CASL Staff Recognition Awardees

I am nominating April for her help developing the Social Sciences and the StEEP program webpages. The SSCI site in particular took a lot of back-and-forth because we kept refining things, and April was incredibly patient and supportive through the whole process. She really listened to our feedback, proposed solutions that fit what we actually wanted (instead of a one-size-fits-all approach), and did her best to advocate for us with the main web team when changes were harder to implement. Thanks to her work, both main and child web pages look great!

Since Stephanie joined Social Sciences department in November 2024, she’s really transformed how the office operates. Stephanie helped to run everything smoothly and efficiently, and she does it with a positive attitude—always kind, upbeat, and smiling even when things get tough. She is very reliable and proactive, and I really appreciate her for that!

I am pleased to nominate Steve Spinosa for the CASL All Staff Loyalty Award. Since joining CASL he has quickly become an essential part of our operations, demonstrating professionalism, initiative, and a strong commitment to excellence.

In a short time, Steve has developed a solid understanding of our academic administrative processes and consistently ensures that day-to-day operations run smoothly, often anticipating needs before they arise and addressing challenges with efficiency and attention to detail. He has worked tirelessly this last month covering two roles while he is still newer himself. Additionally, he brings a collaborative and positive presence to the team. He communicates clearly and professionally with faculty and staff, building strong working relationships and fostering a supportive environment. He is very reliable and willing to step in wherever needed.

Despite being new to the role, Steve has made a significant impact in the Department of Natural Sciences in CASL and I just want to thank him for all that he has done.

I am pleased to nominate Kyle Sutherland, Senior Advisor with CASL Advising, for the "Celebrating All Staff Loyalty" award. 

Kyle is an exceptional colleague and advisor. As Graduate Director for the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program, which includes our Accelerated 4+1 Program, I frequently call upon Kyle for advising assistance for our undergraduate, 4+1, and traditional graduate students. I can say based on experience that Kyle consistently goes above and beyond to support CASL students, educating them about their degree requirements and advising them on viable pathways to graduation that meet their goals and timelines. Indeed, I'm certain that Kyle plays a crucial role in helping our CASL students get to graduation. Given that many CASL students have taken nontraditional routes to earn a college degree, such as transferring from community college or returning later in life, and that many of our CASL students are the first in their family to attend college, without Kyle's expertise, problem-solving skills, and compassion, I suspect a number of students would give up on their dream of earning a UM-Dearborn diploma. Beyond supporting our students, Kyle is highly collaborative and supportive of our faculty and programs. I cannot speak highly enough about Kyle.

Nicholas works hard to support the dean's office administrative needs and he does it all with a smile. As a newer staff member, he has had to take on a lot of responsibilities for his position and get used to a lot of new systems in a short amount of time. I especially admire his event planning and coordination skills that were on display at the recent CASL Fall Social. The menu he planned and arranged was not only delicious, but it also went perfectly with the cocktail dining style of the event and accommodated a lot of different dietary needs. 

I appreciate the amount of work he's done in supporting the Honors Program administrative needs. Once he's trained on a task, he is able to take full ownership of the process from start to finish, and he anticipates what needs to be done in the future. He also has the rare talent of being able to resolve issues before they happen, and he consistently assesses his own work to see what he can improve upon for the next time. I appreciate that he is confident enough to ask questions as a learner, and that he expresses thanks to anyone taking the time out their day to help. I enjoy working with such a shining star on the Dean's Office team!

I am writing to express my deepest appreciation for Sharon Rose from the LCA department. Despite her already busy schedule, Sharon Rose graciously took the time to serve on the hiring committee for our new administrative assistant position for the Dean's office, showcasing an extraordinary level of dedication and commitment. 

Sharon Rose's ability to balance her duties in LCA while providing impactful support to our search process reflects her exemplary work ethic and collaborative spirit. Her willingness to contribute so generously and her commitment to the success of the hiring process left a significant and lasting impression on our entire office.

We consider ourselves truly fortunate to have Sharon Rose as part of our broader community. Her dedication and hard work have been invaluable to us, and we are incredibly fortunate to have her as a part of our college. Thank you once again for your outstanding contributions.

We have quite a few new members of our team in CASL. Rachel has taken the lead to not only train the new (and current) staff on the class scheduling process and systems, but she has made herself available for office hours and answering questions even when her job keeps her very busy. 

Rachel, I appreciate all that you do and want to THANK YOU for your dedication and leadership.

I would like to formally acknowledge Elisa for her outstanding performance and invaluable contributions to her department. Serving as the sole support staff, Elisa has consistently excelled in managing a multitude of tasks with remarkable proficiency.

Most notably, her proactive involvement in the meticulous preparation of two promotion and tenure casebooks, while simultaneously supporting two different administrators, stands as a testament to her dedication and professionalism. Elisa's unwavering commitment, adaptability, and exceptional work ethic have not gone unnoticed.

The Dean's office deeply appreciates her exemplary efforts and the significant impact she has made. 

Christine is an incredibly hard worker that always goes above and beyond in her role and in helping so many other people within CASL. Since coming on board, she has brought tenacity, kindness, and true care & concern into everything she does within CASL - and that's a lot; from managing our wonderful staff to serving on staff senate.

Not only is she diligent with her work and consistently communicative, she is always reliable. I know I can count on her to help out - whether it's getting an answer about something random, stepping up to chip in anywhere she can, or just simply being there to listen and help anyone. I feel lucky to be able to work alongside her in the dean's office and that she is part of our CASL team - she has become a trusted colleague who keeps confidences and someone who is so very valued in her role and as a person!

I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for the exceptional work that Lori Petrick has been doing as an Administrative Specialist. Her dedication and professionalism have not gone unnoticed, and I am truly grateful for the positive impact she’s made on our team.

Lori has consistently gone above and beyond what is expected out of her since I started with CASL in January of this year. Lori is the administrative specialist for the Department of Language, Culture, and the Art, which is one of our largest departments in CASL. She has not only onboarded a new administrative assistant for LCA (the lovely Sharon Rose), but she has also been helping me onboard and train the new integrated administrative assistant that started in July (the newbie Neal). Lori recently has taken time to schedule and host a training for Neal, Sharon Rose, and me about how to set up casebooks in Interfolio. This is just one example of the time that she has taken out of her busy schedule to ensure that we are all trained appropriately.

Her organizational skills and attention to detail have been instrumental in ensuring that LCAs operations run smoothly. Whether it's managing schedules, coordinating meetings, or handling complex administrative tasks, she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure everything is executed flawlessly. Her proactive approach and problem-solving abilities are qualities that set her apart.

Thank you Lori for your hard work and commitment. It’s a pleasure to work with someone who demonstrates such a high level of competence and enthusiasm.