Outstanding Staff Service Award recipients, clockwise from top left, are: Kay Brusca, Kirsten Christian, Anaid Espinosa, Andrea Howard, and Brandi Maples.
The College of Education and Health Professions recently announced the recipients of the 2023-24 Outstanding Staff Service Award.
This award recognizes staff who always go above and beyond to serve the university, students, and community. Staff members will be recognized along with the University's Outstanding Faculty Award recipients at the year-end conference on Friday, May 3, in Hillside Auditorium.
This year's winners are:
Contributions to the Education and Health Professions: Kay Brusca
Mr. Bruska, executive assistant and chief of staff to the dean, is an example of outstanding service to the university. One nominator noted that she often “wears a variety of hats,” including working behind the scenes at university events and activities and helping advance the university's strategic plan with a positive and kind demeanor. did. Brusca is also called “the incarnation of”. [the WE CARE] A caring culture. ”
Community Service: Kirsten Christian
Christian is an Administrative Specialist II in the Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy Department. Her nominators acknowledged that she took on additional responsibilities as interim office manager of the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. She worked harder than ever to learn the skills needed to manage the clinic, including handling referrals, scheduling, and day-to-day operations while maintaining her role as an administrative assistant for the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program. I've been doing it. Christian overcame this challenge without sacrificing patient care to the communities the clinic serves.
Service to faculty and staff: Anaido Espinosa
Espinosa is a Management Specialist II in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation. One nominator called her an “unsung hero” within her department and said she was known for her “contagious positivity.” In each of her nominations, Ms. Espinosa was praised for her kindness, patience, and welcoming presence in her HHPR office. She has worked particularly hard to streamline the travel process within her department, which all members of HHPR deeply appreciate.
Service to Students: Andrea Howard
Howard serves as an academic advisor for university health professions students in the Boyer Student Services Center. She supports students and their families from the beginning of their journey at U of A until they cross the stage at graduation. Howard goes above and beyond for her students, each semester she maintains over 650 scheduled appointments while providing the individualized attention students need and deserve.
Contribution to the University of Arkansas: Brandi Maples
Maples is recognized as a leader in finance and administration by the university and the broader university community. She is frequently asked to share her expertise, help solve problems, and recommend her best practices. This year, Maples served as a subject matter expert on several projects on campus. Most recently, she helped design and pilot test a new tool used in budget reporting. She also recommended a new template that integrates information from Workday and her UA Connect to make summer workload forms easier and more timely to fill out.
About the College of Education and Health Professions: The six academic departments in the College of Education and Health Professions prepare students for a variety of careers in education and health professions. In addition to its long-standing role of training educators and educational leaders, the college also trains nurses, speech-language pathologists, public health professionals, recreation and sports professionals, counselors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and exercise scientists. We are training.
