Faculty and staff honored at the annual Employee Recognition Luncheon included: left to right, Linda Relyea, Greg Cook, Randall Smith, Uriah Valdez, Curtis Howell, Liz Bosworth, Frank Novotny, Lorraine Aragon, Eileen Tilton, Dianne Lee, Kristy Duran, Penny Sanders, Patti Ortiz, Nick Saenz, Jenna Nielsen, Beth Bonnstetter, Debra Ehrlich, Richard Goddard, Rick Baker, Chris Olance, Pat Robbins, Katie Suttles, Liz Hensley, Chris Monaghan, Lisa Strobeck, Judy Phillips, Ed Crowther, James Trujillo, Shannon Heersink, Brenda Wilson, and Tony Romero.
Patti Ortiz received a standing ovation for forty years of service at the annual Adams State University Employee Recognition Luncheon.
Other recognitions included faculty who received promotions: Dr. Nick Saenz, associate professor of history; Dr. Jared Thiemann, associate professor of counselor education; Dr. Kristy Duran, professor of biology; Jenna Neilsen, professor of theatre.
Tenure was awarded to: Dr. Melissa Milner, associate professor nursing; Saenz, and Thiemann.
Faculty and staff honored for Years of Service includes: Forty Years: Patti Ortiz, Computing Services customer support coordinator; Thirty Years: Dr. Ed Crowther, History, Anthropology, Philosophy, Political Science, and Spanish Department chair and professor of history; Damon Martin, Cross Country and Track and Field programs director; Lisa Strobeck, Extended Studies administrative assistant II; Twenty-Five Years: Anthony Gallegos, custodian; Belén Maestas, registrar; Dr. Frank Novotny, professor of chemistry; Twenty Years: Greg Cook, Student Business Services director; Rodney Martinez, custodian supervisor; Dr. Matt Nehring, acting president and interim vice president for Academic Affairs; Chris Olance, Computing Services manager of support systems; Judy Phillips, assistant vice president for Extended Studies; Linda Relyea, assistant director of communications; Mark Schoenecker, digital media producer; Fifteen Years: Shannon Heersink, assistant director of Human Resources; Dr. Stephanie Hilwig, professor of sociology; Dana Provence, professor of art; Katie Suttles, budget support coordinator; Phil Schroeder, Financial Aid director; James Trujillo, executive assistant to the president.
Ten Years: Dr. Beth Bonnstetter, associate professor of communications; Caryn Chavez, HPPE administrative assistant III; Dr. Comfort Cover, assistant professor of management information systems; Debra Ehrlich, Extended Studies administrative assistant II; Mike Henderson, web application developer; Dr. Liz Hensley, professor of marketing and MBA director; Dianne Lee, associate athletic director/senior women administrator; Mark Melgares, grounds and nursery I; Dr. Beth Robison, Music Department chair and professor of music; Dr. Pat Robbins, School of Business chair and professor of business; Randall Smith, Computing Services senior systems administrator; Brenda Wilson, Housing and Residence Life administrative assistant II. Five Years: Liz Bosworth, coordinator of First Year Immersion; Curtis Howell, first year seminar instructor; Melissa Milner, associate professor and chair of the Nursing Program; Chris Monaghan, custodian; Dr. Nick Saenz, professor of history; Dr. Penny Sanders, assistant vice president of Graduate Studies; and Dr. Jared Thiemann, professor of counselor education.
Inadvertently, the following employees were not recognized in 2017 for their years of service: Lorraine Aragon, custodian I, ten years; and Jessie Chavez, custodian II, five years; and Uriah Valdez, Welcome Center coordinator, five years.
Dr. Rick Baker, professor of English; Dr. Ed Crowther, Department Chair for History, Anthropology, Philosophy, Political Science, and Spanish and professor of history; and Dr. Dick Goddard, professor of government, are retiring and received emeritus status.
Additional retirements include Kurt Cary, chief operations officer; Larry Joe Hunt, head coach for women’s basketball; Dr. Tony Romero, professor of teacher education; and Eileen Tilton, HAPPSS administrative assistant III.
Jenna Neilsen, professor of HPPE, received the Exemplary Performance Award.
