ɫ��ֱ��

Nominated by: Brenice Duroseau

Hello, over the past few months, Corey has handled A/V needs for at least 5 faculty candidate presentations. Every process has been smooth and successful. He assures the presentation is added to the laptop in the designated room, handles set-up for Mediasite recording, and prepares presenters for microphone, lavalier, and video best practices. Corey is professional who proactively communicates and does a fantastic job working with presenters. Securing evaluation feedback for candidates is critical and he makes sure the QR code for Qualtrics is displayed (faculty requested this). Finally, I receive the recording within hours of the presentation so I can seek feedback from those unable to attend the live presentation.

Thank you, Corey for delivering excellent service and making a difference!

Nominated by: Leslie Zanaglio

I would like to nominate Ali Bender and Julie Yamagiwa for a Commitment to Excellence award for supporting our faculty during unprecedented and challenging times for research. I have had several NIH grants that were delayed this year due to new government policies. I was presented with an opportunity to apply for internal funds to salvage one of these grants, but with a painfully short timeline. Ali and Julie stepped up to support this submission with remarkable determination and kindness, and we were able to meet our deadline. I can't say enough about how their patience, competence, positivity and responsiveness help to relieve the stress we're all feeling right now as we try to find a path forward for our work. Thank you, Ali and Julie, from the bottom of my heart!

Nominated by: Brandon Knettel

I would like to nominate Lindsay Johnson for a Commitment to Excellence Coin for going above and beyond, once again!

Despite the communication to order DNP Regalia, we had a student that did not and asked me one week before graduation if he could still obtain it. After I took a breath, I contacted Lindsay, and through her quick leadership action, connections, and collaboration, she was able to get it for him! He flew in on Friday from California and it was available at the bookstore waiting for him. Amazing---just like Lindsay.

Nominated by: Mary Lou Affronti

I would like to recognize Bebe Mills for her incredible support and leadership in helping us facilitate the graduation of our DNP Graduates. Perhaps one may say, “that is Ms. Mill’s role,” yet it is a challenging one. Year after year, she performs her leadership role with grace and compassion for our DNP students as they try to complete their DNP projects in time. Her collaboration, outstanding communication/follow-up, patience, and guidance truly underscores her wonderful leadership during times of transition! It is my honor and privileged to work with incredible colleagues such as Ms. Mills!

Nominated by: Mary Lou Affronti

I would like to nominate Kimberly Jackson for a Commitment to Excellence award. Ms. Jackson has exemplified consistent dedication to all areas of her work while working in the OGACHI office. This dedication continued during her recent transition to Academics. Ms. Jackson worked to ensure the smoothest possible transition by creating extensive working documents for every aspect of her OGACHI workload to assist colleagues to continue the high level of quality in the global work has previously provided. This is particularly noteworthy in that she completed the creation of these documents while completing several time-sensitive global projects, and preparing her transition to a new department. Ms. Jackson consistently demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and teamwork in all aspects of her work.

Nominated by: Eleanor Stevenson

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Eric Bloomer for his outstanding support during Micha Duemig’s DNP defense. From setting up the Zoom link to troubleshooting technical issues, recording the session, suggesting a co-host, and even offering his personal cell phone as a backup, Eric ensured that everything ran seamlessly. His proactive problem-solving allowed Micha and me to focus entirely on the content of her defense without distraction.

I am also very pleased that the DNP program is actively collaborating with our fabulous Ed Tech colleagues to continually improve our processes. We are deeply grateful for Eric’s dedication and generosity—thank you, Eric!

Nominated by: Kathy Turner

Nicole moved FAST to help us in N505 today:

1. Ensure a student had their accommodations for ATI (<15 min time!)
2. Came down to 1014 to assist with the ATI
3. Called Ed Tech to bring whiteboards, erasers, markers
4. Helped trouble shoot student issues with ATI
5. She stayed until we were up and running with ATI
6. Even gave her cell phone to me IF there were any other issues.

Her calm presence and can do attitude - HELPED us tremendously. We felt supported and confident with her on our team.
Thank you!!!

Nominated by: Nikki Blodgett and Gillian Jackson

I would like to nominate Erika Smalls for commitment to excellence awards.

Erika consistently demonstrate an exceptional level of dedication and expertise in supporting both students and faculty within our Nurse Practitioner program. She played a critical role in coordinating and facilitating student competency testing which is a high stress situation for students. Her ability to maintain a seamless process allows students to focus on demonstrating their skills and faculty to concentrate on assessment, creating an environment that fosters success and confidence. Erika actively collaborate with faculty and clinical instructors to anticipate needs, resolve challenges, and maintain a positive, efficient testing environment. She is kind, approachable and fun to work with!

Nominated by: Kara McGee

Angela exemplifies an extraordinary commitment to excellence through her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering dedication to the success of the DNP program. She seamlessly coordinates Zoom setup, Ed Tech support, and manages every aspect of the DNP project defense process with precision and care. Her exquisite level of organization and foresight ensures that everything will run flawlessly—truly a “WOW” moment for all involved.

Her efforts not only make the event a success but also inspires confidence and appreciation among colleagues and students alike. In fact, her professionalism and dedication are so impactful that I gladly accepted an additional chair request, knowing that with Angela’s support, excellence is guaranteed.

Angela’s work reflects the very best of the DNP program. Her commitment, skill, and collaborative spirit embody the values we strive to uphold. I deeply appreciate Angela and each member of the team for their tireless dedication and outstanding contributions to the program.

Nominated by: Kathleen Turner

I would like to nominate Carla Nichols for her extremely her support and hard work trying to secure a partnership with a new clinical partner. This partnership would have allowed us to place MSN, NP students in a telehealth environment not currently available to all majors. It would also have opened up an opportunity to place students in otherwise extremely difficult to place areas. Carla worked tirelessly with their IT team for months to help them meet ɫ��ֱ��s standards. Although they were unable to meet our requirements, the amount of time and energy that Carla put into this potential partnership does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Her efforts in trying to secure this partnership was a picture of ɫ��ֱ��s values of Excellence, Collaboration, Innovation and Respect in action. Not to mention patience. Thank you Carla for your unwavering support of all of our ideas and requests.

Nominated by: Shannon Monroe

I would like to nominate Nicole Fleming for a service award. The MN student had an exam today, and we did not get notice of his new accommodations until this AM. Ms. Fleming was able to set up the new accommodations within 8 minutes, so the student was able to use them that same day. This made a world of difference to the student!!!

Nominated by: Nikki Blodgett

It is with great appreciation that I recommend Stacy Zhao for her outstanding contributions to the MSN program at the ɫ��ֱ��. In her new role supporting the program, Stacy has consistently gone above and beyond expectations, demonstrating a rare combination of diligence, insight, and initiative.

Stacy brings not only technical expertise but also a thoughtful, analytical approach to her work. She doesn’t just complete tasks—she critically evaluates them, asking the right questions and anticipating potential challenges. Her ability to think beyond the immediate scope of her responsibilities makes her an invaluable asset to the team.

