2024
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Through their work, the Rowan University employees we honor here contribute magnificently to the lifeblood of our institution. Every day, they generously share their talents—and the best of themselves—with our students staff, faculty and the external community. They are teachers and scholars, leaders and mentors, researchers and innovators, advocates and creators. With distinction, honor and heart, they uphold our institution’s most sacred values. Here, we appreciate their work and celebrate their excellence. We are honored that they are members of the Rowan University family. Congratulations and best wishes to all of the honorees.
Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award
William Carrigan
As an institution dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning, Rowan joins with the Office of the Provost and the Lindback Foundation, funded through a gift from the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, to honor one tenured faculty member with an outstanding record of teaching and a sustained record of commitment to student learning.
Gary J. Hunter Excellence in Mentoring Award
Nathaniel V. Nucci
The Gary J. Hunter Excellence in Mentoring Award, sponsored by AFT Local 2373 and Rowan University, acknowledges those faculty, professional staff, coaches, and librarians who go to extraordinary lengths to mentor students in the spirit of Gary Hunter, a professor of history at Rowan for 29 years. Honorees demonstrate exceptional abilities in supporting, encouraging and promoting the development of students’ academic, personal and professional growth.
Frances S. Johnson Faculty Innovative Teaching
Sara Wright
The Frances S. Johnson Junior Faculty Innovative Teaching Award honors the memory of the late Frances S. Johnson, a writing arts professor and former director of the Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. The award was established by Writing Arts Professor Sanford Tweedie to recognize junior faculty members who challenge their students in unique, important and interesting ways.
Joseph A. Barnes Award for Outstanding Service
Nathan Bauer
Joseph A. Barnes Award for Outstanding Service Joseph Barnes served the University for 23 years as a professional staff member and a tenured librarian, and he regularly taught courses in the College of Communication. The University Senate, AFT, and Campbell Library established and fund this annual award to recognize the outstanding contributions of a current member of the faculty or professional staff who has provided consistent, extraordinary, and longstanding contributions to Rowan University.
Presenting
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION AWARDS
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION IN ENGAGEMENT
presented to
JEN JANOFSKY
The engagement recipient is committed to the University's mission and contributes to its success. The recipient's contributions may include designing a workplace where employees feel inspired by their work, attracting talented employees, fostering collegiality, responsiveness, and trust, establishing avenues and dialogue that help employees, students, and alumni feel valued and appreciated, and reflecting Rowan's pillars, vision, and values through action.
Whether she's leading a public archaeology dig at Red Bank Battlefield Park, teaching a field school class, speaking to a scout troop or assembling a "dream team" of international experts, Jen Janofsky spends her time engaging others in history. The Megan Giordano Fellow and Professor of Public History in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Janofsky also is executive director of Red Bank, where a public dig in 2022 uncovered remains of 15 individuals believed to be Hessian soldiers. Through engagement and strong leadership, Janofsky assembled a cross-disciplinary, internationally prominent group of experts to study and possibly identify the remains. Her work has local, national, and international reach - engaging and educating students, park visitors, and history buffs across the world on the Battle of Red Bank while also paying tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives during the Revolutionary War. "Without question, she embodies Rowan's value of engagement, orchestrating opportunities for students, employees, and the general public to understandand connect with istory in substantive, meaningful ways," a colleague says.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION IN STUDENT-CENTEREDNESS
presented to
PATRICK MASSARO
The Student-Centeredness honoree is focused on students' interest, abilities, and learning styles. The recipient promotes a culture that engenders a caring and supposrtive environment that helps each individual student feel valued, demonstrates commitment to a safe environment where students feel comfortable to learn and grow, and empowers students to take responsibility for their academic work, social life, and career development.
Patrick Massaro, assistant director for career development and experiential learning, Center for Professional Success in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, empowers students to shine at Rowan and beyond. Since its inception in 2019, he developed the center into a thriving student-serving operation and created partnerships, programs, and services to expand students' access to career services. "Patrick works tirelessly to ensure that humanities and social sciences majors have both academic and career plans that align with their goals and talents, as well as the information to navigate today's job market," a colleague says. In addition, Massaro recruits and manages a staff of graduate and undergraduate career services interns, mentoring everyone who work for him. "He revels in helping students be the best they can be in all areas of his work and is constantly seeking innovative ways to benefit students," a student says. Says another: "Patrick extends opportunities to all of his students, encouraging them to venture beyong their comfort zones while fostering academic, social, and professional growth."
