Courtesy of Columbia College Photographer and Graphic Designer Abigail Wade, please view the full 2023 Columbia College Employee Appreciation Luncheon photo gallery here.
As the 2022-23 school year enters its final stretch, Columbia College faculty and staff gathered Wednesday, March 22, at Southwell Gymnasium for the annual Employee Appreciation Luncheon. Main campus employees, as well as directors and program coordinators from the college’s more than 40 locations nationwide, were in attendance to celebrate the dedication, passion and talent of their peers.
Following a delicious meal provided by Aladdin Campus Dining, Chief Human Resources Officer Patty Fischer officially welcomed attendees and began the festivities. President Dr. David Russell took the stage next, recognizing not only employees who achieved service time landmarks at the college, but all faculty and staff who played a pivotal role in day-to-day operations.
Employees who have achieved between five and 40 years of service time at CC were welcomed with a round of applause as they crossed the stage to greet Dr. Russell and receive an award packet. Fischer then closed the first portion of the event by awarding Dr. Terry Smith the Trustees Award for Teaching Excellence. The honor is given to a full-time faculty member who demonstrates consistent excellence in the classroom and teaches rigorous classes with high academic expectations.
Columbia College Professor of Political Science Dr. Terry Smith receives the Trustees Award for Teaching Excellence. Photo by Columbia College Photographer and Graphic Designer Abigail Wade.
Next, a trio of Staff Association Advisory Council members took the stage to award four Staff Achievement Awards. Student Conduct Officer Jessica Sprague was recognized with the Professional Excellence Award, Vice President for Facilities Operations Cliff Jarvis garnered the Community Service Award and CC-Fort Worth Assistant Director Jared Opoien received the Global Cougar Achievement Award.
Photos by Columbia College Photographer & Graphic Designer Abigail Wade
Dr. Russell returned to the stage to personally award the two recipients of the first-ever Presidential Award of Excellence. Assistant Director of Location Operations Erin Glover and Senior Director of Campus Safety Dave Heffer were among a slew of contenders recognized by their peers through an internal nomination process, before ultimately being chosen as winners by Dr. Russell.
Photos by Columbia College Photographer & Graphic Designer Abigail Wade
As attendees of the Columbia College Global Leadership Conference traveled from the college’s locations spanning 15 states to its main campus in Columbia, Missouri, Vice President of Columbia College Global Dr. Shadel Hamilton took the podium to announce the winner of the Frazier Moon Location of the Year Award.
The honor recognizes the most outstanding Columbia College Global location for consistently achieving the highest standards of effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness and adherence to college policies and procedures. CC-Redstone Arsenal (Alabama) took home the top prize, as Director Paige Woods accepted the award and received a standing ovation from her Columbia College Global peers for the location’s accomplishments.
Columbia College-Redstone Arsenal (Alabama) Director Paige Woods receives the Columbia College Global Frazier Moon Location of the Year Award. Photo by Columbia College Photographer and Graphic Designer Abigail Wade.
Dr. Russell closed the afternoon’s festivities with a special unannounced recognition, as Assistant Provost for Accreditation and Assessment Dr. Suzanne Tourville was honored for her tireless work managing the Higher Learning Commission’s 10-year reaffirmation visit in mid-March.
Assistant Provost for Accreditation and Assessment Dr. Suzanne Tourville is recognized for her work with the Higher Learning Commission’s recent visit to main campus. Photo by Columbia College Photographer and Graphic Designer Abigail Wade.
