2022 Employee Recognition Memory Book

Employee Recognition 2022

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ~Ephesians 2:10

A message from the President I am deeply grateful for the educators, administrators and staff who fulfill our mission each day and encourage and educate our students to be people of mature Christian faith who serve, lead and reconcile in the midst of a broken and hurting world.

Thank you all for your dedication, commitment and resilience. I offer my sincere congratulations to each individual recognized in this beautiful volume. The Messiah community has been enriched by your faithful presence and exemplary contributions.

Thank you!

Warm regards, Kim S. Phipps, president

Service Milestones

5

Todd Allen Rocky Allinger Darlene Baral Justin Beachy Karl Bergmann Cindy Briel Michele Buhr Lori Chance Jim Colonna Jewell Colyer Leah Conner Joseph Fechter Maya Georgieva Darcy Griffiths Lyndsay Grimm Kimberly Hawkins David Hazen Paula Johnson

service milestones

years of service Sommer Keller Sierra Kinslow Charlene Lane Mandy Lohss Brian Menkis Beth Moshier Sarah Myers Jennifer Ness-Myers Kevin Ogden Jeff Roman Heather Seaman Tracy Sheaffer Allen Snook David Wagner Travis Weller Melanie Winters Don Zhao

10

service milestones

Karen Blair Dan Campbell Jan Dormer Renee Feather Bob Feil Nancy Frank Todd Goranson Josiah Hatfield Keith Jones Emily Lint Lynn Masser

years of service Carol McGinnis Kristi Mouttet Rene’ Murray Ray Pascucci Allyson Patton Laura Price Misty Spangler Shay Stevens Jennifer Thomson Dottie Weigel

15 Kelly Athey Rebecca Bond* Helena Cicero Tim Clarenbach Sarah Crone Carol Good Bounma Inthavong Meg Jones Hoover Cindi Kerns Ana Marrero Scott McClintock

service milestones

years of service Heather McKay John Minich Jenell Paris Glen Pierce Anne Reeve Paul Rego Maria Rippon Amanda Sigel Liz Williams Mark Wirtz

* Rebecca should have been recognized for 15 years of service in 2021.

20

service milestones

Erin Boyd-Soisson Timothy Dixon John Fea Daniel Finch Carol Hall Colleen Jones

years of service Robin Lauermann Nance McCown Matthew Roth Scott Weaver Neil Weaver

25

service milestones

years of service

Ed Arke Mike Blount Belinda Conrad David Foster James LaGrand Pete Powers Sianglerd SaengDuangChan David Weaver-Zercher Doug Wood

30

service milestones

years of service

Bob Erb Michael Rice Harold Underwood

35

service milestones

years of service

Di Cashman Barry Goodling

Pride in Performance This award is given annually to employees who have demonstrated remarkable competence in their role along with a consistent commitment to excellence and to working successfully with others to achieve the goals of the University. Congratulations to our 2022 winners!

pride in performance

Renee AltezNunez Renee sets the tone in the DPT office suite and makes coming to work enjoyable for the entire department.

As the Administrative Assistant for the Graduate Department of Physical Therapy, she is organized, selfdirected, and works with the utmost integrity. Renee greets every student and guest with a smile and offer of assistance. She has taken on additional duties as needed and regularly has tasks completed before she is even asked to begin them. Renee schedules and coordinates open houses, monthly candidate interview sessions, facility tours and other events as needed while making sure that everyone feels welcomed. Renee consistently outperforms all expectations in the various aspects of her responsibilities.

pride in performance

Deana Baddorf Deana is an integral part of the Academic Accessibility office as the Academic Success Assistant. She continually works to make the office more streamlined and innovative.

Her attention to detail and emotional IQ contribute to her success in alleviating student concerns and she goes above and beyond to guide students to the solutions they seek. Deana is creative and attentive and always thinking about how others will react. Her “outside of the box” thinking is welcomed and helps to make everyone around her better at what they do.

Deana is an amazing asset to her department and to Messiah.

