Annual awards honor exceptional staff

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The First-Year Enrichment Instructional Team

The 11th annual RIT Staff Recognition Awards were held Oct. 17. The awards are given to individuals or teams who have excelled in the performance of their duties and created a positive environment for all members of the RIT community.

This year’s honorees are: Karen Barrows, Office of the President. According to information provided on nomination forms: “Karen is an exceptional person in every regard. She practices our core values every day and is intent on her own professional development, including completing her MBA. Her ideas are often adopted because they are innovative and offer flexibility in solving issues. Her ethics and integrity are unquestioned, and she is always respectful of others and will try to represent their views in a constructive manner. Karen delivers under every circumstance.”

The First-Year Enrichment Instructional Team—Joshua Bauroth, Lisa Bodenstedt, Daniele Conners, Collette Shaw, Phillippa Thiuri and Karen Violanti. One nominator says: “Serving incoming first-year students through the design and teaching of the FYE program, the instructional team maintains a focus on serving students and preparing them for success at RIT. Throughout the curriculum as well as in the administration of the program, the instructional team emphasizes integrity, ethical behavior, diversity and pluralism efforts, leadership and teamwork. The outstanding professionalism of this team of dedicated FYE instructors demystifies higher education and makes the first-year experience a positive opportunity for the students to become as successful as they desire.” Linda Marsden, Campus Connections Bookstore.

Comments about Linda Marsden included: “Linda is an exemplary individual when it comes to the spirit of RIT. Her focus is consistently 100 percent every hour, every day, every week, every year when it comes to students on this campus. Whether it is selling paint brushes to freshman or fitting them with commencement regalia when they graduate, Linda always has the students’ best interest in mind. Linda has faithfully served our community for the past 29 years. She, like so many other wonderful RIT employees, operates everyday to make us a success. She has done so faithfully and without self-promotion, without conflict and without incident.”

Rohan Palma, Northstar Center. “A true advocate of student success first and foremost, Rohan’s dedication to students is immeasurable. Over the past five years, he has always maintained an open door policy,” a nominator says. Palma adds: “I am lucky to have a job that allows me to make a difference and achieve my life goals. I am most proud of all the students that I have helped graduate from RIT and those who took another path to success in my 12 years at RIT. Helping students to overcome their personal challenges and fulfill their dreams has been very rewarding.”

Barry Robinson, mechanical engineering, Kate Gleason College of Engineering. One nominator states: “Barry Robinson has supported numerous students through the judicial affairs process, insuring that even students who have made some bad decisions are treated with respect and have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. He has built a network of peers across the campus and contributed to the true sense of RIT spirit. He worked to promote recent success in student retention with other departments in the college and across campus.” One parent writes: “When our family first toured RIT in the spring of 2006, we were comfortable with our son’s decision to attend RIT. After our experience working with Barry, we are more certain than ever that our son has made the right choice. Mr. Robinson is truly an asset to his students and a credit to your institution.”

Dancy Duffus, RIT trustee emeritus, presented the second annual Dancy Duffus Outstanding Citizenship Award, which recognizes staff members who consistently demonstrate a high degree of excellence, professionalism and integrity in the performance of their duties, and who have proven their willingness to extend themselves to help other members of the RIT community.

This year’s award was presented to Dawn Soufleris, assistant vice president of student affairs. Comments included: “Dawn has exceptionally contributed to the Division of Student Affairs in a variety of ways and on a daily basis. She cares about students and works diligently to try and help students who have made some not-so-great decisions in hopes of helping them learn, grow and mature. Without a doubt, Dawn exemplifies the spirit of this award. Much of her work in student conduct is managing crisis situations on a regular basis. Dawn handles all of these with ease and with unfailing good nature. She is quick to respond appropriately, with compassion, care and excellent judgment, while helping students learn from their mistakes and move on in a productive fashion.”