Regents honor recipients of University Staff Excellence Awards (day 2 news summary)

Friday, October 6, 2023

RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents today honored the recipients of the third annual University Staff Excellence Awards. These awards recognize exceptional service to the university and are the UW System’s highest recognition bestowed on members of its university staff.

“Their outstanding work – along with the work of university staff systemwide – strengthens and invigorates not only our UW institutions, but the communities in which they serve,” said Regent Angela Adams, who chaired the awards selection committee.

Award recipients are selected for superior performance resulting in significant contributions to the department and university; use of positive personal interaction to manage work changes; and a consistently innovative approach that improves productivity and work quality. Each recipient is awarded $7,500 to support professional development or program enhancements.

The 2023 recipients include two individuals and one program:

  • Dale Lovejoy, Power Plant Superintendent, Facilities Management, UW-Parkside

Dale Lovejoy started his career as a boiler technician for the U.S. Navy and joined UW-Parkside in 1994. Serving as the university’s power plant superintendent since 1998, he manages the daily operations of the most critical building on campus and is responsible for the utility distribution that is the basis for a safe and comfortable learning environment.

Lovejoy was unavailable to attend the presentation due to on-campus commitments.

  • Carrie Kline, Library Circulation Supervisor, University Library, UW-Stevens Point

Carrie Kline, who joined UW-Stevens Point in 2018, told Regents that libraries are dedicated to the belief that everyone should have access to knowledge. She thanked those who encouraged her to “dream of the kind of library we want most and how we can build it.”

Kline said she has measured her time over the past few years in major transitions. “As you may have noticed, things just keep happening,” she said, adding that library services continually adapted. “The people who kept the library doors open and the lights on were student workers,” said Kline, adding that students were “front and center” in advocating for a new building.

She also credited the entire library team for its devotion to students. “I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished,” she said.

Kline leads the daily operations of the Circulation department of the University Library, supervising and scheduling about 25 students and 100 hours of building operations per week.

  • University Dining Services, UW-Stout

“The staff in Dining Services are dedicated individuals there to serve the students, day in and day out,” said Director of Dining Justin Krahn, noting his gratitude to accept the award on behalf of the team.

Krahn said the Dining Services staff make it a priority to embed themselves in the overall campus experience and collaborate with other university staff partners to help create a sense of community and belonging.

UW-Stout operates one of just five self-operated dining services in the UW System.

Krahn also said he is proud of the work all university staff do at UW-Stout and he’s grateful for recognition of those efforts.

Other members of the University Staff Excellence Awards selection committee included Regents Edmund Manydeeds III, Jennifer Staton, and Kyle Weatherly.

In other action, the Board of Regents:

  • Approved a resolution of appreciation for UW-River Falls’ hosting of the October 2023 meeting;
  • Approved the UW System Program Revenue Balances Report for fiscal year 2023;
  • Approved a 10-year master research agreement at UW-Madison with GE Precision Healthcare;
  • Approved a UW-Milwaukee license agreement with T-Mobile Central;
  • Approved an amendment to UW System’s agreement with Huron Consulting Group to increase the number of hours of professional services provided to the project;
  • Approved UW-Green Bay’s request for a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, which will be a professional degree offered exclusively online;
  • Approved UW-Madison’s request to elevate three subplan options for the Bachelor of Business Administration to the full degree level – the B.B.A. in Business: Entrepreneurship; B.B.A. in Business: Human Resources Management; and B.B.A. in Business: Management;
  • Approved the appointment of Aaron Perry as one of four public members on the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Oversight and Advisory Committee (OAC) of the Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP);
  • Approved UW-Superior’s request for authority to execute a pre-development agreement for the development of an indoor turf fieldhouse and ancillary private development on the campus;
  • Approved UW System’s request for authority to construct an all agency maintenance and repair project at UW Oshkosh, renovating Scott Hall’s Restaurant within the high-rise student residence facility;
  • Approved UW System’s request for authority to construct a minor facilities renewal project to install new sprinkler distribution piping and heads throughout the Animal Science, Educational Sciences, and Teacher Education buildings at UW-Madison to provide complete building coverage;
  • Approved UW-Madison’s request for authority to enter into a lease of office space for the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) at St. Mary’s Hospital located in Madison, Wisconsin;
  • Approves UW-La Crosse’s request for authority to complete the design and construct the Center for the Arts Parking Ramp and Police Building Addition project.

 

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents meeting will next meet on November 9, 2023, in Madison.