As we enter week five of the Fall 2024 semester, we're excited about the great momentum so far! We look forward to highlighting more members of our EIU Family in upcoming editions of People of EIU. If you'd like to nominate a colleague or student to be featured, you can do so here. Also, don’t forget — if a colleague is going above and beyond, be sure to give them a Shout Out to recognize their hard work!

Mark your calendars for the Fall 2024 Update on Sept. 25. I’ll be sharing updates on campus plans, celebrating last year’s achievements and presenting the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards.

Thank you for everything you do, and enjoy this month's edition!

Dustin White

Thank you, Dustin, for all your work updating the Institutional Research website! It looks great!

Monique Mays

People would be shocked to see what Monique handles on a weekly basis. She is constantly meeting with students in crisis and does it with such care and empathy. EIU is so lucky to have her on staff!

Kristin Hupp

Kristin and her team are doing a wonderful job with the menu options and tasty creations in the South Quad! There are so many options that it is difficult to decide what to eat! If you aren't purchasing Dining Dollars and heading to the South Quad for a meal, you are missing out. Thanks for keeping the menus and meals innovative and delicious, Kristin!

Josh Koontz

Thanks for fixing our scanner! The Financial Aid Office appreciates you!

Colleen Bright

Thank you for being such an asset to the Office of the Registrar. You always go the extra mile for our students!

James Beech

James, thank you for your assistance with the new computers in the TRIO program! We appreciate your diligence as you worked through the issues we were experiencing!

Austin Schaefer

Thank you, Austin, for your assistance with the new computers for our department! Our Director and Graduate Assistants are very thankful for computers that actually work well!

Jennifer Porter

Thank you Jen for always being helpful and having a smile!!!

Kelly Harmon

Thank you Kelly for always going above and beyond for our students.

Paula Davis

Paula, thank you for always having a positive attitude and going the extra mile for our students!

Barnabas Omulokoli

Thank you for all your hard work. You are an asset to the EIU campus!

Greg Cooper

I want to express my sincere appreciation to Greg Cooper for his invaluable contributions to the Bow Tie 101: The History of a Distinguished Accessory workshop. Greg played a crucial role in introducing the exciting Year of the Bowtie project, and his speaking abilities and skill in engaging the audience were truly fantastic.

Greg's introduction to the Year of the Bowtie not only complemented the workshop beautifully but also provided participants with an actionable way to get involved in setting a new world record. His ability to connect with the audience and inspire them to participate in this ambitious project was impressive and greatly appreciated.

In addition to his role as a speaker, Greg also served as the event's photographer, capturing moments that will undoubtedly help to encourage others to join in the Year of the Bowtie. His efforts will be instrumental in building enthusiasm and community engagement around this unique project.

Thank you, Greg, for your dedication and for helping to make the Bow Tie 101 workshop a memorable and impactful event. Your contributions have set the stage for an exciting year ahead!

Michael Gillespie

I want to extend my deepest appreciation to Dr. Michael Gillespie for the fantastic job he did leading the Bow Tie 101: The History of a Distinguished Accessory workshop for the Academy of Lifelong Learning. Dr. Gillespie's enthusiasm for the history and cultural significance of the bow tie was both engaging and inspiring. His wonderful talents as an instructor truly shone through, making the content captivating and enriching for everyone involved.

Dr. Gillespie's contagious excitement brought a unique energy to the session, and his ability to share his knowledge with such passion made the experience all the more memorable. I was particularly impressed by his patience as he guided the participants through the art of tying a bow tie, and his genuine excitement as we succeeded made the workshop both enjoyable and rewarding.

I'm also incredibly excited about the upcoming Year of the Bowtie project, especially with Dr. Gillespie helping to spearhead it. The plan to tie a giant bowtie around the Old Main building to set a new world record is an ambitious and thrilling endeavor, and I'm confident it will be a great success with his leadership.

Thank you, Dr. Gillespie, for your dedication and for making the Bow Tie 101 workshop such a remarkable and inspiring experience!

Jeffrey Browning

Shout out to Jeff Browning and the grounds crew. Campus looks SO BEAUTIFUL! We appreciate your work. Also to Eric Wahls. We see how hard you all are working. Thank you so much.

Jennifer Porter

Thank you for always helping me out with transcripts. I really appreciate all that you do!

Justin Griffith

Thank you for your work on the water system in Old Main, and an extra thanks for you and Kenny fixing my retro sink!

