Excellence Award Recipients FY 2008-2009
John Scott Forester, Art Department
"With over 20 years service to SSU, John-Scott Forester has been a technician in the department of Art and Art History for 14 years. It is refreshing to work with such a highly skilled and motivated technician who is not afraid to extend himself in any capacity to assist faculty, staff, and students. Our department as a whole tremendously regards John-Scott and his contributions…he has been a critical part of several Art Gallery exhibitions and programs in the last several years. His help with the Masami Teraoka, There’s No Place Like Here, and Projected Image shows was incredible. He has helped numerous students complete and install their artworks in the Art Gallery…without his help; many of these students could not exhibit their work. He listens carefully to our needs, works exceptionally well with both students and staff, and brings everyone together to find a workable solution to our exhibition needs."
Jo-Ann Smith, Environmental Studies and Planning Department
"Jo-Ann is a truly outstanding member of our university community, whose commitment to our educational mission is evident every day…she is one of the rare individuals who can truly function without ego….she enthusiastically celebrates each and every one’s successes, large or small, and in doing so lifts the morale of colleagues and students alike. She is currently coordinating a department-wide effort to place more advising information online, allowing faculty advising time to be used more efficiently….all along the way she also gently reminds the faculty to stay on the ball and keep the project moving…..The administrative coordinator job is of a type which, when executed perfectly, calls no attention to itself; the individual performing it becomes in a sense invisible, and what is experienced by everyone else is simply that the system is working. A classic example of this kind of job is air traffic control…..Jo-Ann is like (an) air traffic controller and this…is an opportunity to recognize her immense and often successfully invisible contribution to our university."