Bishops Who Shine

Ohio Wesleyan Employees Thea Smekens, Elaine Chun Win 2024 Staff Council Awards

³Ô¹ÏÍø honored two staff members Jan. 9 with SPARK and STAR awards recognizing that each employee "beams with Bishop Pride, is hard-working, supportive, positive, and always on their A-Game."

Thea Smekens, OWU's director of First-Generation Student Success, received the SPARK Award, which recognizes an inspiring employee who has worked for the university for five years or less. Elaine Chun, multimedia technology services manager, earned the STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) Award, which annually recognizes one employee for outstanding contributions to the OWU and Delaware communities. Both winners were selected from nominations made by their campus colleagues.

A Bright SPARK

President Matt vandenBerg announced both awards, sharing first that Smekens is "utterly unstoppable" in her work to support students who are the first in their family to attend college.

In her role, Smekens oversees the program, created in 2023 to "empower and support first-generation students on their journey to academic excellence, personal growth, and professional success" through "tailored programs and experiences that promote academic excellence and the development of essential life skills."

Dwayne Todd, vice president for Student Engagement and Success, spoke about the tremendous impact Smekens has made in her director's role, noting that when he learned she was the 2024 SPARK Award winner, "My immediate reaction was, 'Of course, she is.'"

And one of Smekens' multiple award nominators shared that she "has given first-gen students and first-gen programming a 'face and space' on this campus, taking it from a small, fledgling idea and 'nice-to-offer programming' option and elevating it to be an important and recognized aspect of the OWU experience."

A Brilliant STAR

In announcing OWU's 2024 STAR, vandenBerg shared that Chun excelled in all award categories in her work overseeing the university's audiovisual, webstreaming, and related services:

• Going above and beyond her normal job responsibilities, earning trust and respect from her colleagues.
• Making a positive impact on faculty, staff, students, and/or trustees.
• Exemplifying the pride and spirit of Ohio Wesleyan and the outside community.
• Continuously demonstrating dedication to OWU.

vandenBerg said Chun's dedication regularly includes running from assignment to assignment to ensure that OWU puts its best foot forward in a timely fashion. "She literally races to help people," he said.

In helping to honor OWU's newest STAR, Nancy Bihl Rutkowski, senior associate director of Alumni and Family Engagement, shared, "Some people are so iconic they only need a single name for us to immediately recognize them: Prince, Adele, Beyonce' ... Elaine!"

To explain why Chun, who joined the university in 2008, is such an OWU icon, Rutkowski asked campus colleagues for their input. Responses included that Chun is "gifted at her work, dependable, and reliable," that she is "humbly committed," and that she "manages complicated schedules and tasks like a boss."

In addition, one of Chun's multiple award nominators noted that: "I imagine most of us can think of an event we were holding where Elaine came to the rescue. Classes guest speakers, meetings, student presentations, and other events would have not succeeded at a level anywhere near where they did without her assistance. She is a hidden gem!"

In addition to honoring the SPARK and STAR award winners, OWU Staff Council and the Office of Human Resources also celebrated milestone anniversaries during the luncheon event, and President vandenBerg thanked everyone for their tireless dedication to Ohio Wesleyan's students.

With the event falling on the National Day of Mourning for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, vandenBerg noted the care Carter showed others throughout his life and the lesson it provides for everyone.

"True greatness … comes from the difference we make in the lives of the others who are around us," vandenBerg said, telling all OWU staff members, "You each are changing lives … and you, specifically, matter."

2024 Service Milestones

During the staff celebration, several Ohio Wesleyan employees were recognized for reaching service milestones over the past year. Those honored were:

One Year

• Kristen Astorian – STEM and Pre-Health Career Catalyst
• Janie Bailey – Public Safety Officer
• Josie Bair – Executive Director, OWL Program
• Kolby Brock – President's Office Post-Graduate Assistant
• Tobias Cook – General Maintenance Technician
• Jamal David – Assistant Director of Transfer Admission
• Kiona Dyches – Assistant Director of Social Media and Digital Communications
• Michel Ge – New York Arts Program Coordinator
• Cheston Gray – Clinical Counselor
• Melissa Grimes – Assistant Marching Band Director
• Lauren Hensley – Director of Holistic Advising
• Zdenko Juskuv – Bishop Access and Writing Center Consultant
• John Knotts – Admission Counselor
• Julie Lapp – Advancement Data Coordinator
• Kari Lidencamp – Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Finance and Administration
• Deb Lovell – Academic Assistant
• Jonathan Maldonado – Residential Life Coordinator
• Mayson Martin – Network Technician
• Ryan Masterson – Senior Director of Financial Innovation, Planning, and Budget
• Abbey McMaster – Assistant Director of Admission
• Michaela Nelson – Assistant Field Hockey Coach
• Kyle Pellegrin – Physics Lab Manager and Instructor
• Tara Pena – Admission Counselor
• Jack Prim – Studio Art Technician
• Matt Rice – Assistant Men's Lacrosse Coach
• Lee Richards – Registrar
• Joshua Seiders – Academic Assistant
• Thea Smekens – Director of First-Generation Student Success
• Adam Smith – Vice President for Enrollment
• Lawrence Smith – Student Mailroom Associate
• Amaya Smith – Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach
• Abby Stoner – Assistant Director of Athletics
• Matt vandenBerg – President
• Chris Yates – Director of the Ross Art Museum
• Allison Zang – Controller

Five Years

• Sean Bolender – Director of Public Safety
• Julia Brooker – Bishop ACCESS Program Coordinator
• Kristin Crosby – Director of International Admission
• Karen Crosman – Lifelong Learning Institute Coordinator
• Leigh Ann Emmons – Administrative Assistant to the Provost
• Helena Enders – New York Arts Program Director of Student Life, Recruiter
• Beth Fedoush – Academic Assistant
• Mandy Gettman – Associate Director of Advancement
• Casey King – Assistant Football Coach
• Dennis Kline – Assistant Track & Field Coach
• Ericka Kurtz – Director of University Advancement Communications
• Leigh Mascolino – Director of Career Connection
• Brandi McCreary – Facilities Office Manager
• Paige Messersmith – Head Women's Lacrosse Coach
• Francis O'Brien – Bus Driver
• Bethany Reed – Assistant Men's and Women's Swim & Dive Coach
• Matt Weiss – Assistant Men's Soccer Coach
• Robert Wood – Public Safety Officer

10 Years

• Kirsta Cobb – Head Women's Volleyball Coach
• Paula Eyerman – Senior Associate Director of Advancement Operations and Data
• Tammi Hall – Assistant Men's and Women's Swim & Dive Coach
• Will Kopp – Chief Communications Officer
• Carolyn Lammert – Assistant Director, Career Catalyst
• Melissa Nelson – Payroll and HRIS Manager

15 Years

• Lisa Tabak – Laboratory Manager

20 Years

• Darrell Albon – Director of International and Off-Campus Programs
• Emilie Clark – Executive Director of the New York Arts Program
• Shane De Wiggins – Grounds Supervisor
• Lisa Ho – Associate Director of International and Off-Campus Programs

25 Years

• Dale Brugh – Associate Provost
• Mike DeWitt – Head Men's Basketball Coach

40 Years

• Mark Beckenbach – Associate Director of Media Relations/Sports Information Director
• Fody Frentsos – Coordinator of Athletic Facilities and Equipment