I have no doubt that Stacy will continue to thrive and make meaningful contributions wherever she goes. Her professionalism, integrity, and commitment to excellence set a high bar for those around her.

Nominated by: Kathleen Turner

It is with great appreciation that I recommend Cyndy Keener for her outstanding contributions to the ɫ��ֱ�� (DUSON). As the Pre-Licensure Clinical Program Manager, Cyndy brings a wealth of expertise, professionalism, and dedication to her role, consistently enhancing the quality and efficiency of our clinical education programs.

Cyndy’s deep knowledge of American Heart Association (AHA) standards and Basic Life Support (BLS) credentialing has been instrumental in streamlining the certification process for our students, staff and faculty. Her ability to deliver these essential trainings in a manner that is both efficient and convenient has significantly improved access and compliance across the School of Nursing.

Her commitment to excellence, coupled with her collaborative spirit and attention to detail, makes her an invaluable asset to our team. Cyndy’s leadership ensures that our clinical programs not only meet but exceed regulatory and educational standards, ultimately supporting the development of competent and compassionate nursing professionals.

Nominated by: Kathleen Turner

It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Kelly Green for the Commitment to Excellence Recognition Program. Kelly consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication and service to the DUSON community. She consistently goes above and beyond in supporting our students, faculty, and staff. She approaches every task with professionalism, enthusiasm, and genuine care for others.

A true team player, Kelly has recently taken on career coaching meetings with several students — a completely new area for her and one that required stepping outside her comfort zone. She embraced the challenge with grace and commitment, ensuring that each student felt supported and encouraged. Her willingness to grow and take on new responsibilities demonstrates her adaptability and student-centered mindset. Kelly is also the colleague everyone can count on. Whether assisting with testing, OCI, FLIP, or other departmental initiatives, she never hesitates to lend a hand. Her positive attitude, reliability, and collaborative spirit make her an invaluable member of our team.

Kelly’s welcoming personality and strong work ethic create a supportive and uplifting environment for everyone she interacts with. She exemplifies what it means to be dedicated, compassionate, and community minded. Our department is stronger because of her, and she truly deserves to be recognized for her outstanding contributions to the DUSON community.

Nominated by: Bernice Alston

I enthusiastically nominate
Matt Lardie and Jessica Covil-Manset for the Commitment to Excellence Staff Recognition Program. As key members of our Marketing & Communications editorial team, they have worked hard transforming the School of Nursing’s internal and external communications with creativity, clarity, and strategic insight.

Jess, as Communication Manager, has elevated our newsletters and storytelling platforms, amplifying faculty and student voices with empathy and precision. Her editorial leadership in advocacy and community engagement reflects her deep commitment to inclusive communication. Her personal reflection supporting ultrasound training demonstrates her deep commitment to the School of Nursing.

Matt, as Editorial Manager, has brought national visibility to our research and initiatives through ɫ��ֱ�� Nursing Magazine. His ability to craft compelling narratives—like the recent feature On Campus Intensives (OCIs) —demonstrates editorial excellence and strategic impact. His work with current students to highlight our many programs helps bring awareness to our innovative nursing degrees.

Together, Matt and Jessica have helped reimagined how we communicate our mission, values, and impact—internally and externally. Their collaborative spirit, editorial excellence, and dedication to amplifying meaningful voices make them truly deserving of this recognition.

Nominated by: Mary Katherine Powers

I’m excited to nominate Daphne Lancaster for the Commitment to Excellence Award for her dedication to student well-being, her collaborative spirit, and her ability to lead with heart.

While she was part of our team at the Student Success Center, Daphne made student wellness a top priority. She planned and coordinated a variety of creative and accessible wellness events, including morning yoga sessions, bracelet-making activities, and a reflective exercise where students wrote letters to their future selves. These events were both fun and meaningful. Students have shared how supported they felt by Daphne and how her work helped them develop coping strategies and connect with university and community resources to meet a wide range of needs.

Even during her transition to a new role with the CNR, Daphne continued to support both teams. She balanced responsibilities with grace, offering guidance to our intern on managing wellness activities, and continuing to show up for events like the Medical Center Library Welcome Party and our Wellness Wednesday programming. Her presence has remained a steady and positive force. Daphne also brings valuable expertise from her previous role at the CTSI, which I'm sure has already proven to be an asset to the CNR and will no doubt continue to benefit the broader community.

She’s the kind of colleague who is always willing to step in where needed, whether that’s helping coordinate an event, offering support to a peer, or attending classes to help students navigate stress and build resilience. Her impact is felt deeply by students, faculty, and staff, and her commitment to excellence shines through in everything she does.

Nominated by: Kelly Green

I am honored to nominate Corey Brown for the Commitment to Excellence Recognition. Corey has been an exceptional and steadfast partner to the IPEC Center, consistently demonstrating excellence in his role and providing invaluable support to our high-impact initiatives.

Twice a year, the IPEC Center hosts a large-scale workshop that brings together over 500 interprofessional education (IPE) students and 80 facilitators. This event spans five classrooms across both the Pearson and IPE Buildings, each requiring complex tech setup and monitoring. Corey has supported this effort multiple times with unwavering dedication and professionalism.

His responsibilities include ensuring seamless integration of PowerPoint presentations and interactive software under tight time constraints, perfecting audio configurations, and—most critically—managing the Zoom broadcast from one central room to four additional classrooms. This task demands a deep understanding of the workshop’s needs and precise technical execution, which Corey consistently delivers.

Corey’s attention to detail and proactive approach are unmatched. He remains available throughout the workshops to troubleshoot any issues, assist faculty room leads, and ensure a smooth experience for all participants. In alignment with the IPEC Center’s collaborative spirit, Corey even connected with the OT/PT IT Desk to better understand their classroom setup, further ensuring the success of our FLIP sessions.

Beyond the workshops, Corey recently supported the DUSON x IPEC Talent Show, dedicating time and care to audio setup and mic checks. He prepared the Pearson Atrium the day before the event and worked closely with performers on the day of to ensure everything ran smoothly.

Corey is truly a rock for the IPEC Center. His consistent excellence, reliability, and commitment to high-quality service make him deeply deserving of this recognition.

Nominated by: Zakkya Kenny

Jill Borland has provided extraordinary leadership to the DUSON research community. During this period of ever changing federal regulations, she has worked with numerous faculty to successfully navigate ɫ��ֱ�� processes to submit grants. I have personally valued her informed advice on complex questions. She demonstrates DUSON’s value of teamwork and integrity consistently in her work.

Nominated by: Michael Relf

I would like to nominate Laverne Myers for her consistent support of the community. Her can-do attitude exemplifies DUSON’s core values of respect and collaboration. Recently, she volunteered to help set up and take down the state of the school reception and the Marion Broome remembrance ceremony. Laverne is a behind-the-scenes leader who always has the best interest of others as her priority. I appreciate her steady leadership, her gentle mentoring of staff less senior, and commitment to collaboration.

