The 2021 Staff Excellence Awards celebrated shining examples of dedication to students and the campus community during a year eclipsed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 30, nominees gathered at the Conference Center for a small ceremony, also broadcast live on the Teams platform.
“You have worked diligently to ensure our campus has not only survived – but thrived – during a global pandemic,” said Denise A. Seachrist, Ph.D., dean and chief administrative officer at Kent State University at Stark. “We eagerly look forward to a fall 2021 semester in which students will be, once again, traversing our campus…and our staff – who so often quietly support this institution’s success behind the scenes – will get to interact with students and see the lives we impact every day.”
Seachrist said she was honored to announce this year’s Staff Excellence Award recipients: Rob Kairis, administrator of the year; and Mary Shank, staff member of the year.
“Rob and Mary have gone above and beyond during the global pandemic to ensure they could do everything within their power to help locally,” Seachrist said. “And both share a common characteristic: putting the needs of others before their own.” Read the full story.