Alisa Gray

Thanks to Alisa for all she has done to assist with the start of the semester. We appreciate the extra effort.

Robert Rigg

Robert and Phil helped us to implement single sign on for our web apps. The solution you came up with is great. Thank you!

Philip Kousma

Robert and Phil helped us to implement single sign on for our web apps. The solution you came up with is great. Thank you!

Jay Grabiec

I want to give a shout-out to Jay for helping me with the First Day of Classes Photo event! He's such a great photographer and even worked to make sure we had a backup camera! Plus, he got them all uploaded within hours after the event! Keep up the great work!

Denise Lee

Denise is the real engine behind all the efforts that the Office of Admissions takes on. Every single student who is admitted to EIU is reviewed by Denise. Nothing and no one ever can pull a fast one, as her attention to detail is something that the entire office and university should strive to have. Someone who looks out for the success of all students, prospective or current, at EIU, Denise is a role model that every young professional would be lucky to have. 

Shanae Coffey

Shanae works behind the scenes every single day, getting more done in one day that most of us in the Office of Admissions get done in a week. A constant reminder that those who work hard and be kind will have great things happen to them, Shanae is always ready to lend a hand and put in the extra effort no matter the day. While not the loudest, she brings an infectious joy to the office when together. 

Gail Bahney

Gail keeps every single member of the admissions counseling staff in line throughout the entire school year. From being the person to field the learnmore page to always having the skinny on every college fair in the Midwest, she keeps her goldfish in the office wrangled and on a tight schedule. You'll never find someone else who embraces the work hard play hard mentality more and Gail will keep the entire staff planned and prepped up and down the entire state. 

Kyle McKinney

Kyle is the glue that holds the entire Office of Admissions together. Being our front line for visitors and staff alike, she greets everyone with a smile and a wit that is contagious. She always remembers that the purpose of our office is to serve our students, both prospective and current students. From keeping an impeccable budget to keeping all our visitors here on time, Kyle is a tremendous asset to the office and university. 

Rita Pearson

Rita has served EIU with such pride and dedication that few others can boast to ever have. Someone who will never be caught in anything but blue, she is a wealth of knowledge that spans across administrations and departments. Someone who never forgets that the purpose of working in higher education is to serve the students she comes across, Rita is an invaluable asset to the staff at EIU. 

Ryan Howard

If you look up "grind" in the dictionary, you'll find Ryan Howard pictured. The most tenured member of the admissions counselor team, Ryan is always there to offer his sage Senior Counselor advice but still always the first one to make the entire office laugh. Someone who keeps his purpose to serve his students at heart, Ryan's work ethic is bar to none. With changes in his role and office as a whole, he has embraced the challenge and will undoubtedly overcome any obstacle that will come his way. No matter how long the race that the admissions cycle s, Ryan will finish with a grin on his face and words of encouragement to all around him. 

Adam Schmidt

Adam has taken like a duck to water in the admissions office. Just finishing his first year in his role, his dedication to his students and territory is something to behold and taken as an example for not only the Office of Admissions but the university as a whole. Striving for constant improvement, he is never complacent for the sake of his students, not himself. His strong will and even stronger voice will provide the needed guidance for countless students and families across his second year in his role! 

Will Padgett

Will is the definition of what it means to be a Panther. Through and through, he bleeds blue and has a passion for this school that few others do. The constant optimist and advocate for his students, he brings an energy and passion to serve his students and alma mater that is truly uncommon. No matter the distance, he will be the first one to volunteer for extra travel or to cover a shift. From Charleston to St. Louis, to the far reaches of Alaska, there is no student too far for Will. With one year under his belt, he will undoubtedly soar to even greater heights. 

Brianna Dominguez

Bri is a constant reminder that kindness can always be the answer. She goes above and beyond for each and every one of her students and taken on her role as a Transfer Counselor with a vigor rarely seen. Throughout a changing office, she has remained a constant and brings a smile to the face of every staff, student, and family who walks through the halls of Old Main. A friend to all she comes across, but most importantly to everyone in the Office of Admissions, I can't wait to see what next year will have in store for her! 

Chad Elliott

I would like to give a shout out to Chad Elliott. Chad really believes in providing the best technology experience possible for students. He does everything he can to help when I have a lab issue. He is especially helpful in providing ideas and solutions that best serve the students. Thanks Chad.