Employees honored for their years of service during the event have combined to work 3,400 years and counting for the college. Below are the names of the more than 275 colleagues who received service awards:
5-Year Service Award Recipients:
- Kennedy Amofa, Assistant Professor – Business Administration
- John Atkinson, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Stewart, Georgia
- Keiyana Austin, Alumni Relations Coordinator
- Jason Ballance, Lead Custodian, Plant and Facilities
- Sougata Bardhan, Adjunct Faculty, Evening Campus
- Mark Baumgartner, Senior Video Production Strategist
- Irish Beckles, Adjunct Faculty, Jacksonville, Florida
- Anthony Bell, Adjunct Faculty, NAS Jacksonville, Florida
- Lois Bichler, Adjunct Faculty, Evening Campus
- Salah Boukhris, Adjunct Faculty, Denver, Colorado
- Stacey Brown, Adjunct Faculty, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Justin Burton, Help Desk Analyst, Technology Services
- William Bushnell, Associate Director, Evening Campus
- Jared Clark, Program Specialist, Columbia College Global
- Kerri Coley, Athletic Department Business Manager, Athletics
- Lawrence Cousins, Academic Advisor II, Marysville, Washington
- Michael Cross, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- James Culley, Student Support Assistant, Evening Campus
- Lisa Dennis, Adjunct Faculty, Jacksonville, Florida
- Ginger Devine, Director of Online Academic Support, Online Education
- Alissa Dolan, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- Kinsey Dona, Senior Director of CCG Academic & Operations, Columbia College Global
- Mary Dorn, Assistant Professor, Academic Affairs
- Nathan Eatherton, Deputy CIO / Senior Director of Project Management, Technology Services
- Cory Elfrink, Director, Rolla, Missouri
- Ileana Felipe, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Daniel Finn, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Robert Fisher, Adjunct Faculty, Lake County, Illinois
- Kelli Fram, Adjunct Faculty, Jefferson City, Missouri
- Catherine Fulkerson, Adjunct Faculty, Evening Campus
- Denise Gelina, Bursar, Business Office
- Chad Goings, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Jesus Gonzalez, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Worth, Texas
- Sandy Greene, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
- Scott Grieshaber, Adjunct Faculty, St. Louis, Missouri
- Sandra Hamar, Interim Dean / Associate Professor – Education
- Elizabeth Harris, Senior Student Success Coach, Student Success
- Roddy Hatch, Adjunct Faculty, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Emily Heckenkamp, Talent Development Specialist, Human Resources
- Deborah Holt, Adjunct Faculty, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
- Tim Howald, Adjunct Faculty, Evening Campus
- Toby Hummel, Senior Developer, Technology Services
- Charna Iommetti, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Michael Johnson, Program Coordinator, Moberly, Missouri
- Greg Kropkowski, Adjunct Faculty, Denver, Colorado
- Daniel Kruse, Adjunct Faculty, Evening Campus
- Shena Laymon-Frazier, Program Coordinator, Kings Bay, Georgia
- Deepti Manglik, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Jeffrey Marmorstein, Adjunct Faculty, St. Louis, Missouri
- Rachel Mazzocco, Adjunct Faculty, Evening Campus
- Dana McCollum Timms, Adjunct Faculty, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
- Melissa McConnell, Student Success Coach II, Student Success
- Craig McCoy, Adjunct Faculty, Evening Campus
- June McElroy, Compliance Officer, Institutional Compliance
- Stacy McNeill, Adjunct Faculty, Springfield, Missouri
- Malcolm McPherson, Lead Print Operations, Mail, Imaging & Printing
- Elizabeth Meister, Assistant Lab Coordinator, Academic Affairs
- Eric Merritt, Computer Programmer/Analyst, Technology Services
- Mary Miller, Assistant Professor – Education, Academic Affairs
- Heidi Monroe, Assistant Professor – Nursing, Academic Affairs
- Lauren Moriearty, Adjunct, Lake Ozark, Missouri
- Scott Myers, Adjunct, Online Education
- Kelly Nekvinda, Director, Lake County, Illinois
- Joseph Newberry, Adjunct Faculty, Lake Ozark, Missouri
- Jeff Nichols, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- Vicki Nichols, Assistant Director, Lake County, Illinois
- Blake Nielsen, Assistant Professor – Human Services, Psychology & Sociology
- Katherine Orf, Certification Officer & Data Collection Coordinator, Academic Affairs
- Bryan Page, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- Juan Parra, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Joshua Pearson, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Victoria Petro-Eschler, Adjunct Faculty, Salt Lake City, Utah
- David Proper, Adjunct Faculty, Denver, Colorado
