Amanda ReppThank you for helping me with my HR inquiry; you heard my concern and got me pointed in the right direction, which resulted in a quick resolution. You helped make my day! Alexander MarstonThank you for your attentiveness to my HR inquiry; you handled it with empathy and amazing speed, and I very much appreciate it! Lucas LowerThanks for problem solving so well. You're diligent in finding a solution or advising how to work through an issue. You do great teamwork! Jude NorvorJude always gives me a hand when I hit a snag. He goes above and beyond in finding a solution or advising how to work through an issue. Ariel TaylorAriel CONGRATS! On a Job Well Done in the coordination of the MBEIU Scholarship Pageant 2025. The SLO staff, students and pageant contestants appreciates all the countless hours, service and commitment you provided in making this year's pageant both memorable and a major success. Thanks for all you continue to do for EIU and the SLO. Jessica HillsJessica is the most wonderful office manager one could hope for. Her sunny disposition is an asset to our Department of World Languages and Cultures. Students say she's great, and everyone can see why. She loves to feed them, routinely bringing homemade dishes to the main office. What a thoughtful gesture, especially given the freezing weather we've had these past two months! She keeps the area where the food is served clean and tidy, as she does the student lounge, our beloved Rincón Latino, where our majors, minors and their friends like to hang out. Sometimes she bakes a delicious banana bread, or brings cookies and M&Ms, all in the spirit of sharing and creating a warm atmosphere. Her efforts extend to faculty. She will drop anything she's doing to help us with a paper jam. When a printer cartridge is about to run out, she tells everyone she'll take care of it tomorrow. In an emergency when she was not at her desk (she's at another De pt. in the afternoon), I emailed her and she had fixed the problem by the next morning. Plus, she gives students and faculty handmade gifts from time to time, be it baked goodies, her homemade apple butter or peach jam, or her secret recipe hand cream. All delivered with a beautiful smile. I could not think of a better office manager than Jessica. We're delighted to have her. Thank you for all you do! Lawrence AuchstetterDue to a number of illnesses, Booth Library night shift was extremely short staffed last week. Nearly every night the library was being run by only two people. Adriane Sparks, Heather Wohltman, Garren Porter, and Larry Auchstetter each spent at least one night being only one of two people present to run the entire library. Thank you to these Booth Library night shifters for holding down the fort during such rough conditions! Garren PorterDue to a number of illnesses, Booth Library night shift was extremely short staffed last week. Nearly every night the library was being run by only two people. Adriane Sparks, Heather Wohltman, Garren Porter, and Larry Auchstetter each spent at least one night being only one of two people present to run the entire library. Thank you to these Booth Library night shifters for holding down the fort during such rough conditions! Heather WohltmanDue to a number of illnesses, Booth Library night shift was extremely short staffed last week. Nearly every night the library was being run by only two people. Adriane Sparks, Heather Wohltman, Garren Porter, and Larry Auchstetter each spent at least one night being only one of two people present to run the entire library. Thank you to these Booth Library night shifters for holding down the fort during such rough conditions! Adriane SparksDue to a number of illnesses, Booth Library night shift was extremely short staffed last week. Nearly every night the library was being run by only two people. Adriane Sparks, Heather Wohltman, Garren Porter, and Larry Auchstetter each spent at least one night being only one of two people present to run the entire library. Thank you to these Booth Library night shifters for holding down the fort during such rough conditions! Christy KilgoreA huge thank you to Christy Kilgore, Jay Grabiec, Nate Atkinson, Chad Franks for their incredible support over the past several months! Their expertise and responsiveness have been instrumental in bringing several HR initiatives to life - whether it was coordinating professional photographs, refining email signature blocks, curating EIU lifestyle images, updating our department logo, or enhancing our web pages. Their flexibility, creativity, and lightning-fast execution made the process seamless and enjoyable. It has truly been a pleasure working with such a dedicated and talented team! We appreciate your partnership and all you do to support us. You all are amazing! Brianne EadsBrianne is doing an AWESOME job of facilitating and coordinating school placements for our students in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Foundations. It is a very complex, detailed job with a lot of moving parts, and she accomplishes it with great skill and cheer. Thanks, Brianne!!! Amy MorrisI was fortunate to work closely with Amy a few years ago and to see how much she cares for our EIU students. She's doing a fantastic job in her position and brings her heart to every task she undertakes. EIU is fortunate to have someone so dedicated to our students and their success. Karla DrumKarla is incredible at customer service. Every time our department has collaborated with her on an event she offers great ideas, ensures that we don't miss anything, and then does everything possible to execute a perfect event. EIU is fortunate to have someone who works so hard to make sure we all look good. Thanks for being fantastic Karla! Julia AwaltJulia thank you for everything you do for Housing and Dining. You have the vastest knowledge of Housing and if there is ever a question you are the 1st person anyone should call. You great everyone with a smile and kind words and it is very much appreciated. Thanks for everything. Kyle CodyA huge thank you to Kyle Cody, Library Operations Associate, in the Center for Student Innovation, for going above and beyond