Names announced for annual faculty, staff awards

The Western Washington University community will convene to celebrate the start of the 2014-15 academic year by sharing breakfast and each other’s company, recognizing faculty and staff excellence award winners and listening to President Bruce Shepard's annual address at Opening Convocation on Thursday, Sept. 18.

An official email invite will be sent to all WWU employees and other guests in the coming days.

The morning begins with a complimentary breakfast from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. in the Viking Commons (look for an email in the coming days with a link to the online registration site to make your required breakfast reservation). Convocation and the presentation of faculty and staff awards take place from 9:10 to 10:15 a.m. on the PAC Mainstage.

In addition to serving as an annual kickoff to the school year, the event serves as an opportunity to honor the outstanding work of Western faculty and staff.

The following awards will be announced at the event:

Carl H. Simpson Bridging Award:

Maria Timmons Flores
Associate Professor, Elementary Education Department
Woodring College of Education

Diversity Achievement Award:

Korry Harvey
Senior Instructor and Assistant Director of Forensics, Department of Communication Studies
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Outstanding Classified Staff Award:

Juliet Holzknecht
Program Coordinator, Conference Housing, University Residences

Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award:

Gene Myers
Professor, Environmental Studies
Huxley College of the Environment

Philip E. Sharpe, Jr. Community Engagement Award:

Jeff Carroll
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professional Staff Award for Excellence: 

Renee Collins
Associate Dean of Students
Director, Ethnic Student Center, Student Outreach Services and LEADS
Student Outreach Services, Division of Enrollment and Student Services

Todd Epps
Director of Networking Services
College of Humanities and Social Sciences and College of Science and Engineering

Team Recognition Award:

Salish Sea Conference

Don Alper
Professor and Director, Border Policy Research Institute and Center for Canadian-American Studies

Matthew Anderson
Communication Consultant, Office of Communications and Marketing

Diana Bakkom
Assistant Director of Summer Programs, Extended Education

Derek Bryson
Graphic Designer, Office of Communications
and Marketing

Lindsay Bureaux
Marketing Manager, Extended Education

Mary Gallagher
Communication Consultant, Office of Communications and Marketing

Marlene Harlan
Director of Marketing and Summer Programs,
Extended Education

Chuck Hart
Program Manager, Canadian American Studies

Courtney Hiatt
Communications Consultant, Extended Education

Chris Hussein
Work Study Student, Program Support,
Canadian-American Studies

Thomas Jones
Financial Manager, Western Foundation

Wayne Landis
Professor and Director, Institute of Environmental Toxicology

April Markiewicz
Associate Director, Institute of Environmental Toxicology

Alesha Perrin
Program Assistant, Extended Education

Marie Raney
Director of Web Communication Technologies

Elliott Smith
Conference Administrator, Canadian-American Studies

Katy Stevick
Distinguished Student Employment Program,
Program Support, Canadian-American Studies

Joshua Tataran
Work Study Student, Program Support,
Canadian-American Studies

From 8 to 10:30 a.m., Western will pause normal operations and all offices will be closed, except in rare cases where staff are informed they must report to carry out their essential responsibilities.

In lieu of shuttle service for off-campus employees, parking enforcement will be suspended in all lots from 7 to 11 a.m.