- Dawn Putnam, Adjunct Faculty, Jefferson City, Missouri
- Timmithy Randle, Adjunct Faculty, Kansas City, Missouri
- Victoria Rollins Ballew, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- Guillermo Salgado, Program Coordinator, Imperial Valley, California
- Carolyn Savoldy, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Dusti Schnedler, Assistant Director of Institutional Compliance, Institutional Compliance
- Rebekah Schnell, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- Stephen Schwalbe, Adjunct Faculty, Whidbey Island, Washington
- Donald Scruggs, Adjunct Faculty, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
- Shahen Shahoumian, Adjunct Faculty Marysville, Washington
- Michael Smith, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Jessica Sprague, Student Conduct Officer, Student Affairs
- Jessica Stoermer, Accessibility Coordinator, Student Affairs
- Jean Strafford, Adjunct Faculty, Marysville, Washington
- J Robert Streit, Director, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
- Brent Tabor, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Michelle Tharenos, Senior Coordinator for Campus Life, Student Affairs
- Shariske Thomas, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Stewart, Georgia
- Ladonna Turner, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Worth, Texas
- Melita Walker, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- Veronica Young, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Worth, Texas
- Kenneth Zahringer, Adjunct Faculty, Evening Campus
- Megan Zeller, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
10-Year Service Award Recipients:
- Wendie Albert, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Joseph Angley, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Nathanael Arbuckle, Senior Instructional Designer, Online Education
- Adriana Ardolino, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Shannon Beshears, Senior Evaluator, Office of the Registrar
- Kathleen Bowersox, Associate Provost, Academic Operations, Academic Affairs
- Michael Brandolino, Adjunct, Online Education
- Kenneth Brodersen, Senior Director of Marketing, Marketing
- Salvatore Buzzurro, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Stewart, Georgia
- Rose Carter, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Shelly Claybrook, Student Support Assistant, Online Student Services
- Lascelles Davis, Adjunct Faculty, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Teresa Dishman, Senior Plant & Facilities Coordinator, Plant and Facilities
- Lance Ennen, Senior Admissions Operations Analyst, Admissions
- Angela Freeman, Adjunct Faculty, Rolla, Missouri
- Steven Freenor, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Stewart, Georgia
- Paul Gill, Reporting Analyst, Institutional Research
- Erin Glover, Assistant Director – Location Operations, Columbia College Global
- Sarah Goeke, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Melissa Hanstein, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- David Harris, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Troy Hawk, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Rachel Heilman, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Amy Johns, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Khaled Khalifa, Adjunct Faculty, Marysville, Washington
- Danielle King, Assistant Director, Lake Ozark, Missouri
- Danielle Langdon, Associate Professor – Visual Arts & Music, Academic Affairs
- Kera Lawson, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Christopher Lee, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Mindy Levin, Lead Systems Analyst, Technology Services
- Kevin Liden, Adjunct Faculty, Lake County, Illinois
- Bryan Liebhart, Investigator, Enrollment Management & Marketing
- Samuel Lopez, Adjunct Faculty, Elgin, Illinois
- Jessica Lucas, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- Tara Martin, Associate Professor – Physical & Biological Sciences, Academic Affairs
- Seth Mason, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Scott McMahon, Associate Professor – Visual Arts & Music, Academic Affairs
- Peter Monacell, Associate Professor – Language & Communication Studies, Academic Affairs
- Dianna Montfort, Senior Academic Advisor I, Orlando, Florida
- Steven Muller, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Enrique Muruato, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
- Darin Oswalt, Director of Network Services, Technology Services
- Jeffrey Otterstetter, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- David Paltin, Adjunct Faculty, Los Alamitos, California
- Bridgett Payseur, Adjunct Faculty, Lake Ozark, Missouri