Helena Cicero Helena has worked diligently to reopen the Oakes Museum safely. She encourages an atmosphere of creativity and freedom for her staff, student interns, and volunteers to suggest ideas for programming and marketing. As the Museum Director, she is passionate about operating a toprate museum of natural history as a resource for the regional community. During the pandemic, her role changed dramatically while the museum was closed to the public, but she embraced the changes in stride and was an exemplary team player, joining in the process of navigating COVID through various channels. Families enjoy the museum, and this is largely due to the friendly, welcoming atmosphere Helena provides and promotes in her entire team of docents and volunteers.

pride in performance

Valerian Curd Valerian promotes a pleasant working environment and is well liked by his colleagues. He is known for his generosity. He consistently maintains a positive student focus and is able to build relationships with them. When he was the Fire and Safety Systems Coordinator, he was meticulous about meeting deadlines for inspections and making sure that everything was tested and in good working order.

His transition to Clery Compliance Coordinator required an even higher level of accuracy and accountability as he worked diligently to learn the responsibilities and compile the Annual Security Report within months of his transition. Valerian embraces challenges and provides stellar outcomes.

He is a well-respected and dedicated employee and colleague.

pride in performance

Kinsey Rice As Dining Room Supervisor, Kinsey has faithfully interacted with the Lottie student employees during COVID, making sure each student on his shift is prepared to serve his/her fellow classmates while taking the necessary safety precautions. Being unable to work from home, Kinsey has reported to work daily with a servant heart from the onset of COVID. Even when he has several students call off, Kinsey makes sure that Lottie is ready to serve our guests – from working the dish room, to cashiering, to sweeping the floor, whatever needs to be done, Kinsey will do it. He is a problem solver and an exceptional employee. The Lottie dining experience would not be the same without Kinsey’s excellent work and leadership.

President’s Award This award is given annually to two individuals who have demonstrated significant commitment, ingenuity, innovation and hard work in addressing a concern or challenge facing the University. As such, the award is tied to a specific achievement or exceptional action.

president’s award

Megan Fowler Director of Sports Medicine COVID posed many difficulties across campus, but for the Athletics Department it brought about particular challenges. Megan has worked diligently over the last two years to create and implement protocols that allowed our student athletes to continue to participate in their respective sports. She navigated the difficult path of balancing NCAA requirements, PA requirements, and University requirements around COVID restrictions. She managed the sports medicine team with grace, even while under-staffed, and worked to make sure that needed positions were filled. Daily, she creates space for student athletes to feel heard and understood and encourages them during difficult times.

Megan is an important part of the Messiah University community and we are grateful for all she has done to keep our athletics program running smoothly.

president’s award

Mark Graybill Grounds Services Manager Mark consistently demonstrates that he cares about his job, his coworkers, and the University. Mark and his team set the first impression every day on campus. He cares about what the campus looks like for our guests and knows that perspective families can make a decision based on first impression. Mark is a team player and has strong planning skills, as demonstrated by his handling of inclement weather.

Mark has created a new system to handle weather situations that is more streamlined and effective.

Days before a predicted weather event (snow or otherwise) he is monitoring the situation and assessing what needs to happen before the storm hits. He plans staffing patterns so that his employees know exactly where and when they will be needed.

Mark demonstrates the Operation Division Core Values of Stewardship, Integrity, Communication, Commitment, and Compassion in all of his work as a leader on campus.

Road to Reconciliation This award is given annually to employees who demonstrate a leadership role related to reconciliation beyond the expectations of their positions, and who have met one or more of the following goals: • Improved the quality of life and/or served as an advocate for underrepresented groups at the University • Championed recruitment and retention efforts aimed at improving diversity at the University • Planned and implemented change related to issues of cultural intelligence • Educated the Messiah community toward intercultural awareness and appreciation of an increasingly diverse Messiah community • Actively contributed to a reconciliation process, thereby fostering a stronger community

road to reconciliation

Charlene Lane Charlene serves the University in numerous ways, many of which highlight this year’s value of reconciliation. She keeps the students at the center of her vision of service in all that she does. Dr. Lane integrates inclusive excellence into her classes and connects students with contemporary frameworks for service and inclusion, as well as community and career opportunities. Students are drawn to her because she expresses such sincere concern for their well-being. Dr. Lane has invested heavily in Messiah and has worked tirelessly to improve structures and processes that positively impact students. Through her work in Teaching & Learning, her leadership in SACS, and her engagement with student success, Dr. Lane has made Messiah better in ways that not everyone may see or attribute to her.

