Employee of the Month
The Staff Employee Advocacy Council would like to recognize the outstanding contributions made by our staff members each day. It is our goal to choose one full- or part-time employee each month to celebrate as someone who is positively impacting our campus community. This person should be someone who works hard to support the University, someone who has added to the campus community in some way, and someone with whom others enjoy working.
Employee of the Month
Amy Rodriguez Named February 2024
Employee of the Month
Amy Rodriguez, Visitor Services Coordinator , was selected as the February 2024 SEAC Employee of the Month.
Nominators spoke about Amy’s dedication to teamwork, service to others, and commitment to Valparaiso University:
“There are not enough good things I can say about Amy. She is the first person our students and staff see when they enter the welcome center. Amy greets each student and their family with such a warm and welcoming demeanor. There are many moving parts to each student’s visit (tour, information session with a counselor, faculty appointment) and she has their schedules organized to perfection. Amy goes above and beyond her scope of responsibilities. For example, when a student is on their way back from their tour, she will notify their admission counselor so we are ready for them when they return. When she has a perspective student on the phone, she will get detailed information from them before she passes the student onto a counselor. This gives the counselor an understanding of the nature of how we can best assist the potential student. Amy truly goes out of her way to ensure students and their families have the best experience while they are at the welcome center. She is the first one here and many times the last one to leave because she wants to ensure that all the details for a student’s visit are organized. We have many weeks where the amount of visitors is significant. Somehow Amy is able to juggle a large volume of visitors, phones ringing, managing student tour guides and the needs of the counselors. Her ability to multitask is second to none. Amy’s positive energy, infectious smile and warm personality not only positively affects visiting students/families, but the staff at the welcome center. We couldn’t do this without her! She is a true asset to Valpo!”
“Amy’s a super positive person, is always on top of things, and is a tremendous asset to our team and our guests!”
“Amy is someone who instantly makes your day better as soon as you walk through the door. She has this energy about her that if she is out of the office for some reason, you find yourself missing her. She is also one of the most selfless people that I know, and is always ready to help others. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award, and if it were allowed she would be employee of the month every month! ”
“Amy always excels in the most front-facing position of the University, greeting everyone with a smile whether they are a visiting student or a staff member she sees every day. She goes above and beyond for the admissions team, students, and any guests who find themselves in the Welcome Center. She is able to juggle phone calls, emails, schedules, and visitors all while mentoring our excellent student Ambassadors in Admission. She has extraordinary mental fortitude and is extremely quick at problem-solving, often finding a solution to an issue before anyone else has realized that one needs to be found. We are lucky to have her (and her delicious contributions to staff potlucks!) on our team.”
Eligibility Requirements:
- Nominations must be for a regular full-time, limited full-time, or part-time appointed staff employee who has worked at the University for at least 90 days. Faculty, deans, and students are not eligible.
- Any Valparaiso University staff member, faculty member, student, or alumni may submit a nomination via the Google Form on the SEAC website or on a paper ballot at the Harre Union Welcome Desk or the front desk at Don Hovey.
- A committee of SEAC members who comprise the Recognition Committee will select the winning nominee each month at their regularly scheduled meeting.
If you believe you know someone that meets those criteria, please submit this form to nominate them!
Winning nominees will receive recognition in the Campus Chronicle and at SEAC events, and they will receive several small prizes as a token of our appreciation for their outstanding work.
Congratulations to Past Employee of the Month winners!
We are so thankful to have you on our University Team!