Nominated by: Michael Relf

Zakyya Kenny demonstrated exceptional initiative and creativity in organizing an interprofessional talent show that brought together faculty, staff, and students in a truly meaningful way. This event was more than just a bit of fun - it was a celebration of community, inclusion, and belonging.

Working alongside Walker, the DUSON Student Council President, and a small team, Zakyya created a space where participants could bring their full, amazing selves to where they learn, study, and work. From singing and dancing to fiddling, individuals shared their personal talents with a cheering, excited audience that filled the Atrium with a much-needed infusion of joy.

From coordinating logistics to recruiting participation across disciplines, Zakyya exemplified excellence in service, collaboration, and leadership. The talent show not only showcased diverse gifts within our community but also strengthened a sense of connection across academic programs in the School of Nursing and the School of Medicine.

Zakyya’s work continues to align beautifully with DUSON’s mission, vision, and values. Her ability to lead a high-impact initiative like this - with grace and creativity, in addition to her responsibilities within the IPEC Center - makes her a truly deserving recipient of the Commitment to Excellence Award. Congratulations on a wonderful event, Zakyya!

Nominated by: Najla McClain

• A welcome reception with School leadership
• A full-day Board of Visitors meeting
• The Commitment to Excellence Ceremony
• The Marion Broome Memorial Celebration
• A Homecoming Tailgate open to faculty, staff, students, alumni, board members, and friends of the School
• And a football game experience where we hosted board members and donors in a spirited, community-centered environment

Nominated by: Troy Pinkins

I am honored to nominate Bernice Alston for the Commitment to Excellence award. She is the kind of leader who shows up every day with compassion, creativity, and a deep commitment to our students and staff.

Over the past few months, our office has faced significant staffing changes, but she hasn't let that impact the quality of the services that the Student Success Center offers our community. Instead, she's found innovative ways to keep our career services strong and student-centered. She's built partnerships with ɫ��ֱ�� Health to offer sessions on resumes, cover letters, networking, and interviewing. She's also teamed up with faculty to host "Resume Rounds" where students get direct, personalized feedback on their job search materials. These events have made a real difference in helping students feel confident and prepared as they navigate their job search.

What truly sets her apart is how deeply she cares. I've seen Dr. Alston walk students to Counseling and Psychological Services when they needed support, and she's been a vocal advocate for mental health resources in our community. She's the kind of person who never turns away someone in need, and her presence during times of stress and crisis has been a source of comfort and stability.

She leads with empathy, always making time for others, and consistently delivers work of the highest quality. Her impact on our office and our students is undeniable, and I can't think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.

Nominated by: Kelly Green

Nominated by: Sarah Deuel

I would like to nominate Lindsay Johnson for a Commitment to Excellence award. There has been not one incident to share, but many!

She responds to both student and faculty questions or concerns in a prompt manner, and with real updates and information that is helpful for next steps. Professional and pleasant with students, especially the newbies, she guides them in a nonjudgmental way, and facilitates their next steps with instructions and links. Sometimes the senior students just haven’t had to deal with a certain situation, or perhaps did not read the instructions already posted, but she does not reprimand and simply points them (again) to the link or document. She does the same thing with yours truly!

I hope you will consider her for this award for her work ethic and professionalism as well as ‘knows the answers we need’! 

Many thanks to Lindsay Johnson, in our DUSON Office of the Registrar! 

Nominated by: Kathy Trotter

Course N962 (Transforming the Nation’s Health) deploys each fall semester for DNP students. While the course planning process began months before the official beginning of the fall semester, some last minute changes and challenges associated with assigned course faculty, late enrollment of students, and a different strategy for configuring Canvas, required additional time and effort. During this period, Bonita Douglas was remarkably accessible and responsive to faculty’s needs leveraging clear communication, reliable follow through, and additional effort (that regrettably impacted her weekend) to help us achieve the goal.

It is for this reason and more that she deserves public recognition.

Nominated by: Sean Convoy

Cindy Luddy is always an exemplary team player but, this past month she has been exceptionally helpful! We recently had someone leave our department and as we’re working through how to divide up the workload Cindy, without hesitation, asked if she could reach out to the impacted students to provide them important information to help prepare them for Spring 2026 clinicals. Cindy has also been responding to their questions and following up on any leads these students are sending back. I recognize that working with this group is not her “responsibility” but, Cindy saw a need and jumped in to help. Her foresight and willingness to do this helped keep a group of students from being impacted at all from the decrease in our staff. During this time, Cindy has also spearheaded a way to bring my remote team together and celebrate another team member! These are both perfect examples of her commitment to thoughtfully upholding our values: excellence, collaboration, respect and belonging!

Nominated by: Shannon Monroe

I am writing to nominate Tina Johnson for her assistance in coordinating the rescheduling of multiple final exams for our ABSN students. Her timely responses helped to relieve student and faculty stress and aided in their success. Exam scheduling is already an art, but doing so during an already busy finals week is masterful!

Thank you, Tina!

Nominated by: Stephanie A. Gedzyk-Nieman

I’m pleased to nominate Ms. Tina Leiter for her outstanding service and professional excellence this past weekend.

Tina was responsive to our needs on Sunday during an emerging situation, helping us after hours and aiding us in effective communication. Her professional, poised and responsive action made a significant impact on our response.

THANK YOU, TINA!

Nominated by: Anne Derouin

A special thank you and recognition for the outstanding work Jim McNerney demonstrated during a week when he was on the job “alone” with Ms. Tina away for a week. Jim smoothly and confidently navigated heating and cooling issues, elevator outages, room changes, ice machine malfunctions and countless other “small” issues that occurred during this season. He demonstrated reliability, professionalism, dependability and outstanding customer service to all.

On behalf of the academic team and all of DUSON, please recognize this effort and thank Jim for his outstanding effort!

Nominated by: Anne Derouin

I’m writing to thank the Admissions Office team of Briana Colbert and Steven Johansson for their extraordinary effort in developing a system for MSN interview deployment that will transpire through SLATE. This is a huge step forward in our workflow and a demanding, complicated process that has taken insight and dedication to bring to fruition.

This was outside of the typical work expectations and certainly a huge improvement process that will enhance our communication and workflow in the years ahead.

CONGRATULATIONS On the success of this achievement and THANK YOU!

Nominated by: Anne Derouin

I am writing to nominate Tina Johnson for a Service Excellence Award. I have worked with Tina for many years yet she still never ceases to amaze me. She continually finds ways to go above and beyond. This week a student missed our N475 Exam and we needed to schedule a time for her to make up the test. Eric Bloomer is our assigned ED Tech partner but he was on (a richly-deserved) vacation. I emailed Tina who helped me through the scheduling process with the student. Once we established the student’s availability for the following day, Tina secured a testing room and offered to conduct remote proctoring as well. She will meet the student on the day of testing. And finally, Tina prepared a new version of the test, with a new password, that the student can take tomorrow. All this while covering for a colleague who is on vacation. Thank you, Tina!

