Coker University recently recognized a number of employees and departments as part of its 2021 Staff and Faculty Awards were held. Nominated by their fellow members of the Coker community, each honoree was selected based on their work and commitment to the University. 

This year’s winners include:

Rising Star Award: This award recognizes the contributions of a new faculty and staff member with two years or less of employment at Coker. Recipients of this award demonstrate the following criteria: 

• Exhibit leadership abilities
• Contribute to quality improvement within their department
• Exceed expectations by enhancing internal and/or external student experiences in their classes or co-curricular activities
• Is a creative problem solver who overcomes physical or attitudinal barriers beyond the scope of their job to improve service

2021 Rising Star Award Winners: 

Faculty - Assistant Professor of Dance Natalia Schradle

Staff - Director of Student Engagement Dominique Fowler

Staff Excellence Awards: This award recognizes a staff member from each of five divisions who demonstrates excellence in their service to the University. The five divisions include:

Division 1: Administration, HR, Finance, Kalmia Gardens, and Institutional Advancement

Division 2: Student Services

Division 3: Athletics

Division 4: Academic Affairs/ Institutional Effectiveness

Division 5: Dining, Housekeeping, Maintenance, Facilities, Security

These staff members exhibit exemplary professionalism and achievement in advancing the mission and goals of the University. Recipients of this award demonstrate the following criteria:

• Excel in the fulfillment of their assigned roles and responsibilities, frequently exceeding expectations
• Demonstrate initiative, creativity and resourcefulness in their work
• Exhibit high standards of professionalism (Respect, Trust & Integrity), commitment (Service), and accountability in their work
• Lead through encouragement and inspiration, setting an example that others willingly follow

2021 Staff Excellence Award Winners:

Division 1: Associate Director of Marketing & Communications Alec Gaschen

Division 2: Dean of Student Success Whitney Watts Bedard

Division 3: Director of Student Athlete Affairs & Event Management Aaron Beebe

Division 4: Assistant to the Provost and Coordinator of Disability Services Jennifer Rhodes

Division 5: Cynthia Jennings

Improving Our Workplace Award: This award recognizes individuals or a team (one Faculty and one Staff) whose efforts in striving towards goals set forth in the University’s strategic plan serve as a positive change agent that results in improved work processes and increased efficiency. Nominators were required to explain how the nominee’s initiatives demonstrated one or both of the following criteria:

• Measurable results
• Sustainable impact

Examples include cost-saving initiatives, student service initiatives, development, preservation or dissemination of knowledge that enhances student or employee experiences, process improvements which positively affect students or employees or enhance safety, etc.

2021 Improving Our Workplace Award Winners:

Faculty - Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminology Danny Malone

Staff - IT Department

Innovation in Teaching Award: This award recognizes innovation in educational or training experiences for students. It aims to recognize (4 Faculty - 3 full-time and 1 part-time) individuals or a team’s efforts that measurably impact student engagement, retention, graduation, performance, or some other measure of student success, whether in a classroom, project, program, or learning environment. Nominators were required to quantify the impact of the individual or team’s efforts through the following criteria: 

• Measurable results
• Sustainable  impact

2021 Innovation in Teaching Award Winners: 

Full-Time 1 - School of Visual and Performing Arts Faculty

Full-Time 2 - The Math Program Team: Associate Professor of Mathematics Rachel Manspeaker; Assistant Professor, Coordinator of the Math Program, and Director of the Center for Quantitative Literacy Valerie Granger; Associate Professor of Mathematics Peter Nguyen; Special Instructor in Mathematics James Sweeny; and Adjunct Professor Taylor Belcher 

Full-Time 3 - Biology Faculty

Part-Time - Professor Nathan Schradle 

As part of this year’s awards ceremony, Coker University President Natalie J. Harder presented the 2021 President’s Award Winner to Darlene Small, Coker’s Director of the Center for Diversity, Interfaith, and Inclusion Education.