road to reconciliation

George Pickens, Emerson Powery, and Cynthia Wells In revising the Diversity Strategic Plan in 2021, one of the key elements was drafting a new “contextual statement” centered in the core mission, vision, and values of the University, while articulating a more encompassing state on reconciliation. Cynthia, Emerson, and George crafted a thoughtful, theologically framed document that went above and beyond expectation. Their statement will assist the University in making the case for reconciliation for years to come. Additionally, they have each stepped in to support, sponsor, or present meaningful programming throughout the Year of Reconciliation.

Team Falcon Award This award is given annually to recognize a group or team that collaborated successfully on a significant project or initiative that advanced departmental or university-wide goals.

Teams receiving this award need to have exhibited innovation, creativity and excellence while fostering a team environment that promoted communication, trust, cooperation, and respect.

team falcon award

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Over the summer of 2021, the DPT program worked as a team to write a self-study report for initial accreditation. The report consisted of written narratives to 220 different elements within 8 different standards. This required a tremendous amount of effort from the team. Due to a change in leadership, what normally takes a year or more was accomplished in 2 months! The site-visit team was extremely impressed and found zero deficiencies in the report during the visit. As of this printing, the report is being presented at the spring CAPTE meeting for a final vote to grant accreditation prior to our first cohort graduating in May. The DPT program not only benefits Messiah (with 36 new students each year), but will also fill a need in the local community with new healthcare practitioners.

Gregory Adams

Paula Johnson

Renee Altez Nunez

Vanessa Lee

Heather Beattie

Michael Lehr

Karl Bergmann

Heather Noll

Karen Burket

Borko Rodic

Jessica Dunn

Misty Seidenburg

Amy Flick

Don Zhao

Amy Humphrey

Retirees

retirees

Randall Basinger Provost For nearly four decades, Provost Randall G. “Randy” Basinger has served Messiah University with distinction.

Whether as a professor of philosophy, chair of an institutional committee (many of them!), or in a number of academic administrative roles, Randy is highly regarded for his outstanding teaching, sharp intellect and fair-minded decision making.

During his tenure as provost, he helped Messiah achieve significant milestones, including: • Launch of online summer school (2008) • The creation and development of the School of Graduate Studies (2009) • The recruitment of more than 200 faculty and educators from 2005 to present.

• The development of an institutional guiding framework for understanding Messiah’s distinct mission and identity known as the “AB – BC – CD” exercise of privileged, core and neutral beliefs.

It has been my distinct pleasure to know Randy as a dear personal friend and trusted colleague for the past twenty-three years. He embodies the ideals of servant leadership and lives out Messiah’s mission of service, leadership and reconciliation in every area of his life. Congratulations, Provost Basinger, on a remarkable career at Messiah. Thank you for all the ways you have made Messiah an excellent institution. May retirement offer you ample time to enjoy your grandchildren, carpentry and many trips to Haar’s. ~Kim S. Phipps

retirees

Dana Britton Director of Admissions Enrollment Management, Admissions Dana Britton has been an enthusiastic ambassador for Messiah University for twenty-four years, the last fourteen as our Director of Undergraduate Admissions.

Dana agreed to serve in this position as challenging winds of change swept through and disrupted the higher education landscape. Through it all, Dana has exibited strong and stable leadership of the Admissions Team, focusing on the well-being and professional development of her staff. She truly exemplified the very ideals of servant leadership in her role.

Dana pursued her work with an “I-choose-joy” attitude, and we have been blessed by her optimistic and hospitable spirit. From her daily interactions with colleagues to her public presentations to students and families, Dana’s joy and love for Christ was evident and contagious.

