2009 Student Affairs Staff Awards
The Division of Student Affairs celebrated the end of another school year with an awards ceremony and picnic in Associates Park. During the presentation of the annual Outstanding Service Awards that followed lunch, 18 individuals and programs were praised for their outstanding service to the division, students and the USC community.
ASSESSMENT AWARD
Melissa Gaeke
Director of the Volunteer Center
"This is an award given by the Student Affairs Assessment Committee to a program that has demonstrated superior effort and dedication to the assessment process," said presenter Pat Tobey. During the Assessment Committee deliberations, the members reviewed several department directors, and choose Melissa for her work leading the Alternative Spring Break Program. This program creates unique learning environments by taking groups of students, staff and faculty to locations and immersing them in pressing social issues, communities and cultures.
CARDINAL AND GOLD AWARD
Betty Jung
Student Programs Advisor in Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards
The Cardinal and Gold Award is given to a staff member who has served at least 10 years at USC and has proven to be an invaluable member of the Student Affairs team. "Over the past 14 years, Betty has been the steady guiding force within SJACS," said presenter Gabe Valenzuela. "During her tenure the office has experienced numerous changes in staff, yet Betty has always been the constant, ensuring that SJACS emerged stronger through each transition."
OUTSTANDING COLLABORATION AWARD
Vincent Vigil, Musclebound: Body Image and Health Among Men
"Musclebound" was a one act multimedia and interactive performance that chronicled how college men deal with and overcome body image issues. "About 70 students attended the event — a first, historical collaboration between USC Athletics and the LGBT Resource Center," said presenter Patrick Bailey. "In the end, the event raised awareness among our students about male body image issues. Students were able to learn signs, symptoms and the general effects of these issues, along with intervention strategies for themselves and friends they are worried about." Vigil is director of the LGBT Resource Center.
Project ReMix
Project ReMix is an ongoing, collaborative event between Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS), Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs (CBCSA) and El Centro Chicano (ECC) that features panelists, activities and small group discussions. "A high level of collaboration with community partners, academic and student affairs departments also contributed to the overall success of the program," said Bailey. "This included exploring different topics — from a mixed race presidency to the implications of Census 2010."
Dana Ahern, UPHC Electronic Health Records
A new records system organized by Ahern, director of health information management at the University Park Health Center, allows students to schedule appointments and retrieve medical records online. Her nominators noted that, "Dana has been instrumental in assisting the Health Center through the implementation of a paperless heath record system. Dana has the ability to deal with rigorous and unpleasant situations and fields conflicts and resolutions."
Lynette Merriman, Student Crisis Team
The Student Crisis Team is led by Merriman, senior associate dean of students, who oversees Student Support and Advocacy, the Center for Women and Men, Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development, Parent Programs and Residential Education. Said presenter Vincent Vigil: "Lynette epitomizes what is considered to be a great collaborator, and her passion and interest in doing the best possible job often leads her to spend countless hours on campus. It takes a special kind of person to do the job Lynette does, let alone to do it so well."
OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AND SERVICE
Dr. Jorge Bernardez
Staff physician at the University Park Health Center, a team physician for USC Athletics and a professor of third- and fourth-year medical students at the Keck School of Medicine
"Dr. Bernardez is both an asset to the operations of the Student Health Service and a true professional," said presenter Paula Swinford. "He is dedicated to the care of his patients who trust him, he serves as a major liaison to the athletic department and serves as a resource to minority students."
Andrea Torres
Director of Student Support and Advocacy in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
"As the director of Student Support and Advocacy, Andrea has one of the most demanding positions in the division," said Swinford. "Since her tenure, her area has seen a 27% increase in cases. Not only are there more cases than ever before — the cases are much more complex, requiring more attention, more hours of work and often more TLC."
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENTS
Lauren Elan
A graduate intern in Student Support and Advocacy who earned her Master's from the Education, Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs (PASA) program in 2009
"Lauren works well with students, parents and staff and would be an asset to any program. She demonstrates strong leadership skills and is always ready to take on more responsibility," said presenter Jason Cruz.