Nominated by: Deirdre Thornlow, Gillian Jackson, Ayo Bankol

Nominated by: Sophia Smith

Please accept my endorsement of a Staff Excellence coin for two extraordinary heroes in our community: Ms. Bebe Mills and Ms. Angela Goss.

These two women were recognized by a DNP student and the DNP Assistant Dean, Dr. Marylou Affronti, for their excellence and for meeting them in the moment, ensuring they had a remarkable experience here at DUSON.

This exemplary customer service is what makes ALL the difference here at our school and we are grateful to Bebe and Angela for their continual service, mentorship, role modeling and care.

Nominated by: Anne Derouin

Rometa Summerlin backed up her EdTech colleague by helping me troubleshoot a Canvas related issue that significantly impacted the on schedule role out of N763 for the summer semester of 2025. This course has 42 students enrolled who were struggling with a technical issue that impacted their ability to submit a discussion forum assignment on time. Rometa was dogged in pursuit of a resolution working dynamically with both students and faculty to isolate and resolve the issue. Not only did she resolve the issue, but she also assessed all other aspects of the online course for similar problems. Rometa’s effort went well beyond “normal work hours” and all are grateful for her support. ɫ��ֱ�� is most fortunate to have Rometa on the team. It is for this reason, and more, that she deserves public recognition.

Nominated by: Sean Convoy

I would like to nominate Troy Pinkins, DUSON Development, for the Commitment to Excellence Award. Troy was here before our Facilities team arrived and all ready to pivot our set up due to weather. We had a brief team meeting and began setting up for the reception. Troy jumped right in to help with setting up and then straightened out the courtyard with Facilities. 

Not only for the reasons above, but when the caterer flooded the pantry with dumping items in the sink too fast, Troy went beyond his responsibilities to grab cleaning supplies and mop the area. Even when Facilities and housekeeping stated they would take care of it, Troy rolled up his sleeves and stated, “I've got this, because housekeeping and facilities have other things to take care of.” I truly want to thank Troy for jumping in and showing what a great team player he is and there is no large or small task that he will not do.

Thank you, Troy!

Nominated by: Tina Leiter

We are nominating Melanie Allen for a Commitment to Excellence Award. Melanie had served as Administrative Support for DUSON’s Beta Epsilon Chapter of Sigma but recently transitioned to a new position within DUSON. Even so, she showed up on Friday May 9, 2025 to help us set up for our semi-annual Induction Ceremony where we recognize and induct the newest members of the professional organization. Melanie not only helped us set up the Auditorium for the event, but she also cleaned up after the event and brought back items to the “Sigma closet” when we were finished. All of this without being asked. She volunteered to help us. We are grateful to Melanie for her initiative.

We miss having Melanie as our official administrative support person, but are so grateful that she remains part of our DUSON family.

Thank you, Melanie!

Nominated by: Board of Directors, Beta Epsilon Chapter, Sigma

Tiffiany Parker, our MSN program coordinator, assisted Jennie De Gagne and myself in helping us perform a gap analysis schema for our (DUSON BSN-DNP or other applicable) education students moving into the DNP program for the NFLP program or obtaining additional education certificates. Her expertise in this area and extra time was greatly appreciated! The flow chart/schema is now on our DNP website. 

While we offered her monetary support for her time I was impressed that it “would mean more to her that (she) contributed to our DUSON excellence!” We appreciate and thank Tiffiany for her efforts across DUSON programs!

Nominated by: Mary Lou Affronti

I would like to nominate Keysha Hall for a Commitment to Excellence award for always going above and beyond for our students and being there for them through challenging times. Our students are very anxious when starting the MSN program but she ensures they have all the information needed to be successful. She’s always thinking of creative ways to help the MSN Program and has taken the initiative to benefit the students by having weekly student hours for them to pop in and ask her questions about all things MSN related, which helps take pressure off the students. Her outstanding performance has a significant impact on our team's success. A student specifically wrote the below message in regard to a change of major experience she recently had:

Your kindness is very much appreciated during these disquieting times, with a heartfelt thank you to Keysha Hall for always addressing my concerns, whether big or small, with grace and dedication (and most importantly, patience).

Grace, kindness, and patience are not things that come easily during these challenging times. I would love for Keysha to be recognized for going above and beyond to serve DUSON students with grace, dedication, and patience.

Nominated by: Tiffiany Parker, Benjamin Smallheer

Nominated by: Stephanie Gedzyk-Nieman

I would like to recognize Angelina Sharak for her exceptional work in developing the Data Governance Best Practices Standard Operating Procedure. In only a short amount of time at DUSON, Angelina has been able to collaborate with multiple departments, including DUSON, DOCR, DOSI, and Data Curation to identify best practices for data governance for researchers at DUSON. The Center for Nursing Research is incredibly grateful for her work ethic in providing clarity around data governance. I’m proud to work with someone as dedicated as Angelina! Thank you for your service and support of research at DUSON!

Nominated by: Staci Reynolds

One of our team members recently had a baby and has been out on maternity leave. While planning for how to manage the leave, Leah White was asked if she could help cover our teammate's group of student placements. Leah graciously agreed to help in whatever way she could! Leah willingly accepted the additional load and has managed this group of students since the beginning of March and will continue to do so through the first week of May. Her willingness to do so enabled our work to continue with absolutely no disruption to the group of students that she is serving. It also kept our team from having to bring in a temporary employee to handle the additional workload, which saved the school and our department from accruing additional expenses.

Leah’s willingness to always help in anyway that we need, whenever we need her, and keeping a positive attitude while doing so is a true example of amazing teamwork! Her commitment to our MSN students and the clinical placement team is greatly appreciated!

Nominated by: Shannon Monroe

Cindy Luddy is being nominated for exceptional teamwork by myself and Stacy Swinney. Over the holiday break, between Fall and Spring Semesters, Cindy reached out to see if there were any outstanding projects that she could help with since it would be a slower time for her. Her reaching out and being willing to take on a few things, helped to get a few projects started that have the potential to make a large impact on the team but, kept being pushed to a lower priority on my to do list. Cindy’s willingness to assist with any project is greatly appreciated! ~ Shannon Monroe

I would like to take a moment to commend Cindy Luddy for her exceptional dedication and willingness to assist in finding placements for my Spring students.

Upon my request for support, Cindy promptly secured a portion of Minjin Kim’s hours within just a few hours. Furthermore, she kindly offered to canvass for two additional Spring students after placing her own. Cindy consistently shares leads for my PMNP and Peds students whenever she encounters relevant information that could benefit them.

I would like to nominate Cindy for an excellence coin in recognition of her outstanding hard work and commitment to the team and the MSN students. ~ Gabby Houston

Nominated by: Shannon Monroe, Gabby Houston

Nominated by a peer for her exceptional teamwork. Gabby Houston always sends preceptors and approved slots that she is unable to use to her teammates to see if they have a need. This teamwork does not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated by your peers. Thank you for all you do to support the team!

