OMC foundation staff awards

From top left, clockwise: Irma Johnson, Michele Kennedy, Maryann Bierer, Jana Savanapridi.

Michael Mercier | UAH

The University of Alabama in Huntsville, a part of The University of Alabama System, announced the 2020 Foundation Staff Awards. The recipients this year are Maryann Bierer, Computer Science, Staff Excellence Award; Irma Johnson, Facilities & Operations, Staff Excellence Award; Michele Kennedy, Academic Affairs, Leadership Recognition; and Jana Savanapridi, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Staff Excellence Award.

These awards are made through the auspices of the UAH Foundation to recognize four staff employees who by action or idea have made exceptional contributions to the University's mission for excellence in teaching, research, health care and community service; promoting a high level of morale or exemplary service to students, faculty and co-workers; or demonstrating performance above and beyond the requirements of their positions.

Maryann Bierer is the Senior Staff Assistant in the Computer Science Department. She joined the UAH Math Department in 2005, then transferred in 2010 to the Computer Science Department. She handles all departmental budget activity, including grants and contracts; prepares all Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) and adjunct faculty letters; and coordinates faculty searches. Bierer has been instrumental in assisting with accreditation materials and helping faculty to track and administer accreditation activities as well.

Nominators comment that "Maryann is the cornerstone of the Computer Science Department. She will reorganize her schedule if needed. She has been known to come in before 7 a.m., and she will also stay late to meet a faculty or departmental need."

"Most importantly, Maryann is the primary contact for assisting the students," a nominator says. "She assists with international students who may have VISA issues or other challenges related to living in the U.S. She also assists students who are having scheduling issues and ensures they have an academic advisor. She knows many of the students personally and is their sounding board and comforter. She is the face of the Computer Science Department to the CS students."

"Maryann always goes far beyond what is expected of the duties of a staff assistant," another nominator notes. "She is very deserving of this award!"

Irma Johnson is employed in the Custodial Services Department. She joined the UAH team in 2014 and currently supports the Administrative Science Building. Beyond her regular job duties, Johnson has been known to show many acts of kindness to others, such as assisting those with disabilities, visiting employees in the hospital and performing additional tasks, such as caring for office plants.

"Irma goes above and beyond to keep the building looking nice," nominators report. "She considers the building to be hers and takes pride in a job well done. Last year the building was being renovated while classes were in session. The contractors were creating a dusty mess, but every day Irma would restore order to the building, keeping everything clean and minimizing the construction mess amid the ladders and materials that the students and employees had to endure.

"She takes initiative to not only do her job but to see that the building is maintained. She is quick to call facilities to report maintenance issues before they become bigger problems. An example occurred when rainwater entered the first floor – she not only cleaned it up but located fans to help it dry, preventing damage to the carpet."

Another nominator added, "She has a pleasant and helpful outlook and a willingness to take initiative and ask how she can help."

This year's Leadership Award goes to Michele Kennedy. She has served as Senior Administrative Assistant in the College of Science since 2014. Kennedy was recently promoted to the Office of the Provost as Executive Assistant to the Provost in Academic Affairs. She has provided leadership to both students and her peers.

"Michele assisted in revamping the College of Science ambassador program to develop workshops for students, host mentoring sessions with the College of Science Deans, and enable students to take the lead in recruiting events," nominators report. "Without her leadership role, the COS Ambassador program would not have grown to what it is today. This is an excellent example of developing leadership opportunities for our students that will help develop them into future leaders."

"Michele has been instrumental in developing annual training for the college's staff assistants," another nominator says. "This training provides updates on policies related to purchasing and academic processes to facilitate the efficient operation of budgeting, and the training has proven critical during personnel transitions as well. In addition, she was able to inform new leadership of appropriate processes and provided insights to key stakeholders to help maintain the operations of the College of Science. She is truly committed to the success of the college and the University."

Jana Savanapridi has served for six years as an academic advisor in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHS). She has demonstrated leadership in making the CAHS Advising Office into a central, reliable support system for the students and departments. Savanapridi has improved processes for advisement, scheduling and Program of Study development, as well as the office's electronic communication with students, faculty and staff. She hires, trains and manages student assistants and also serves on the Charger Foundations Committee.

"Jana has contributed to effective student retention through an uncanny ability to help students find the program that best meets their gifts and goals," a nominator says. "For example, an at-risk student was in a degree program but not succeeding because she really wanted to study writing. Jana listened to her and helped her feel confident to enroll in a creative writing class. The student found her academic niche at UAH and felt affirmed in her calling. This is a student UAH would have lost otherwise."

"Additionally, Jana actively solicits current program information from department chairs and then promotes it with students, thus contributing to the success of every department," another nominator explains. "She helps adapt programs of study to meet student interests compatible with their major, which gives students a clear path to graduation with their specific career goals in mind. Jana has a way of making students feel confident in the information they receive, that their college cares for them, and that a staff member relates to them and understands their concerns and dreams."

One nominator writes, "Jana has singlehandedly changed the college advising environment and its protocols for the better. She's efficient, thoughtful, smart and wonderful with students. I don't know what any of us would do without her!"