While we will miss Dana’s daily presence on the team, we are excited that she will enjoy retirement with her husband, Tom. Together, Dana and Tom will be even more present in the lives of their daughters, Andrea and Lindsay, and their grandson, Calvin. In addition to spending time with family, Dana looks forward to travel and the opportunity to read something other than admissions applications!

retirees

Marti Derr Associate Professor of Nursing Department of Nursing For more than twenty-five years, Marti has taught and mentored students in psychiatric-mental health nursing, leadership, bioethics, health policy, and senior seminar across the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, along with teaching first-year seminar.

Marti embodies life-long learning. In addition to her three master’s degrees, she completed three specialty certificates in rational emotive therapy, bioethics, and spiritual direction, which brought expertise to the nursing department. During COVID-19, a particularly stressful time for nurses and nursing students, Marti’s experience as a counselor was integral for helping students and staff with stress management and resilience training. Most notably, she has mentored nearly every new faculty member in some capacity, as well as invested significant support to countless students in crisis during their undergraduate experience. Marti lives in Mechanicsburg. She has an adult son, Jordon, who lives locally, and a daughter, Megan, who lives in Texas. An avid reader, in her retirement Marti also plans to continue enjoying ballroom dancing, a proper cup of tea, and will continue working as a spiritual director and adjunct faculty member.

retirees

Stephen Gallaher Professor of Christian Ministries Department of Biblical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies Stephen Gallaher has faithfully served the University as a full-time faculty member since 2004 and as an adjunct professor before that. During that time, he has helped prepare hundreds of students to serve the church in a variety of capacities, from children and youth ministries to senior pastor. Stephen is largely responsible for developing and nurturing the strong regional reputation of our Youth Ministry program. Stephen recently stepped into a role with Campus Ministries, supporting their programming and ministering directly to the University faculty and staff.

Stephen’s office is usually open and occupied by a number of students enjoying his company, planning a youth activity, or sitting in a mentoring session. Muchbeloved by students and by his colleagues on campus, Stephen gives of his time freely and graciously, and will be best remembered for the ways in which he seamlessly blended rigorous training in ministry with the spiritual development of our students. Whether demonstrating how puppets can be used in youth ministry or walking with students through the management side of pastoring, Stephen has embodied the mission of Messiah University and the department that will miss him dearly.

retirees

James Myers Community Safety Officer Department of Safety Mr. James Myers began his career as a Community Safety Officer in Dispatch at Messiah over twenty years ago. Many of you might have talked with James as he worked many hours as a dispatcher. Throughout his tenure, James always looked out for the welfare of others, and made sure their needs were taken care of.

James was both heroic and compassionate. One example of his bravery occurred when his co-worker Sean Paddock was called to remove a bird in the stairwell of an apartment building that turned out to be a peacock!

Sean radioed dispatch and James told him to watch out for its claws because they were razor sharp.

After a few failed attempts to remove the bird, Sean called James to come and assist. When James arrived with a blanket and rope, he walked right up to the bird, wrapped the blanket around it, and proceeded to wrap the rope around the bird’s feet and body, like he was lassoing a calf. They then took the bird to a nearby farm and let it loose.

This is just one of many fond memories of James Myers.

His heroism, caring nature, and his laughter will be missed greatly.

retirees

Bounlio (Leo)Viraya Campus Events, 3rd Shift Campus Events Mr. Bounlio Viraya, or Leo, as he’s affectionately called, was hired as a Campus Events worker in 1993 and has worked in the Pool/SSC for his entire career at Messiah. As a testament to Leo’s dedication and loyalty, he has only taken two sick days within the last twenty-nine years.

When Leo started at Messiah, he worked alongside his co-worker, John Imboden who trained him in his job duties and also helped him to learn English as his second language. Each year, Leo would write on his appraisal how much he enjoys working at Messiah and how thankful he is for his job as previously, he worked in a pillow factory, and said it was hard work and they weren’t as nice to work for.

Although Leo rarely takes off, when he does go on vacation, he spends two weeks in the Fall to pick vegetables and tie little ears of corn at Oak Grove Farms where he also works throughout the year.

Leo’s kindness and stellar work ethic will be missed.

However, we can always stop by Oak Grove Farm to say hi to Leo after he retires in October.