Jennifer Otott
Orientation Programs Special Projects Coordinator working towards her Master's in the PASA program
"When Orientation Programs decided to work with the SCholars Program to research and assess the needs of our transfer students, Jenn was the obvious person to take the lead on this project," said Cruz. "She has dedicated hundreds of hours to interviewing students, supervising our undergraduate researcher, reading countless publications and researching other schools' programs. Her research has allowed us to assess our program and make some big changes for our incoming transfer students."
Adam Wong
Student Worker in the Office of Campus Activities working towards his Master's in the PASA program
"I am extremely impressed with Adam and feel so lucky to have him working as a graduate assistant in our office," his recommender wrote. "He brings such a great attitude to work each and every day and is truly an asset to this university."
OUTSTANDING NEW STAFF MEMBER
Jade Keala Agua
Assistant Director of Asian Pacific American Student Services
"Jade's first day at APASS was December 3, 2007, and she has already made a distinct impression on our department, the campus and the community," said presenter Lily Chowana-Bandhu. "Jade's commitment to equity, social justice, advocacy and education shines through in all that she does."
Felipe Martinez
Assistant Director of the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund
"His primary responsibility is outreach and recruitment," said Chowana-Bandhu. "He supervises two student staff that work with him in getting the word out in the surrounding community about the Topping Fund."
Chrissy Roth
Program Manager for Orientation Programs
"Chrissy is a wonderful staff member, and it is hard to believe she is still considered 'new' based on the amazing accomplishments she has had to date," wrote one of her recommenders. "Her drive and ambition (and her fun sense of style) keep us all on our toes and moving in the right direction."
OUTSTANDING PROGRAM AWARD
Chris Zacharda
Area Director for the Office of Residential Education
During the 2008-2009 school year, Chris took a lead in preparing instructors for the online grading process implemented by the university, and began to explore the idea of a Student Affairs minor with Rossier School of Education faculty. "Finally, at a time, when the professional associations are increasing their efforts to connect with undergraduates and attract our best students to our profession, USC could lead the way by establishing this first-ever Student Affairs minor," said presenter Sumi Pendakur.
Debbie Wong
Office of Parent Programs
"One of her nominators noted that, 'A great deal of the success of Parent Programs is due to her careful planning, vision and enthusiasm. She has left a permanent stamp of excellence on the Office of Parent Programs and all of USC,'" said Pendakur. "To date, over $140,000 has been pledged (most of it collected) on behalf of the division and the Campus Center. The original goal of the campaign was $100,000. We have far exceeded that due to Debbie's amazing grace and creative strategies."
USC Men Care Program
Led by Todd Henneman, assistant director for the Center for Women and Men, the USC Men Care Program is a peer-education and leadership-development program focused on preventing sexual violence and fostering healthy ideas of masculinity. "To stretch resources and pay for everything from publicity to speaker fees, Men Care collaborated with Health Promotion and Prevention Services, the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs, the Center for Women and Men and the Undergraduate Student Government," said presenter K.C. Mmeje. "These collaborations demonstrate the type of student development that USC Student Affairs embodies and what can be accomplished through collegial partnerships."
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Academic Recognition and Scholars Program
"The outstanding sustainability award goes to a department, individual or program that has made a conscious effort to be environmentally friendly," said presenter Chrissy Roth. "The award recipient has many green efforts in place in the office and at home." The staff all excelled at day-to-day decisions to help the environment that included recycling all paper, using reusable water bottles and mugs, taking public transportation and carpooling to work, shopping at farmer's markets and using reusable grocery bags.
TROJAN SPIRIT AWARD
Ken Taylor
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
After 25 years of valued service, Ken Taylor retired at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. "He has become a rich repository of the university's institutional memory. All of us have benefited time and again from his vast knowledge of the university's history, reflected in its traditions and unique protocols," wrote Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Jackson.