during the recent inclement weather. When others were unavailable for the night shifts, Kyle stepped up without hesitation - staying late, taking on different duties, and ensuring the library remained open for our students. As the only "skeleton crew" member on-site who knew circulation procedures and how to close the building, he was absolutely essential in making it all work. Kyle's dedication, flexibility, and team-first attitude are always on display and this was only the most recent example. Westley WrightA huge thank you to Wes for walking me through setting up a network drive this morning! I had no idea where to start, and you made the process simple and painless. I really appreciate your help! Lisa GuymonLisa is one of my favorite employees at the Food Court. She is always moving, always working hard. She keeps the front of the Food Court running very well and always does it with a good attitude and a smile on her face! Keep smiling Lisa!!! Shari McKinneyShari is such a huge asset to the Housing and Dining department. She goes above and beyond in everything she does and is always willing to help. EIU is very lucky to have her and everyone would be better off knowing her. Thanks, Shari, for everything you do for all of us, it doesn't go unnoticed. Tracy HallTracy is always so helpful and patient with any questions and help that I need. I am not the most tech savvy, and she explains how to do things very well. Anaja SmithThe Tarble staff would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to the Panther Catering team for their incredible support at the Art From Here opening reception. Both Talaya Warfield and Anaja Smith played a key role in the success of the event, and we regret that their contributions were not properly acknowledged that evening. We are so grateful for your flexibility and dedication, and your hard work truly made a difference. Thank you again for everything you did! Talaya WarfieldThe Tarble staff would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to the Panther Catering team for their incredible support at the Art From Here opening reception. Both Talaya Warfield and Anaja Smith played a key role in the success of the event, and we regret that their contributions were not properly acknowledged that evening. We are so grateful for your flexibility and dedication, and your hard work truly made a difference. Thank you again for everything you did!
Marie Finney
Marie is such an asset to EIU! Thank you so much for all you do! Dustin WhiteDustin has been invaluable as we launch a new initiative in our department. We are so grateful for his quick responses and excellent work! Rhonda NicholsRhonda is absolutely wonderful to work with! I had mistakenly submitted my request using the wrong form, but Rhonda quickly stepped in, gave me a call, and took the time to understand exactly what we needed. Not only did she send over the correct form, but her kindness and efficiency helped keep things moving without unnecessary delays. Rhonda, you are truly appreciated—thank you for being so awesome! 😊✨ Melissa Crouch-CarrAs a new employee, having an office support specialist like Melissa has been vital! Melissa has gone above and beyond to teach me new systems, answer questions, and provide insights into EIU-- all while completing her assigned tasks with exceptional quality! To say she's an asset to EIU Advancement is an understatement! David SmithWe really appreciate all that David does for CHHS. He's always there when needed and quick to respond. Having his support setting up for events when we are in rooms we are not used to has been so incredibly helpful. Thank you, David! Christopher CougillChris always goes above and beyond, is kind, and helpful in his role in instructional support and training. We really appreciate all of the support and help with setting up important events. R.J. VanderwerfR.J., thanks for your continuous, fantastic support of EIU FOIA, ethics, and legal. Your skills and knowledge are essential to the functions of my office, and your efforts are greatly appreciated. Thanks for all that you do! Jessica HillsJessica's love and passion for our students at EIU is truly inspiring. She goes above and beyond to support them—whether it's offering a warm meal, a listening ear, or a comforting presence during the challenges of being away from home for the first time. Her kindness creates a welcoming space where students can relax, feel cared for, and find a sense of belonging. Her impact on their lives is immeasurable, and we are so fortunate to have her! Alex ThomasAlex has been an absolute joy to work with during my transition to another position here at EIU. Her kindness, patience, and willingness to answer all of my questions - no matter how big or small - have made this process so much smoother. Her knowledge and skill are truly invaluable, and I can't express enough gratitude for her support. I don't know what I would have done without her guidance, and I feel incredibly lucky to have had her by my side during this transition! Michael RogersI want to shout out Shane in Special Ed for always being willing to assist where he can. I appreciate his assistance with bringing in clothing for the community closet, assisting with contacting several groups of students about a class cancellation, and for checking in with me periodically to see if I need anything in TLF. He is a great example of college level collaboration and camaraderie. Michael GillespieIn the short time that Dr. Michael Gillespie has been Acting Dean of Student Success, he has demonstrated his field knowledge, educational background and concern for all EIU related - faculty, students, staff and administration. Thank you Dr. Gillespie for taking on this acting role. Several positive things are occurring within the Student Success Center, thanks to your leadership. We appreciate you! Stay tuned EIU - the Student Success Center and its services are improving for everyone! Westley WrightHuge thanks to Wes for always running to the rescue! I've had problems with my computer all week and every single time I text him he is in my office within five minutes!! Thanks Wes! You're so appreciated! | 
