Three UAH employees receive 2015 Foundation Awards

2015 UAH Foundation Staff Award winners Sally Badoud, Michael Finnegan, and Bethany Wilson.

Michael Mercier | UAH

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) recently announced the 2015 UAH Foundation award recipients. They are: Sally Badoud, Michael Finnegan, and Bethany Wilson. UAH Foundation Staff Award recipients receive a check for $1,000 and a certificate of appreciation. Additionally, they will be recognized at a special awards ceremony.

The university will also recognize employees for completion of key service milestones of five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of regular, full-time service to UAH. You may access the HR website http://www.uah.edu/hr/awards to view and congratulate colleagues in your area that are being recognized for this important milestone.

2015 Foundation Awardees:

• Sally Badoud ('01 BA Studio Art, '14 MBA), director of Marketing, Student Recruitment in the Office of Marketing and Communications (OMC) began her employment with the university in September 2010 in the Department of Professional Studies as assistant director of Marketing and Media Services. Most recently she served as the interim director of UAH Admissions from December 2013 to March 2015. It is Badoud's job in OMC to create and implement strategies for successfully marketing and advertising UAH to prospective students and coordinate marketing materials with the Office of Admissions. "My days are never the same and I love it," said Badoud. "I spend a lot of time creating and reviewing marketing materials, talking with vendors, and working with both OMC and the Office of Admissions. I'm an alumna of UAH and a Huntsville native-I want everyone to know how awesome UAH is and to help the university get away from the mentality in the community that we're a commuter school." Badoud is thrilled to have been nominated for the UAH Foundation Staff Award. "I'm flattered and honored to be nominated, especially when I see so many staff members working hard to better this university. This is so exciting." She has been married 12 years to Jeff Badoud, and they have two children, Ronin and Maeve, and two dogs Ziggy and El Macho. When she is not working she loves to spend time with her children ("they are hilarious") and floating with the family in a canoe. She is involved with Free the Hops, loves shopping and going out to eat.
• Michael Finnegan, associate vice president for Facilities and Operations, Department of Facilities and Operations, began working at UAH in the fall of 2001 as executive director of Facilities. His position includes management oversight of the UAH Police Department, Office of Environmental Health and Safety, facilities, construction, emergency planning, and master planning. "My day is very diversified. Fortunately, there are professionals in each of these areas that keep the day to day operations going, so I find myself monitoring budgets and aiding with final decisions," he said. A typical day for Finnegan may start with project review and physical walk throughs of a job site(s) or current building(s), then into meeting(s) to discuss the next emergency exercise or to enhance police coverage. The day could also include addressing a request for needed space for a college or department then back to the office to review budgets, construction pay requests, and change orders. "A day wouldn't be complete without handling a minimum of two or three issues or requests that have popped-up and need immediate attention. I could not ask for a more satisfying job. The staff at UAH is great and a joy to work with, and the challenges and opportunities that present themselves continually make for an interesting day," Finnegan said. A UAH hockey alumnus, he played the first three years but wanting a more diversified academic degree, Finnegan transferred to Athens State University and earned a degree in Science Management. "I have always been around UAH since my high school days, attending Springfest and other events on campus. As a native of Huntsville I've seen the benefit UAH provides to the growth and stability of the community. There are many people on this campus that make contributions to ensure our students and the university are successful…I feel very humble to be a part of this group," he said. Finnegan and his wife, Linda, have been married for 28 years. They have two sons, Shawn and Colby, both students at The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa). The Finnegans enjoy being outside working around the house, playing golf, sailing, and snow skiing during the winter months. He also enjoys cooking and trying new recipes for family and friends.
• Bethany Wilson, Honors College Coordinator, UAH Honors College (formerly Honors Program) has been with the department for four years. She advises Honors students on their progress in the college and coordinates the day to day activities of the Honors College. "My average day consists of meeting with Honors students for advisement, and meeting with our student coordinators to organize student programs or upcoming Honors events. I love my students! They make my job fun. Honors students are so talented and involved on the UAH campus. They work so hard and it motivates me to go the extra mile for them whether that's through advisement or planning fun events," Wilson said. "I was so honored to be nominated - and ecstatic to have won. It's a huge honor to be recognized for doing a job that I love." In her spare time she loves spending time with her family - her husband, Matt and her dog. "I love working on home improvement projects and spending a lot of my time with my sweet little nephew." Wilson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resources), and a Master's of Business Administration from The University of North Alabama.