UNT System celebrates Service Award recipients

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

UNT System Chancellor Lesa Roe announced the recipients of the 2020 UNT System Service Awards during the Virtual End-of-Year Celebration. 

These awards honor the staff members who went above and beyond in their efforts to make this unprecedented year a success. Also honored are all those celebrating a work anniversary of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years.

Congratulations to all for enduring a difficult year with grace, determination and commitment to achieving the mission of UNT System.

Have a happy, healthy and safe Winter Break. See you in 2021.

Here are Chancellor Roe’s comments about our Excellence Award winner and so many Unsung Heroes, and a listing of all of our service and excellence award recipients:

CHANCELLOR’S EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER: STEVE MARUSZEWSKI

Steve MaruszewskiEven before the coronavirus crisis was classified as a pandemic, our award winner began working with state and local officials on emergency plans. As the pandemic developed, he quickly took charge in leading our system-wide emergency response – holding daily briefings with the UNT System Presidents and me, while also collaborating with key leaders across UNT World to formulate plans. Throughout the pandemic, still today, he has led a system-wide effort to mitigate the many challenges of coronavirus – forming a cross-institutional emergency response team for COVID-19. Under his leadership, the coronavirus emergency response team instilled a consistent, system-wide philosophy toward mitigating coronavirus risk that emphasizes the safety of students, faculty and staff above all else.

As we successfully reach the conclusion of the fall semester, he remains tireless in working on a safe spring that will include plans for COVID-19 vaccinations. Our award winner provides an incredible example of being selfless by embracing critical responsibilities – even if they aren’t necessarily in your job description.

He is an invaluable member of my cabinet and a trusted advisor to each of UNT System Presidents. 

Congratulations, Steve – we are so proud and appreciative of your efforts.

As we successfully reach the conclusion of the fall semester, he remains tireless in working on a safe spring that will include plans for COVID-19 vaccinations. Our award winner provides an incredible example of being selfless by embracing critical responsibilities – even if they aren’t necessarily in your job description.

He is an invaluable member of my cabinet and a trusted advisor to each of UNT System Presidents. 

Congratulations Steve – we are so proud and appreciative of your efforts.

EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Collaboration Award: Anh Le Palomino
Human Resources, UNT Employee Recognition Coordinator
Customer Support Award: Steven Anderson
IT Shared Services, ERP Resource Manager
Inclusion Merit Award:  Valerie Parker
Human Resources, UNT HR Manager
Innovation Award:  Marisa Clabby
Human Resources, UNT System HR Generalist & HR Business Manager
Star Supervisor Award: Katy McDaniel
UNT, HR Senior Director

 

 

UNSUNG HEROES

  • Led by our Office of Facilities, the COVID-19 emergency response team that instilled a consistent, system-wide philosophy toward mitigating coronavirus risk that emphasizes the safety of students, faculty and staff above all else. 
  • Our facilities team worked closely with risk management and communications to install COVID-related signage, reconfigure office and classroom space and roll out safety trainings and guidelines. 
  • From data communications to IT security to Enterprise Application to ever-changing web sites, our IT teams quickly pivoted when the pandemic hit in order to tailor services to meet the remote work and learning needs of our campuses, workforce and students. 
  • Our Office of Finance was incredibly proactive in working across the system to mitigate financial challenges, while also tirelessly running dozens of financial scenarios based on the what-if nature of this ever-changing pandemic.
  • The Office of the Board Secretary, with support of IT, seamlessly converted our quarter Board of Regents meetings to a virtual format and worked closely with our regents to provide COVID-related updates.
  • Our Office of Communications & Marketing worked closely with HR to provide critical information related to everything from remote working guidelines to what to do if you contract COVID-19. 
  • The Government Relations team collaborated with Communications and Finance to help our campuses re-think and elevate their Legislative Appropriations Request for the 87th Texas Legislature
  • Our Office of General Counsel worked closely with the university presidents and me to navigate unprecedented legal questions related to the pandemic
  • Our Internal Audit team showed incredible resilience during a leadership change that occurred during the pandemic and is gaining momentum by the day under our new Chief Audit Executive.
  • Our Human Resources team also worked through a leadership change while working tirelessly to clarify policies against the context of coronavirus, and introduced new programs, processes and customer service initiatives that position us well for the future.  
  • Finally, I’d like to thank the team that put today’s event together – led by UNT System HR with support from Communications and Marketing – you have been incredibly creative and focused in making sure we recognize our people, while also ensuring we have some fun.

 

SERVICE AWARDS

25 YEARS

Melissa Clayton Finance
Jason Myre IT

 

20 YEARS

Jay Maxwell IT
Tracy P. Hansen IT

 

15 YEARS

Don Lynch Facilities
Elaine Robbins Facilities
Michael Heredia IT
Kala Chevli IT
Joel Phillips IT

 

10 YEARS

Rosemary R. Haggett Academic Affairs
Guadalupe Montoya Finance
Cynthia Thomas Finance
Nnaemeka C. Onuoha Human Resources
Hanish Sharma Human Resources
Mike Buras IT
Beverly Forbes IT
Harrison Wood IT

 

5 YEARS

Chad Joyce Facilities
Tracey Haynes Finance
Paige Smith Finance
Jim Gross Finance
Greg Obar Finance
Luke Lybrand Finance
Tameika Smith Finance
Andrew Martin Finance
Christi L. Randle Finance
La'Kona S. Richardson Finance
Tom W. Spencer Finance
Tonya Woodrow Finance
Acey M. Gere Finance
Gulnaar Murthy Finance
Victor Aimuyo Finance
Paula Welch Finance
Paula Bearden Human Resources
Katy McDaniel Human Resources
Sue Aichele Human Resources
Amanda Fisher Human Resources
Keeshala Henderson Human Resources
Kate Van Saaze Human Resources
Sheba Joyner IA
Andy Mears IT
Michelle Myers IT
Schenita Floyd IT
William Carper IT
Sean Bell IT
Samantha S. Lawrence IT
Steven Jerome Arenz IT
Paul Corliss Marketing & Comm.
Steve Gleboff OGC
Stephanie Zaleskin OGC