing the students who work with her in the Student Activity Center (SAC).  She brings in speakers and develops on-going training to ensure that during the course of their work in the SAC they get exposure to speakers and topics that are going to benefit them in their professional lives.  Her efforts in managing the Student Activity Center have made campus visitation and orientation much more efficient.  Her work overseeing the SAC has resulted in a tremendous increase in both the quality and quantity of programs that do and can occur in the SAC.  The students she works with directly help other students by being resources and providing information.

 

Not only is Susan very involved with the Student Activity Center, but she is also involved with the general IUPUI campus as well.  Some of the activities she has been involved in include: coordinating member of Team IUPUI, she has been the primary coordinator for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner for the past 4-5 years, and has been a member of the Chili for Charity team and has worked to ensure this event goes smoothly, and coordinates the team for the Student Life and Diversity for the Komen Race for the Cure. She also has oversight of the logistical aspects of programming for Explore IUPUI in the University College building and courtyard, and is also assisting with planning for the regional College Bowl and Recreation Tournaments which will be held at IUPUI.

 

Outside IUPUI, Susan has also been involved in several endeavors. She is involved with the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) and is currently serving as a member of the Regional Leadership Team as the 2005 Region 9 Conference Co-Chair.  She has taken on the commitment with Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) as a member of the 2005 Awards/Recognition Committee.  In 2004 she organized the national conference for AFA.

 

In most of these roles, Susan has been a volunteer, in other words, they are not a part of her job description. She is always willing to pitch in and help whenever help is needed.  These are but a few of the examples of how Susan continually contributes to the success of many events at IUPUI, which demonstrate she is deserving of being recognized as a “Staff member making a difference.”  She certainly goes above and beyond what is expected, and many others benefit by her generosity in volunteering her time.  The volunteer leadership positions in these professional associations and on campus is another way Susan works to grow as a professional.  She has learned skills and has had valuable experiences that she could not have had just working at IUPUI.”

 

Judy Johnson

(Enrollment Center)

Delana Gifford nominated Judy.

 

“Judy participated with Partners in Career and Professional Development (PCPD) for three years.  PCPD is no longer an active organization so Judy is now on the Recycle Committee – newly formed as result of IUPUI’s $50,000 grant from Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).  Judy also received a $30,000 grant from IDEM two years ago to begin a recycling drop-off center in Carmel, IN.  Judy is a Staff Council unit representative and a regular blood donor. 

 

Judy is also very active with TEAM IUPUI.  TEAM IUPUI was established in 1994.  Their goal is to help new and continuing students have a smooth enrollment experience at the start of each semester. The idea is to have staff, faculty and students strategically placed across campus during the first week of classes to answer questions ranging from parking and building location to student ID and email. In 2002 the TEAM IUPUI effort was expanded to help assist students taking classes on the weekends as well.”

 

Sheila Walter

(CIT)

Delana Gifford nominated Sheila.

 

“Sheila is involved in and serves on the ET Staff Advisory Committee and on the Race for the Cure committee for this year for the School of ET.  She has previously been involved in IUPUI Staff Council and Chili for Charity. Sheila has also taken the ASPS training (Administrative Support Professional Series) through Human Resources and feels it is a way to learn better work skills, get to know fellow staff and learn information about the campus. She is presently taking American History H105, and is working towards a BS degree in General Studies. Sheila decided to take classes to learn new skills and concepts and decided last year to work towards a General Studies degree. She is also involved in the Ladies Guild at her church.”