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Four Staff Members at Appalachian State University Recognized as Staff Award Winners for Service

Sept. 16, 2013. Four Appalachian State University employees recognized for their service to the university have been named Staff Award Winners for 2013.

They are Debbie Bauer from the College of Arts and Sciences’ Center for Appalachian Studies, Amy Greer from the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of English, Misti Reese from the Office of Admissions and Keith Younce from the Physical Plant’s Environmental Services division.

staff_awards_2013They were honored during Fall Convocation held Sept. 10 on campus.

The annual Staff Awards presented by Human Resource Services recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to campus life, for innovation that improves campus operations, or for dedication and service to the university.

Debbie Bauer is the administration assistant for the Center for Appalachian Studies. She was praised by her nominators for her service to Appalachian studies graduate students and faculty and her assistance with the center’s publication, Appalachian Journal, and the recent Appalachian Studies Association Conference hosted on campus. 

Bauer was called a role model for others for her ability to balance work and academics while she pursued a bachelor’s degree in English from Appalachian. In addition, Bauer was cited for her interactions with students, faculty and staff that turn to her for advice and information about course schedules, campus resources, housing, campus events and local information. 

A nominator wrote, “Debbie is an unselfish public servant and an outstanding role model for our students and for all of us. She thinks and acts for the good of others before herself, making useful contributions to both academic programs and community events. She teaches students about cooperation and collaboration by example.”

Amy Greer is office manager of the Department of English, where she has worked in various capacities since 1992. She has been called the face of the Department of English because she is often the first person visitors encounter. 

Greer is responsible for budgets, scheduling, book orders and management of an office that interacts with some 100 faculty and countless students.

She has been called “the rock” of the department through its transitions in leadership during the past seven years. 

“I honestly think that her capable hands are what’s kept us together all these years,” a nominator wrote, adding “‘That’s not my job’ is not in her vocabulary.”

Another nominator wrote, “With her perseverance and hard work, she has been the glue that has held the department together. I frankly don’t know what we would have done without her.”

Misti Reese is senior associate director of admissions and enrollment management. She is the Office of Admissions’ liaison with Information Technology Services and has worked closely on projects to improve the admissions and graduation process. These include DegreeWorks, a web-based academic advising and degree audit tool for students and their advisors, and a web portal for prospective students called myApp.

Through her leadership, the Office of Admissions converted to a paperless student application process, complete with data imaging. She also led recruitment staff to a new model of territory recruitment, which was called the foundation for improving the university’s recruitment of diverse and high-achieving students. 

She also was praised for her customer services in dealing with prospective students and their parents. 

A nominator wrote, “She offers an outstanding blend of solid leadership and management ability, superb interpersonal and communication skills, and dedication and loyalty to her organization and accomplishment of institutional mission and goals.”

Keith Younce is assistant director of Environmental Services where he directs approximately 95 employees and supervises a six-member floor crew. Customer service has been one of his top concerns during his 28-year career at Appalachian.

He strives to address all customer related complaints and concerns and follows up on solutions to problems. Younce also was cited for his positive attitude toward work and promoting core value within his division. 

Younce also effectively works with other campus departments on a daily basis. “Keith is an expert in his field and knows his job, a trait that people respect and strive to duplicate,” his nominator wrote. 

He was also praised for his leadership skills, positive interactions with staff, faculty and fellow employees and his ability to assist the department during a time of transition. “He is a team player and listens and responds to our staff,” a nominator wrote. “Change is not easily embraced, but Keith manages to enact change without resistance because coworkers trust him and respect him as a leader.”