Kishwaukee College announced the annual Award of Excellence recipients. The Board of Trustees sponsors the Awards of Excellence program to recognize outstanding employees and their contributions to the College. Community members, college personnel, students and alumni submitted nominations in five categories: Full-Time Faculty, Adjunct Faculty, Support Staff, Professional Staff and Part-Time Staff.
The nominees for Full-Time Faculty were Ami Irmen, Associate Professor of English
and Teaching Chair; Branden McCullough, Assistant Professor of History and Teaching
Chair; Ann Mueller, 
Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Tutoring Services; Laura Murdaugh, Associate
Professor of Chemistry; and Tammy Tiggelaar, Associate Professor of Business, Marketing
and Management. The 2020 recipient of the Full-Time Faculty Award of Excellence is
Laura Murdaugh. Murdaugh has been on Kish faculty since 2011. Alongside her many
contributions to the department throughout her nine years, she has been described
by her peers as a tremendous asset and outstanding instructor who holds her students
to rigorous standards and high expectations.
The nominee
s for Adjunct Faculty were Robert Brown, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Mathematics;
Cynthia DeSeife, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Education; Eric Schroeder, Adjunct
Assistant Professor of Music; and Robert Srygler, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology.
The 2020 recipient of the Adjunct Faculty Award of Excellence is Eric Schroeder. Schroeder
began his career as an educator in 1996 and joined Kish in 2012. He helps organize
end-of-semester recitals for students and goes beyond his instructional responsibilities
to provide excellence in music education at the College. He readily teaches credit-bearing
courses as well as community education classes.
The nominees for Support Staff were Geoff Glowacki, Records Analyst; Donna Keller,
Business Office Clerk; Cathy King, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President
of Instruction; Kim Rotella, Greenhouse Grounds Specialist; Susan Tyler, Custodian;
and Tiffany Varnell, Administrative Assistant for WIOA Youth and TRIO Student Support
Services. This year’s recipient of the Support Staff Award of Excellence is Donna
Keller. Keller began at Kish in 1993. Keller spent approximately 23 years as a library
assistant in the College library before moving to the business office. Her exemplary
customer service makes her a friendly and welcoming face in the business office. She
is quick to help students and staff alike and her unequalled commitment to the College
have made her an invaluable asset.
The nomin
ees for the Professional Staff Award were Jessica Anderson, Assistant Director of
Marketing and Bookstore Manager; Tashena Briggs, Director of TRIO Upward Bound; Melissa
Gallagher, Coordinator of Short-Term Training and Continuing Education; and Sean Kesselring,
Manager of Academic Advising & Transfer Services. This year’s recipient of the Professional
Staff Award of Excellence is Jessica Anderson. Anderson began her Kish career as bookstore
manager in 2014. Since then, she has taken on increased responsibilities and currently
manages multiple departments including the bookstore, marketing & public relations,
the Kish café and printing/mail services. Always on the go, Anderson is known as a
diplomatic leader with a humanitarian heart.
The nominees for the Part-Time Staff Award were Kristine Adzovic, Academic Specialist;
Amy Forsberg, Dual Credit & Curriculum Specialist; Mary Ann Miller, Administr
ative Assistant of Disability Services; and Julie Oberheim, Academic Advisor and Student
Conduct Specialist. The 2020 recipient of the Part-Time Staff Award is Julie Oberheim.
Oberheim joined Kish in 2017. Her colleagues say she cares deeply about the
lives of students. Oberheim’s outreach to students, willingness to take on new tasks
and collaboration with Northern Illinois University are some of her valuable contributions
to her department.
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. The College is very appreciative of the dedicated service to the Kish community.
Photo: Kishwaukee College announced the Board of Trustees 2020 Award of Excellence recipients. Picture 1: Laura Murdaugh, Full-Time Faculty award recipient. Picture 2: Eric Schroeder, Adjunct Faculty award recipient. Picture 3: Donna Keller, Support Staff award recipient. Picture 4: Jessica Anderson, Professional Staff award recipient. Picture 5: Julie Oberheim, Part-Time Staff award recipient.