- Jason Powers Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Carmen Price, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- George Rickerson, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Suzanne Rothwell, Vice President of Advancement, Advancement
- Theresa Rowland, Academic Advisor I, Jefferson City, Missouri
- Stacy Rowlett, Adjunct Faculty, NAS Jacksonville, Florida
- Molly Sartorius, Clinical Director for Counseling Services, Student Affairs
- Allen Schelp, Controller, Business Office
- Marjorie Schlesinger, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Gloria Sellers, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Worth, Texas
- Peter Sherman, Adjunct Faculty, Lake County, Illinois
- Mark Spaid, Adjunct Faculty, St. Louis, Missouri
- Carthel Starks, Director, NAS Jacksonville, Florida
- Diana Taylor, Senior Academic Advisor I, Orlando, Florida
- Janet Trent, Evaluator, Office of the Registrar
- Armando Valdes Rivera, Adjunct Faculty, Lake County, Illinois
- James Viviano, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Robert Wallace, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Kathleen Willows, Events Coordinator, Events
- Alyssa Young, Military Services Associate, Office of the Registrar
15-Year Service Award Recipients:
- James Adams, Adjunct Faculty, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Ronald Aikens, Adjunct Faculty, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Donny Bagwell, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Samuel Bartlett, Adjunct Faculty, NAS Jacksonville, Florida
- Matthew Bevans, Senior Instructional Tech & AV Engineer, Technology Services
- Dara Booth, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Kimberly Boren Dumas, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Audrey Brown, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Stephanie Bucy, Adjunct Faculty, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Kimberly Calvert, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Robert Carden, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Sonya Carney, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Carlie Carson, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Kimberly Champion, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Manzoor Chowdhury, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Terry Clark, Adjunct Faculty, Orlando, Florida
- Kelly Clarkin, Adjunct Faculty, St. Louis, Missouri
- Johanna Denzin, Professor – Language & Communication Studies, Academic Affairs
- Danielle Douglas, Associate Director, Financial Aid
- Tamra Ellermeier, Senior Academic Advisor I, Denver, Colorado
- Kenneth Felts, Associate Professor – Computer/Mathematical Sciences, Academic Affairs
- Christopher Finn, Adjunct Faculty – Graduate, Academic Affairs
- Brian Ford, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Michael Fues, Senior Programmer Analyst, Technology Services
- Paul Gaasbeck, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
- Ashley Gosseen, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- John Hammill, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Darin Hand, Director, Whidbey Island, Washington
- Bethany Holt, Training Associate, Office of the Registrar
- Jason Hunnicutt, Adjunct Faculty, Jefferson City, Missouri
- Fresa Jacobs, Senior Instructional Systems Designer, Online Education
- David Karr, Professor – Criminal Justice, History, Philosophy and Political Science, Academic Affairs
- Robert Klausmeyer, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Mary Loggins, Adjunct Faculty, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Thomas Longo, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Kathleen McNamara, Adjunct Faculty, Elgin, Illinois
- Nathan Miller, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Sarah Mounter, Science Lab Manager, Academic Affairs
- Andrea Mourey, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Melissa Poole, Online Program Coordinator, Online Education
- Andrew Reeves, Director, Evening Campus
- Linda Rios, Senior Student Success Coach, Student Success
- Tracey Rollins, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Patricia Rooney, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Christopher Ruckoldt, Adjunct Faculty, Crystal Lake, Illinois
- Tonya Ruffin, Adjunct Faculty, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Luella Sanders, Adjunct Faculty, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Bryan Sappington, Visiting Instructor – Business Administration, Academic Affairs
- Edward Schumacher, Visiting Assistant Professor – Education, Academic Affairs
- Jeffrey Snider, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Vanessa Swindell, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Shelly Truman, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Seth Ware, Senior Evaluator, Office of the Registrar