Nominated by: Shannon Monroe

For utilizing her vacation time to personally visit and thank a few of our regular preceptors in the CA area. I also received an email from a student recognizing Monica Meza for her amazing support throughout the placement process. The students comments were thanking Monica for being such a proactive placement coordinator and stated that she made her ɫ��ֱ�� placement experience as stress-free as possible so she can focus on her studies!

Thank you Monica for your support of all our MSN students!

Nominated by: Shannon Monroe

Please accept my recommendation for Ms Nashonda Thomas in CND. Several months ago now, but still clearly in my mind, is the Can Do attitude and problem solver that Nashonda demonstrated the day before the Women’s Health and FNP student OCI. We were missing the contraception method in the teaching box and she immediately paused during our walk thru, offered to order it directly to her house that night, and to bring it in the next morning for the teaching station. Amazing!

Nominated by: Kathy Trotter

I would like to nominate Lauren Knotts in MarCom for the Commitment to Excellence award. Lauren stepped in to offer time-limited, technical assistance in support of an internal strategic committee. This is not within her scope of duties, and her willingness to step in was timely, impactful, and sincerely appreciated. Thank you Lauren!

Nominated by: Seth Levkoff

I would like to nominate Chloe Hayim for the DUSON Staff Excellence award. I frequently work with Chloe with on training grant applications/reports and she always is very helpful and responsive. Most recently, on a grant application, we realized at the last minute that a set of data tables had been overlooked. Within 24 hours of the request, Chloe completed the tables, and then met during a scheduled day off, to answer questions about the table. With her assistance, we met the deadline, and were able to submit the grant.

Nominated by: Wendy Conklin

I would like to nominate Selnatta Vereen for a service award. Before my leave began, Selnatta offered to assist in any way needed and we spent time together crafting our contingency plans. Her approach was so proactive and appreciated more than words can say. During my absence, Selnatta was responsible for handling regression analysis, offer letter, temporary requests, background checks, onboarding and delivering orientation in addition to the numerous HR responsibilities she does for DUSON every day! On January 13, Selnatta insisted on delivering that day’s orientation because she wanted me to be mindful of my energy on my first day back in the office.

Her thoughtfulness and willingness to go above and beyond was the primary reason hiring managers stayed on track with hiring.

Thank you, Selnatta.

Nominated by: Leslie Zanaglio

Please accept my recommendation to honor Tiffiany Parker for the DUSON Commitment to Excellence award!

She is generally responsive to MSN program needs and makes sure things run smoothly. But look at this quote from a brand new WHNP student who had a question about course transfer. Within 16 hours of her reaching out to me for consideration of transfer, Tiffiany had taken the lead and provided outstanding work to support the student and her change from a traditional student to a PGC. Here is what the student, who is a graduate of Columbia University, Dana Czuczka, MPH, BSN, RN wrote:

"Subject: Re: Switch WHNP MSN to WHNP PGC Between my undergraduate and graduate and prerequisite classes and nursing degrees, I have been enrolled in many different universities. I have to share that I have never experienced such proactive support. I can’t thank you enough. I definitely chose the right place!!"

So GREAT!!

Nominated by: Kathy Trotter

In support of an HRSA Funded Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) grant opportunity, Wendy Conklin and Chloe Hayim have proven themselves invaluable with their guidance and support during a federal grant application cycle that notoriously straddled the holiday break.

Wendy’s ability to provide structure with submission requirements and leverage institutional knowledge around fiscal matters were critical. Chloe’s ability to respond to requests for information near instantaneously with high quality data is preternatural. In no small part due to their efforts, our grant was submitted on time. ɫ��ֱ�� is most fortunate to have Wendy and Chloe on the team. It is for these reasons, and more, that they both deserve public recognition.

Nominated by: Sean P. Convoy

This past year, I completed the 560 required clinical hours as an AGPC-NP DUSON student. Going into FA 2023, my learning objectives and all for which I had hoped to gain in a clinical placement were very clear. The only missing piece was answering the questions of Which sites would be best placements for the list diverse and specific clinical and non-clinical related objectives laid out? Inside, I did feel a touch of concern that some would say those learning objectives would most likely not all be met.

I reached out to my program director and was directed to contact the Clinical Placement Office (CPO). From there, the CPO shared to contact Siti Ricks as my assigned clinical placement representative. Siti was great. In one conversation, I gathered the courage to go through all of the learning objectives on my list and shared about what I would like to see the placements brought about by the end of FA 2024. I was impressed at how attentively Siti listened and even more so by her response. Her response started with "from what you shared X site and X site would most adequately meet those objectives...I can't make any guarantees since it is still early in the placement process for your cohort, however, I can send an email to the site and we can go from there". I felt so relieved and supported.

Siti being a skilled placement advisor, whose knowledge of the sites and ability to listen, directly impacted my experience this year. I have completed the 560 clinical hours, and with much pride can share that I have met every single clinical and non-clinical objective on my initial list in a way that exceeded my expectations...and I did not do it alone. Siti's support was a great part of that and being properly placed after communicating all learning objectives.

I am deeply grateful that to be ready for practice as a novice NP, understanding not only practicing as a Primary Care NP but billing, CPT and ICD-10 codes, on-the-ground practicals of how policies and laws impact practicing within my State, interprofessional collaboration within an independent practice vs a practice that is part of a larger healthcare system, just to name a few areas. Our site placement matters and can be one that further instills confidence or dispels it. Having a knowledgeable clinical placement adviser matters. It can be the difference of being placed at a site that further prepares us as future novice NPs or cheapens the experience of just getting the hours done.

Nominated by: LaDonna Brown

I would like to nominate Tina Johnson for Committee to Excellence. Tina offered to assist me with clearing all the offices that had items left behind on the 3rd floor IPE. Together we cleared the items quickly to make this space readily available.

Without her assistance, this task would take hours. Thank you Tina for your support and willingness to assist others without a second thought!

Nominated by: Tina Leiter

I would like to nominate Melissa Ziberna for a DUSON Coin of Excellence, for her work with performing student compliance audits for our clinical partners in the pre-licensure (ABSN) program. The audits require a same-day response to demonstrate that the appropriate documentation is in place for our students to be present in the clinical areas. I have greatly enjoyed working with Melissa, who consistently demonstrates professionalism accompanied with incredible kindness and willingness to help others. Melissa recently received high praise from WakeMed’s student placement coordinator, who wrote “Thank you for successfully completing the periodic audit for compliance. Your submission was exceptionally thorough and complete. I can tell you have a keen eye for detail. Thanks so much for your work and for our partnership.” Her commitment to supporting DUSON’ s students and the relationships with our practice partners is admirable and highly deserving of recognition!

Nominated by: Cyndy Keener

I would like to nominate Najla McClain for a Committee to Excellence award. Najla offered to assist with the daunting task of clearing out the copy rooms on the 3rd floor IPE without a second thought. Not only did she remove all the items that were stocked in these areas, but she put them away in the Service Center. Also, she went through all the binders that were left on the counter and put them away to make the Service Center less cluttered.

