We have some pretty great people here at CSN. And now it’s not just us saying so.
A dozen staffers, from teachers to assistants, managers to technicians, have been given excellence awards by a national college group.
“We have a wonderful group of faculty and staff here at CSN,” said President Dr. Michael Richards. “These awards are a testament to how hard they work each and every day for students. I am proud of everyone who received this excellence award.”
The National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) recently announced its Excellence Awards, which were first awarded in 1989. This year, 12 CSN workers were honored with the award. They are:
- Jennifer Basquiat, Instructor, Department of Communication
- Mark Peplowski, Instructor, Department of Social Sciences
- Richard McGee, Instructor and Department Chair, Department of Fine Arts
- Gillian Silver-Rodis, Instructor, Department of Hospitality Management
- Chieko Fukushima, Instructor, Department of Applied Technology
- John Aliano, Instructor, Department of Media Technologies
- Conni Jo Casey-Harris, Teacher Assistant II, Department of Design & Construction Technology
- Nicholas Holman, Administrative Assistant III, Department of Dental Sciences, Diagnostic Evaluation & Rehabilitation Services
- Seanna Larson, Research Technician, Department of Applied Technology
- Shellie Keller, Manager, Tutorial Services
- Ronald Barakat, Senior Specialist, Campus Childcare, Cheyenne Campus
- Anita Del Corio, Manager, Human Resources
NISOD’s Excellence Awards recognize men and women each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues. In 1989, in connection with a University of Texas at Austin national study of teaching excellence, NISOD hosted its first ceremony honoring NISOD Excellence Award recipients. The response to that ceremony was so positive that NISOD began what has become the largest and most inspiring gathering that recognizes the contributions and achievements of community and technical college faculty, administrators, and staff.
Excellence Award recipients will be celebrated during NISOD’s annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, May 25-28, in Austin, Texas. During the Excellence Awards Dinner and Celebration, held in conjunction with NISOD’s annual conference, each Excellence Award recipient receives a specially cast, pewter medallion hung on a burnt-orange ribbon. The names, titles, and colleges of all Excellence Award recipients are included in a special booklet that features congratulatory ads from many of the recipients’ colleges. In addition, presentations at the conference involving Excellence Award recipients are indicated in the Conference Program with a special icon. All Excellence Award recipients and their colleges are also listed in a special multi-page display in a special edition of Community College Week.
“Recognizing those individuals who have contributed to student success and their colleges’ mission is something we look forward to doing each year,” said Dr. Edward J. Leach, NISOD’s Director. “The extraordinary work of these men and women includes not only what they do for their students and colleagues, but what they do for the communities in which they live and work. We’re honored to be able to play a part in celebrating their achievements.”
About the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD)
Created in 1978, the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) is a consortium of community and technical colleges that share a commitment to supporting excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership. NISOD supports its member colleges by providing professional development resources and learning experiences, including practitioner publications, webinars, the annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, the NISOD Excellence Awards, and more. For more information about NISOD, visit www.nisod.org.