Josh Koontz

I'd like to give a shout out to Josh Koontz. He is incredibly helpful in sorting out hardware issues on lab computers. Just this morning I had a computer that died and Josh was able to provide me with a workaround so that the student learning experience would be unimpeded. He shares his wealth of knowledge freely and is an incredibly kind person. Thanks Josh. You help make the student experience great.

Joshua Ernst

I'd like to give a shout out to Josh Ernst. He is incredibly helpful in sorting out software issues on lab computers so students can have the best learning experience possible. Josh is also incredibly kind and understanding of issues that faculty have. He really does his best to improve things here at EIU. Thanks Josh.

Chadd Gaston

Chadd is always a delight to work with! He responds quickly and always finds a way to make things work. Thank you Chadd!

Darren Donaldson

Thank you for all your help and support here at the Doudna. You always are willing to go above and beyond and we are very lucky to have you here with us at EIU!

Kyle McKinney

Thank you for providing some equipment to help another department respond to an emergency. This was extra dedication.

Nicholas Fonseca

Nick has been my hero with my admin support out of the office! Thank you for your prompt action on the long list of requests that have come your way in last few days. You made my life easier.

Stacy Butler

Stacy is always incredibly helpful and happy to answer any questions. She brings so much fun and positivity to the Music office! Thank you for all that you do, Stacy!!

Emily Becker

Emily has been a huge asset to the Counseling Clinic. She has taken the lead with outreach programs/content, and trainings for the Counseling Clinic. The beginning of the year is always busy with the all the training requests and Emily managed it all with ease. Emily stepped up in roles when needed and would take leadership roles within the clinic. Emily also updated most of our trainings and presentations for the Counseling Clinic to use throughout the year. She is very appreciated.

Corey Cunningham

Shout out to Corey for a successful week of intern training. Corey has put tremendous effort into the Counseling Clinic Internship Training Program and helping our interns feel welcome and equipped to work with our students. Corey has also stepped it up in the past few weeks, taking leadership roles in the Counseling Clinic and assisting with beginning of the school year prep. We appreciate you so much!

Shari McKinney

We have had a ton of orders to place this summer. Shari has been an absolute rockstar, does it with a smile on her face and makes sure we don't miss deadlines. She is always kind, willing to help no matter what and an all-around great teammate. She definitely deserves a Shout Out and recognition for all the hard work she does for the Housing + Dining Office. We sure do appreciate you Shari.

Ethan Osborne

Ethan has been an invaluable resource to the EIU Admissions Office for his entire tenure. There has never been, in my opinion, a more involved, student-centered, well-loved Admissions Counselor. The amount of effort he puts into every single interaction with his students is beyond admirable and I've no doubt in my mind that Ethan is one of biggest contributors to EIU's success. Though he will be leaving for another admissions role at another institution, the effect he had on both students and staff will be felt for years to come. If there was ever an individual who personified EIU's grit, dedication to students, and willingness to go above and beyond, it's Ethan.

Brittany Floyd

There could not be a better Assistant Dean of Students than Brittany Floyd. Brittany has excelled in leading the Dean of Students Team prepare for the upcoming school year. Brittany prepared and trained others on the new Title IX Regulations, trained the entire Residential Life Staff on how to handles student support and student conduct cases, and led several presentations to different departments across campus on resources to help our students succeed and how to help students in need. Brittany is a tremendous asset to our department and the EIU community and we appreciate her relentless effort to help students and staff.

Christy Kilgore

Christy Kilgore is incredible! She creates amazing PowerPoint presentations. They are beautiful and professional, and they help me immensely in my admissions role. I am the envy of the admission counselors at other schools when I get to present with one of Christy's PowerPoints. Thank you, Christy!

Chad Franks

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Chad Franks for his exceptional work on the Academy of Lifelong Learning's Community Program Guide for the Fall 2024 semester. The finished product looks fantastic, and it's a true reflection of the hard work and dedication Chad put into this project.

Creating a guide of this magnitude is no small feat, and it's Chad's incredible graphic design skills and patience that made it all possible. The community and I are deeply grateful for your efforts, Chad. Your talent and commitment have made a significant impact, and we're lucky to have you on our team!

Joy Rainey

I'd like to take a moment to publicly recognize and thank Joy Rainey for her outstanding contributions to the Academy of Lifelong Learning at EIU. 

First, Joy went above and beyond to ensure that a cell phone left behind by one of our valued donors was safely returned. Her dedication to maintaining positive relationships with our supporters is truly commendable and greatly appreciated. 

Additionally, Joy's hard work and willingness to stay late to help clean up after our Fall Weenie Roast did not go unnoticed. Her commitment and teamwork are a tremendous asset to our organization. 