Najla was a huge help and did these tasks without a second thought. I really appreciate her assistance. She is a STAR and demonstrates the meaning of “TEAM” in our community. Thank you, Najla, for all your help and support!

Nominated by: Tina Leiter

I’d like to nominate Troy Pinkins, Senior Director of Alumni & Engagement Programs in the Office of Development & Alumni Affairs for the Commitment to Excellence Award.

Our office had an extremely busy and successful fall, and many of the efforts were led by Troy who demonstrated true professionalism and excellence in the performance of his job responsibilities. DUSON hosted our first ever football tailgate during Homecoming weekend on September 28. We had DUSON alumni, students, faculty and staff join us in celebrating ɫ��ֱ��’s Centennial Homecoming and of course the Blue Devils Football team. It was a wonderful pre-game activity, and Troy led the way in making this event successful. Four weeks later, we held our bi-annual, fall Nursing Alumni Council (NAC) meeting. As staff liaison / manager of this group of alumni volunteers, Troy did an outstanding job of planning and execution for a successful meeting, full of engagement and enthusiasm from this group of loyal alumni. Finally, during the annual American Academy of Nursing conference in Washington, DC, Troy planned and executed a wonderful reception to honor and recognize 6 DUSON alumni and 4 DUSON faculty as the newest fellows in the distinguished cohort of nurse leaders. With all of these programs, Troy did a wonderful job making sure that our alumni were front and center, and recognized for being leaders and impactful alumni in their professions. Troy demonstrated excellence in all of these, showcasing our community of outstanding leaders.

Nominated by: Michael Strader

I would like to nominate both Eric Bloomer and Nicole Fleming for a coin of excellence. Both of them came together and assisted the MSN program with a significant challenge we have been facing. After months of road blocks faced by the MSN program, Nicole was able to, in just a matter of minutes, direct us to how to resolve our issue. Eric also stepped in and guided the program office on how to successfully navigate our issue. The end result is a much more efficient and streamline process for all MSN faculty and staff…which we would not have been able to achieve without the combined efforts of Nicole and Eric.

Neither had any true reason to provide this assistance other than their unwavering commitment to excellence.

Nominated by: Benjamin A. Smallheer

I would like to nominate Eric Bloomer, Educational Technology Specialist, for a Commitment to Excellence Award for helping the MSN Program navigate through some unforeseen obstacles with a tech project. His dedication, guidance, and quick response in supporting our MSN Program needs have helped ensure our program will run smoothly, effective, and efficient. We are grateful to have him as a colleague with his caliber of expertise and experience.

Nominated by: Tiffiany Parker

I would like to make a recommendation for Rodney Bean and Corey Brown to receive the commitment to excellence coin for going above and beyond for the financial aid office last week. I had to record a webinar in the studio two weeks ago and it had to be done by September 19th. They sent the recording to me to review and there were issues in the recording from my mistake. The patience displayed by both of these individuals displayed with me were phenomenal.

Although they were extremely busy, they worked on getting me back into the studio the Tuesday before the 19th to rerecord the session and Rodney gave me some helpful tips while I was rerecording. I finished the recording the same day within an hour and they sent it back to me by the end of that day to use in my Financial Aid webinar that Thursday. Their professionalism, patience, and going above and beyond the call of duty for our office should be recognized with a commitment to excellence coin.

Nominated by: Cecil Outlaw

I would like to nominate Karen Lowdermilk and Cyndy Keener for the Commitment to Excellence coin. Their expertise and lightning-fast turnaround of items needed for our DME application was outstanding! I am grateful to have them as part of the prelicensure team and DUSON. They showed exceptional dedication and their contributions were invaluable. Thank you for considering them for this recognition.

Nominated by: Stephanie A. Gedzyk-Nieman

I am pleased to nominate Andrew (Drew) Buchanan and Sara Aghajanian, for the commitment to excellence award, for their essential role in pulling together a recent grant application to the CVS Health Foundation. I believe Drew exemplifies, on a consistent basis, real excellence in his ability to help us communicate some of the many strengths of DUSON in an engaging, accessible manner. This past month, we needed to call on those skills, under exceptionally short notice, in order to create some brief but pithy video clips starring our community partners in Pamlico County. Together with his supervisor, Sara they worked out a strategy for us to ‘workshop the messaging’, and then travel to our partners to get the filming done on their turf, and on their time. I think the combination of Drew’s skills, willingness to go the extra mile (actually 200 miles round trip, on the day immediately after his vacation!) along with Sara’s strategic vision which allowed this project to be prioritized were truly outstanding. I had the good fortune to watch Drew in action with our community partners, as he very patiently led us all through an approach to getting the videos made in a manner that was comfortable for them, and allowed their genuine commitment to the community shine through. I also had complete confidence in Drew’s ability to manage the technical aspects of making certain that the files were of the correct size and format to meet the foundation’s expectations. This all had to come together very quickly, and I remain amazed that we were able to pull this off. I’m very grateful to be a part of a community with such talented and hard working folks.

Nominated by: Eleanor S. (Ellie) McConnell

We would like to nominate Eric Bloomer for the Commitment to Excellence Award. Eric consistently demonstrates excellence by providing exceptional service for every actionable item that we ask of him. Eric supports multiple pre-licensure courses at DUSON and in doing so, he offer suggestions to improve our course delivery and contributes to making our courses more user friendly with similar formatting for the students. Eric is always professional and timely in all deliverables. He produces high quality work that is well appreciated for our large class sizes and multiple clinical excursions. Eric exemplifies his commitment to supporting our mission, vision and values on a daily basis. Thank you, Eric

Nominated by: Jill Brennan-Cook and Deirdre Thornlow

I would like to nominate Mary Katherine (MK) Powers, Web Administrator for a Staff Commitment to Excellence Award. After our team made a strategic decision to move forward with our website redesign internally, MK immediately went into action. She led a phased approach to launch the refreshed pages for the website, working simultaneously as a designer, a project manager, and a developer to implement all of the changes. By the time the website project is fully implemented, MK will have updated 90+ pages. This is normally the work of a multi-person web development team! Throughout all of this, she has also still managed to respond rapidly to urgent faculty and staff website web needs. I frequently receive feedback about how quickly and efficiently she completes requests, and how her patience and dedication is appreciated. Thank you to MK for all of your efforts to support the DUSON community and bring our new website to life!

Nominated by: Sara Aghajanian

In anticipation of the summer semester, the team of Bonita Douglas and Rometa Summerlin partnered to transform graduate course N763 (Psychopharmacology) from Sakai to Canvas. What distinguishes this exceptional effort from standard workflow comes by EdTech’s ability to adapt to each other’s absence dynamically and decisively without compromising the work. I initially worked with Bonita to build my course. Upon Bonita’s absence (vacation), I submitted a trouble ticket and Rometa immediately tagged in resolving a few outstanding issues in a matter of minutes. This coordinated effort allowed me to open N763 to students 1 week before the official beginning of the semester.