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION IN CUSTOMER SERVICE
presented to
CHRISTINA HALEY
This award recognizes an employee who values and demonstrates the importance of delivering high-quality service to bother internal and external customers. Such contributions include but are not limited to delivering courteous and prompt service, taking personal responsibility for resolving customer concerns, striving to exceed customer expectations and anticipating the needs of others by offering proactive and flexible solutions.
As supervisor in the Office of Contracting & Procurement, Christina Haley wears many hats, but her dedication to customer service truly sets her apart, her colleagues say. Haley is committed to delivering satisfaction, whether she is talking with a dean, administrative assistant, or vendor. Colleagues praise her knowledge of procurement rules/regulations, eagerness to offer assistance, ability to multitask, keen attention to detail and productivity, positive attitude, and calm demeanor. "She is always responsive and assists us with all sorts of interesting purchasing situations when planning events for students," a colleague says. "No question has ever been too much for her. While she can answer most anything herself, if she needs additional information or assistance from someone else, she takes the initiative to find us an answer and ensures a response was received." Adds another colleague: "Without Christina, the Office or Contracting & Procurement would not be as successful as it is today. The department has grown and evolved greatly over the years, greatly due to Christina's dedication and customer service-driven mentality."
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION IN TEAMWORK (INDIVIDUAL HONOR)
presented to
JEFFREY FIELDS
The Teamwork recipient recognizes that the accomplishment of the team is more significant than that of the individual. The honoree works with others acros the University to assess a situation, plan a solution or resolve a problem. They actively recognize each member's contribution to the team, work to acheive measurable inprovement in interactions with others and institutes significant positive changes at the University.
Jeffrey Fields, business intelligence analyst, Division of Information Resources & Technology, is always ready to meet challenges. With a wealth of skills, knowledge, and experience, he supports Financial Aid and other departments, helping to ensure practices and policies meet academic and federal guidelines. Fields collaborated with colleagues to implement a mandatory federal guideline regarding responsible borrowing. "Without Jeffrey's knowledge - and technical skills - we would never have gotten most projects, reorganization, or federal guidelines off the ground in a timely fashion in accordance with the federal mandate," a colleague says. Fields worked with the Degree Works Team and colleagues to use the advising tool to automate Advance Placement and CLEP examinations sent to the University. "We were able to take this toool and turn it into something better with Jeffrey and then present that on a national stage at Ellucian Live in Denver, Colorado," a colleague says. Fields, another colleague adds, "exemplifies teamwork because he is willing to put the needs of the team above individual projects and responsibilities."
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION IN TEAMWORK (TEAM HONOR)
presented to
WOMEN'S ALLIANCE NETWORK ADVISORY BOARD
This award recognizes a team's commitment to common goals based on open and honest communication while demonstrating respect, concern, and support for one another. The team works as one to seek out varying perspectives, communicate and achieve measurable improvement in interactions with others. The honored team measurably impacts the University community in a positive manner and collectively values group success over individual success.
The Women's Alliance Network at Rowan University (WAN), created in 2020 as an evolution of the ACE (American Council on Education) Women's Network, has grown attendance at events by 500 percent - a stunning achievement attributed to the exemplary teamwork and leadership of its 17-member advisory board. The board draws on the unique range of talents and perspectives of employees volunteering their time from every Rowan campus, representing a wide variety of areas of campus life. "The diversity of the board is a key contributor to the organization's success," a colleague says. "WAN offers meaningful professional development opportunities to women at Rowan and beyond." The Programming & Special Events, Marketing, Membership, and Mentorship committees formulate goals, develop events and address the needs of women and individuals at the University. The membership exceeds 150 employees, with 27 mentorship matches and more than 400 event participants this year. "By championing diersity, inclusivity, and women's empowerment, the network significantly contributes to the University's reputation as a supportive and progressive institution," says an award nominator.