Thank you, Joy, for all that you do. We are incredibly fortunate to have you on our team!

Daniel Douglas

The Academy of Lifelong Learning picnic was a huge success, thanks to Danny's hard work! Turnout was great, community members came to see about EIU's Academy events, and many positive comments were made!

Michael Rogers

Shout out to Shane! One of our clients left an item in the EIU office and he went out of his way to hand-deliver it to her house in Mattoon! She was so thankful!

Amy Morris

Amy very quickly came up with solution that fixed an ongoing problem we were having. Thank you!

Danny Gourley Fischer

Huge shout out to Danny for being such an amazing leader, student advocate and a calming presence when things get hectic! The amount of great things you do for EIU, your Academic Advisors and our students is immeasurable. Our office is grateful for you!

Juanita Cross

Big shout out to Juanita for ALWAYS going above and beyond for our students! And, for meeting with and advising so many extra students when additional days were added to this year's Freshmen Orientation! You are the best and EIU is lucky to have you! 

Gregory Aydt

Big shout out to Greg Aydt for ALWAYS going above and beyond for our students! And, for meeting with and advising so many extra students when additional days were added to this year's Freshmen Orientation! You are the best and EIU is lucky to have you! :)

Laurel Fuqua

Huge shout out to Laurel Fuqua for generously donating to Academic Advising's Panther Prep First Year meeting! We appreciate her support and all she does for EIU and our students!

Melissa Gordon

A HUGE Shout Out to Melissa for always going above and beyond. You have worked very hard this summer in getting the new summer school calculation tables/payments up and going, making it easier on the Assistants to the Dean. You also worked very hard in getting the new Faculty Load and Compensation program going. Your inbox is full of contracts to write, budget, travel requests and you still find the time to complete other numerous tasks and answer our questions at any time. We all thank you and appreciate all the hard work and efforts that you put forth.

Benjamin Merry

Big thanks to Ben Merry! Always helpful, always has a great attitude! Awesome!!

Bonita Flynn

A huge thank you to Bonita Flynn for her outstanding work at Panther Print! Bonita, your ability to work quickly, efficiently, and effectively is truly remarkable. Not only do you excel in your role, but you also bring kindness and warmth to everything you do. We can't wait to pick up this semester's Academy of Lifelong Learning Community Program Guide tomorrow, knowing it will be as exceptional as ever thanks to your dedication. You are an absolute gem, Bonita, thank you for everything!

Amy Odwarka

Thank you Amy for leading the recent EIU Alumni Association Board's tour of Booth Library!

As one attendee put it, "The tour was better than I could have imagined. So much to see. The facilities and staff are amazing! Amy captivated the audience."

Your passion for students and faculty always shines - much appreciation from your Booth colleagues.

Amy Odwarka

Thank you Amy for taking the time out of your busy schedule to help me and Adriane navigate the world of library programming as we prepare several new events for our patrons. We are so lucky to have a kind and hard working coworker like you!

Cassi Carpenter

Cassi does a tremendous job liaisoning resources and services that keep our department running well. Thanks for all that you do in BIO!!

David Smith

For outstanding help with D2L!

Jessie Shuemaker

Thank you Jessie for taking the time to meet with the DEI committee at Booth Library. We are so appreciative of you and your help in making Booth Library more accessible to all of our patrons.

Mallorie Fonseca

Mallorie always goes above and beyond to help the faculty and especially our students. I'm very grateful for her extra work this summer to help a student get back to campus this fall.

Jarrod Jones

ALL of us in H.R want to thank Jarrod for all the hard work for taking all the file boxes out of our file rooms. It looks so great and we all know that was no easy task. Thank you so much!!

Grace Claywell

Thank you for all you do to make South Quad Dining the best it can be! It wouldn't be the same without you!

Jessie Shuemaker

Thank you, Jessie, for being a great partner. The FDIC Team is grateful to work alongside you as we work towards increasing accessibility on our campus!

R.J. Vanderwerf

RJ is extremely helpful whenever called upon for support. His attitude is so good that he helps you out with an issue and then makes you feel like you helped him. Great to work with I wish everybody was like that!

Jim Ealy

Jim and his crew worked so hard on Klehm Hall 1309 remodel. It looks so great in there now, and I could not believe how efficient they were. Thank you all!

Becky Shew

I'd like to nominate Becky Shew for best attitude at EIU! Always helpful, always pleasant.