Mindful that this kind of effort requires strategic coordination, I am also compelled to recognize Tina Johnson in her managerial position with Educational Technology. EdTech’s ability to dynamically adapt to their internal customers represents the gold standard for DUSON.

Nominated by: Sean P. Convoy

I would like to nominate Tammy Dozier, Senior Financial Aid Counselor, for a Commitment to Excellence coin. Tammy managed the financial aid office on her own during an extremely busy time, when fall Bursar bills were issued and spring ABSN students were admitted. She also had unexpected projects and requests come in during this time related to North Carolina grants and Nurse Faculty loan. Despite all of this, Tammy continued to provide a high level of customer service in providing timely, accurate, and helpful responses to students, faculty, and staff. Thank you, Tammy, for your hard work and dedication to the DUSON community!

Nominated by: Jill Cordell

Please accept this nomination of Karen Lowdermilk and Brandon Holmes for the commitment to excellence coin. While this is just one example among many for each, Karen and Brandon deserve special recognition for their quick and innovative thinking related to a time sensitive project. Both Karen and Brandon put forth significant efforts to support the DUSON school mission when called upon in the 12th hour. Their attitude of “yes, and what else can I do?” made the entire project come together seamlessly. Both Karen and Brandon continue to be examples of teamwork, effective communicators, and advocates for progress.

Nominated by: Nora Harrington

Once again I wanted to recognize 2 individuals for a commitment to excellence gold coin. I am not certain who is their manager as Nora has left 😊

Grace Woodbury (and Nora) in admissions for assisting us in moving the International Rwanda students forward (out of cycle) so rapidly for the Fall'24 semester to increase DUSON enrollment and assist in a smooth transition of these students as a cohort (checking on pre-requisite courses).  Yet more importantly, to assist in increasing our collaboration with international DNP students/schools!

Chole Hayim has been vital in providing DNP statistics with a 24-48hr period to support our recent Jonas Scholars (grant) submission to support our BSN-DNP students for tuition scholarships  and for future faculty teaching. She then turned around and also helped us with DNP program metrics to support our DNP Re-envisioning task force. While she and others may say” this is her role” it is with the efficiency, professionalism and follow-up that makes us so grateful to have her in this role. This work has also let to discussion re:  future needs (asking questions on the DNP applications ) to assist in enrollment numbers and demographic data needed for the DNP program and projects.

Nominated by: Mary Lou Affronti

I'd like to nominate Leslie Zanaglio for a coin to recognize her service in expediting our new hire for Maggie's position and all the support she provided me through the process. She was super responsive to all my questions and truly helped us in getting the best candidate for the job!

Nominated by: Stephanie Gedzyk-Nieman

I would recognize the amazing team in the Financial aid Office team and Wendy Conklin for the incredible “extra” effort they offered to the student-recipients of our most recent APPLES (HRSA-Funding) scholarship awards.

The team worked with Mary and the individual students to MAXIMIZE the scholarship awards each would receive.

The work took significant time, calculations and thoughtfulness to achieve and demonstrated extraordinary customer service to our students.  Because of the remarkable teamwork, each selected student will receive the most scholarship funding possible while leveraging their current funding sources. ALL of them will gain the mental health competencies and confidence to deliver care to pediatric patients and families in the future—truly remarkable!

On behalf of the APPLES team, please award the Financial office team (Jill Cordell, Cecil Outlaw, and Tammy Dozier) and Wendy excellence coins and our heartfelt thanks for the exemplary care to our students.

Nominated by: Anne Derouin

I would like to nominate Carla Nichols for an excellence coin. I am enrolled in courses at another college and had been experiencing connection issues for online courses for over a week. The IT team at the other college had been trying to resolve the issue to no avail. They notified me and several students that they would have to request help from the vendor. I was really frustrated that I couldn’t attend class and had an exam due in less than a week.

I sent Carla a note on Jabber just to see if this was an issue that she was familiar with. I didn’t expect her to take on the task of fixing it for me because this was not a DUSON issue. Carla sent me directions to complete a few steps on my laptop. She then followed up via email with other things I could do to troubleshoot the issue.  The next day I was able to attend class. I felt like someone removed a boulder from my path.

Our IT team is superb in what they do, and I believe it is because Carla provides an example to them for providing expert service. She could have told me to continue to consult the IT at the school where I am enrolled. She responded to my cry for help and without hesitation helped me to find resolution.  I am always appreciative that she is a part of the DUSON team and even more so grateful for her dedication, commitment to excellence, and being a part of the solution.

Nominated by: Selnatta Vereen

I’d like to nominate Wendy Conklin for the Commitment to Excellence Award for her support to our HRSA cooperative agreement that funds the M-PACT Clinic program. Before each HRSA report is due, Wendy makes sure we have it on the calendar so we start preparing. She is so experienced in the processes of reporting to internal ɫ��ֱ�� and HRSA and this brings us a lot of assurance that reports are submitted correctly and on time. Recently, a brand new report was required by HRSA. Wendy jumped right in to help me make sense of what information we were being asked to submit and also ran a special report that provided us the necessary data. When I was having trouble with entering the correct information, Wendy suggested we jump on Zoom, and with her help I was able to submit the report. I would not have been able to complete the report without her! I’m so appreciative of her willingness to help – right in the moment, her expertise and professionalism.

Nominated by: Heather Mountz

We would like to nominate Nashonda Thomas for her superb work during the most recent multiweek sessions of on campus intensives for nurse practitioners. The MSN NP enrollment has increased across each of the eight majors and as such require support from an individual who is able to navigate a complex schedule to support the needs of the learners. Nashonda was able to organize equipment and supplies to support clinical learning needs of more than 200 leaners during the week. She completed these activities with a high level of service to the students, faculty and other staff. Her exceptional organization, planning and attention to detail resulted in superb experiences for the nurse practitioner students engaged in their on-campus experiences.

Nominated by: Remi Hueckel and Midge Bowers

I would like to nominate Cindy Luddy because my colleague went above and beyond by connecting me with a contact at a healthcare facility in Florida, where I was able to secure a clinical placement for pediatric primary care. This is an area that is notoriously difficult to find placements in, and I am extremely grateful for Cindy’s assistance and support.

Cindy’s knowledge and willingness to share information with me not only helped me to secure this valuable experience for our student this Spring, but also future students in Florida. I believe that Cindy’s generosity and support deserves recognition, and I am proud to nominate her for going out of their way to help me succeed.

Nominated by: Gabby Houston

I would like to nominate Raymond Brisson and Erika Smalls staff members of the Center for Nursing Discovery (CND) DUSON's CND coordinated a Summative High Fidelity Standardized Patient Simulation event for the PMHNP graduating class of 2024 supporting N770, 2 Formative High Fidelity Standardized Patient Simulation events for the PMHNP class of 2025 supporting N759, (Two 1 day events, routing 52 students through an outpatient clinic evaluating 1 patient per episode) generating over 138 hours of high quality standardized patient simulation.  The degree and precision of logistical coordination between the CND, standardized patients, faculty, and students must be superlative to achieve learning objectives within the allotted time. The CND has humbly taken on a dramatic increase in workload with a "can do" spirit.