| DATE | NAME | TITLE | LINK |
| January 2024 | Patty Jarosz | Academic Advisor, College of Engineering | Photo |
| December 2023 | Melizza Zygmunt | Executive Director of Office of Institutional Effectiveness | Photo |
| November 2023 | Jes Janssen | Senior Assistant Director of Admission & Financial Aid | Photo |
| October 2023 | Wendy Paterson | Administrative Assistant, CAS | Photo |
| September 2023 | Daniel Haynes | Director of Maintenance | Photo |
| August 2023 | James Richards | Director of University Photography and Videography | Photo |
| July 2023 | Emma Kelley | Professional Educators Partnership Coordinator | Photo |
| June 2023 | Sage Messenger | Assistant Director for Residential Life |  Photo |
| May 2023 | July Ordaz | Assistant Director of Annual Giving Programs, Advancement | Photo |
| April 2023 | Karen Stacy | Administrative Assistant to the Dean, CONHP | Photo |
| March 2023 | Carrie Miller | Administrative Assistant, CAS | Photo |
| February 2023 | Kyle Rhein | Officer, Valparaiso University Police Department | Photo |
| January 2023 | Sue Kukurugya | Assistant Director of Enterprise Process & Projects, IT | Photo |
| December 2022 | Isis Drosos | Administrative Assistant to the Dean, CAS | Photo |
| November 2022 | Kate Patterson | Administrative Assistant, CONHP | Photo |
| October 2022 | Michele Pickering | Landscape Manager, Facilities Management | Photo |
| September 2022 | Julie Whitaker | Energy and Sustainability Coordinator, Facilities Management | Photo |
| August 2022 | Christina Hearne | Director, Access and Accommodation Resource Center | Photo |
| July 2022 | Denise Aponte | Director of Student Accounts | Photo |
| June 2022 | Kristin Flodder | Administrative Assistant, Music and Theatre | Photo |
| May 2022 | Adam Klos | Parking and Transportation Manager | Photo |
| April 2022 | Stephanie Kinkade | Assistant Director of Student Services, Graduate School | Photo |
| March 2022 | Bob Sokol | Technical Equipment Specialist, College of Engineering | Photo |
| February 2022 | Ann Weitgenant | Associate Director of Financial Aid | Photo |
| January 2022 | Paul Lapsansky | Director of Technical Services, IT | Photo |
| December 2021 | Katrina Brechner | Degree Audit Coordinator, Registrar | Photo |
| November 2021 | Christine Mileusnich | Building Service Technician, Facilities Management (ARC) | Photo |
| October 2021 | Kaila Neasman | Instructional Technologist and Blackboard Administrator | Photo |
| September 2021 | Jodi Gass | Administrative Assistant, CONHP (PA Program) | Photo |
| August 2021 | Daniela Trajceski | Program Coordinator for International & Global Engagement | Photo |
| July 2021 | Angie Taylor | Administrative Assistant, Valparaiso University Center for the Arts | Photo |
| June 2021 | Ryan Bye | Director, Student Involvement & New Student Programs | Photo |
| May 2021 | Colette Williams | Coordinator, Accounts Payable, Finance Office | Photo |
| April 2021 | Jennifer Smolnicky | Academic Advisor, CONHP | Photo |
| March 2021 | Alyssa Darrol | Assistant Registrar, Office of the Registrar | Photo |
| February 2021 | Lisa Dorsey | Office Manager, Counseling Center | Photo |
| January 2021 | Jean Marshall | Supervisor, Building Services, Facilities Management | Photo |
| December 2020 | Mary Patton | Manager of University Mail Services | Photo |
| November 2020 | Melanie Trowbridge | Associate Director of Continuous Improvement, IT | Photo |
| October 2020 | Laura Sanders | Director of the Hesse Learning Center, COE | Photo |
| September 2020 | Kelly Eshenaur | Director of the Health Center | Photo |
| August 2020 | Bonnie Dahlke Goebbert | Asst. Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Student Life | Photo |
| July 2020 | Dave Sierkowski | Chief Information Office, IT | Photo |
| June 2020 | All Staff | Service during COVID-19 Pandemic | |
| May 2020 | Ali Urbanczyk | Registrar, Office of the Registrar | Photo |
| April 2020 | Kevin Steele | Director of Instructional Technology, Design & Assessment, VITAL | Photo |
| March 2020 | Emily Prough | Sr. Coordinator of International Student Services, OIP | Photo |
| February 2020 | Carrie Whittier | Asst. Dean of Students for Greek Life, Leadership and Volunteer Programs, Student Affairs | Photo |
| January 2020 | Ron Taylor | Building Service Technician, Facilities Management | Photo |
| December 2019 | Doug Rogers & Eric Kwiecien | Maintenance Services Technicians, FM | Photo |
| November 2019 | Rich Miller | Technical Support Specialist, IT | Photo |
| October 2019 | Jon Hendricks | Director of University Photography & Videography | Photo |
| September 2019 | Alan Mangene | Building Service Technician, Facilities Management | Photo |
| August 2019 | Carol Goss | Director, Language Resource Center | Photo |
| July 2019 | Carrie Palkovich | Director of Transfer Enrollment, Admissions | Photo |
| June 2019 | Heather Kimes-Perez | Manager, Student Mail Center | Photo |
| May 2019 | Theresa Kark | Facility and Set-Up Coordinator, Harre Union | Photo |
| April 2019 | Brian Innes | Maintenance Services Technician A, FM | Photo |
| March 2019 | Cassie Hopkins | Director of University Events, Office of the President | Photo |
| February 2019 | Mark Webber | Transportation Service Driver, Transportation | Photo |
| January 2019 | Gail Beischer | Founders Server/Cashier, Dining Services | Photo |
| December 2018 | Shelby Topping | Administrative Assistant, CAS | Photo |