Nominated by: Benjamin Smallheer

I would like to recognize “Munah” – aka Maimunah Kokayi with a gold coin for her recent support for the DNP program!

On January 9th my computer crashed 10 minutes before my Assistant Dean presentation for DNP virtual orientation! With Dr. AnnMarie Walton’s assistance, Maimunah developed a backup plan using AnnMarie’s computer (and my slide deck) while she figured out the issue.

With Maimunah’s help I was ready to present within 1 minute of my presentation time on my computer! While I even had one minute to gather my composure to present after a stressful event, what impressed me the most was that she stayed by in my office (while continuing to work on her phone) for my 15-minute presentation to make sure it went well—and even gave me feedback! True dedication – I am so appreciative of her support and team work!

Nominated by: Mary Lou Affronti

I would like to nominate Wendy Conklin for this award. She has been simply amazing at helping shepherd through a big ($5 Million over 5 years), complex HRSA grant proposal– multiple schools (ɫ��ֱ��, NCCU, NC community college system, AHEC), multiple faculty, multiple challenges, and a blisteringly short deadline. She is always knowledgeable, has suggestions for how to overcome obstacles, and is unfailing gracious in guiding us.

And her work ethic…patiently helping us through evening and weekend hours, when there was no other way to get this done. And as a mentor once pointed out to me – excellence is not a ‘one-off’ – it is a habit….and she has that habit!

Nominated by: Eleanor McConnell

I would like to nominate Keysha Hall and Brandon Holmes. Keysha's dedication is clearly demonstrated through her timely provision of essential data and consistent follow-through, which significantly boosts our program's efficiency and outcomes. Her proactive coordination ensures our operations run smoothly, setting a high standard for our team's performance.

In the admissions office, Brandon's contributions are just as crucial. His prompt communication and adept handling of the needs of nursing education majors as well as certificate applicants are vital. Brandon's commitment to creating a supportive and responsive environment greatly aids our future students' transition, aligning with the goals of our commitment to educational excellence.

Nominated by: Jennie De Gagne

I would like to nominate Raymond Brisson, staff within the CND, for his excellence in service to MSN students and ‘can do’ attitude. Beyond the steady work of administering both planning, set up and full integration of many labs and simulations for the ABSN program each week, he participates in our MSN OCI events. He consistently does an excellent job, often starting at 7am in preparation for the day. Most recently, a shout out is deserved when a local new MSN student starting their Obgyn rotation requested lab time to come practice the pelvic exam. Raymond jumped in for another team member who was out, and took care of the set up and then facilitated card access for the weekend when the student could come in. It’s not just a job to him-he realized this was the student’s chance to improve skills and timing was important with the clinical hours already started. We thank him for his expertise, ‘can do’ attitude, and willingness to help all learners and faculty (who are both his customers)!

Nominated by: Kathy Trotter

I’d like to request that Excellence Coins be awarded to Jennifer Lancaster, Sherry Nichols, and Angie Keith for their outstanding commitment to excellence during the various (and MANY) Critical budget discussions that have been held this week.
 
All three of them came poised and prepared for meetings with the various units of Academics and kindly listened with attentiveness to the requests. It would have been easy to defer these meetings, simply say NO or disregard some of the requests, but at each and every meeting, they patiently sought understanding, offered explanations and clarity to the budget requests, and shared with transparency what funds were planned.  They were welcoming, patient, respectful and warm to each faculty member. Since we have not completed the process in this same manner in the past, the opportunity was a huge welcome to faculty and built a sense of cohesiveness, shared decision making and collaboration.  I am also grateful for the time and the opportunity to lean into the process with the finance team. This is the sort of “Togetherness” that the Dean has been suggesting for our community for the future, and the three of these wonderful professionals truly demonstrated this commitment to excellence and mission of our school in each of the meetings I attended.
 
I want to applaud the efficient effort and the example of excellence demonstrated this week by your team. I know they were “just doing their job” but in reality, they went above and beyond by patiently listening, learning, sharing insight and rationales on the budget items and offered each unit the opportunity to advocate for their needs in a respectful and welcoming manner. It was really a powerful opportunity to build community.

Nominated by: Anne Derouin

This week, Eric Bloomer was a hero for a DUSON faculty and student. He responded very promptly to a student issue with bandwidth on an active, timed exam. He quickly diagnosed the problem and assisted the student to have full access to their exam. The outcome was a completed exam and a very thankful faculty member!! Eric does excellent work like this every day.

I am so grateful for the Ed Tech team, and especially Eric’s dedication to the student experience.

Nominated by: Callie Tennyson

I just wanted to reach out to you and acknowledge how seamless it has been to work with Tiffiany Parker in both the certification and licensure process. She friendly, personable, and very knowledgeable about certification and state-specific licensure processes. She is a highly effective communicator and, to be blunt, she gets stuff done. I feel like it is such a rarity in this world to work with someone who you can fully trust will do what you need them to in a timely manner and Tiffiany is gem.

We are in an industry where exceptional performance isn’t going to get us huge raises, but I just wanted to acknowledge that she is very good at what she does, and it made what I needed to do a whole lot easier. At the very least, this may give one or the both of you easy language when you need to do an evaluation. ~Katherine Graap

It is amazing that we continue to serve the DUSON community even after their time with us is done! I would love Tiffiany to be recognized for her strong commitment to excellence

Nominated by: Benjamin Smallheer

I am nominating Melanie Allen for a Commitment to Excellence Award. Melanie serves as Administrative Support for DUSON’s Beta Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing. On Wednesday, November 1, 2023 we held our semi-annual Induction Ceremony to recognize and induct the newest members of the professional organization. Melanie was instrumental in preparing all aspects of this program. Before the day of the ceremony she scheduled the rooms, requested AV support and prepared slides for use at the ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, she ensured all necessary materials were ready to go – she bought flowers, readied the honor cords, name cards, and even steamed the table cloths and banners – above and beyond! The room looked great! She handled the Zoom connection with Rodney Bean, too. After the ceremony she documented a policy / procedure that we can refer to for upcoming ceremonies so that we consistently prepare and manage the details. Melanie always goes above and beyond and appears to be the most hard-working person in the building. She’s here, she’s there, she’s everywhere. We are so grateful that she is here for Sigma and that she is part of our team. Thank you, Melanie!

Nominated by: Deirdre Thornlow

I’d like to nominate the entire ‘front of house’ IT team: Taron Mattocks, Jajuan Garvin, and Maimunah Kokayi for the Commitment to Excellence Staff Recognition Program. They all have excellent personalities, jump at the chance to offer assistance, and are exceedingly professional in all that they do.

They all have supported not only myself, but all in the Dean’ Suite on everything from Zoom best practices, virtual meeting management, software updates, hardware issues and troubleshooting.

Nominated by: Seth Levkoff