- Felicia Wider, Adjunct Faculty, Jacksonville, Florida
- Nathanael Wright, Adjunct Faculty, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
- Elizabeth Ziegler, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Amber Zykan-Finkelstein, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
20-Year Service Award Recipients:
- John Altman, Adjunct Faculty, Crystal Lake, Illinois
- Retha Barron, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Stewart, Georgia
- Rebecca Bennett, Senior Facilities Coordinator – Administration & Training, Plant and Facilities
- Kenneth Bentele, Adjunct Faculty, Rolla, Missouri
- Brian Bilderback, Assistant Director, Waynesville, Missouri
- Jerrell Brenner, Director of Academic Achievement Center, Writing Center
- Barry Bunn, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Kristina Clevenger, Professor – Education, Academic Affairs
- Brenda Cole, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Herbert Conner, Adjunct Faculty, Jefferson City, Missouri
- Mary Denehy, Tutor, Writing Center
- Tony Gaskew, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Joyce Gentry, Professor – Nursing, Academic Affairs
- William Hanna, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- Michael Hughes, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Susan Hughes, Tutor, Writing Center
- Lisa Kochevar, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Naomi Lear, Professor – Visual Arts & Music, Academic Affairs
- Yihsiang Liow, Associate Professor – Computer/Mathematical Sciences, Academic Affairs
- Jerry Lulejian, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Donna Markovich, Manager of Billing and Tuition Assistance, Business Office
- Bruce McKinnon, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Raymond Nabors, Adjunct Faculty, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama
- Ellen Parham, Director, Fort Stewart, Georgia
- Jerry Patton, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Alesia Poindexter, Senior Processing Specialist, Mail, Imaging & Printing
- William Randle, Adjunct Faculty, Academic Affairs
- Tracey Ratermann, Senior Academic Advisor II, Evening Campus
- Darryl Sanborn, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Kathleen Savopolos, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Chris Schneider, Adjunct Faculty, Rolla, Missouri
- Frank Somer, Professor – Physical & Biological Sciences, Academic Affairs
- Harrison Winters, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Peggy Wright, Professor – Physical & Biological Sciences, Academic Affairs
25-Year Service Award Recipients:
- Jon Barfknecht, Athletic Trainer, Athletics
- Michelle Brooks, Executive Assistant/Office Manager, Technology Services
- William Carney, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Joseph Carrier, Associate Professor – Criminal Justice, History, Philosophy and Political Science, Academic Affairs
- Glenn Gelman, Adjunct Faculty, Crystal Lake, Illinois
- Rebecca Gordon-Bocklage, Entrepreneurship Faculty / Program Director, Academic Affairs
- Diane Hibbs, Assistant Registrar – Special Services, Office of the Registrar
- Beth Kane, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Kurt Miller, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- James Oglesby, Adjunct Faculty, Fort Worth, Texas
- Laura Parker, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Michael Perkins, Instructor – Human Services, Psychology & Sociology, Academic Affairs
- Kevin Plachy, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Mark Price, Professor – Criminal Justice, History, Philosophy and Political Science, Academic Affairs
- Jeffrey Stone, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Angela Storvick, Senior Evaluator, Office of the Registrar
- Kip Thompson, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Alan Traverse, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Lois Tumey, Lead Custodian, Plant and Facilities
30-Year Service Award Recipients:
- Steven Allen, Assistant Director, Rolla, Missouri
- Gary Massey, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Gary Oedewaldt, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Diane Ooton, Adjunct Faculty, Jefferson City, Missouri
- Britta Wright, Director of International Services, Student Affairs
35-Year Service Award Recipients:
- Vicki Brooks, Online Instructional Support Specialist, Online Education
- Rick Powell, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
40-Year Service Award Recipients:
- Sarah Wells, Adjunct Faculty, Evening Campus
Retirees:
- Anthony Beasley, Custodian, Plant and Facilities
- Bobbette Claxton, Academic Advisor II, St. Louis, Missouri
- Richard Cochran, Custodian, Lake Ozark, Missouri
- Joyce Gentry, Professor – Nursing, Academic Affairs
- Brenda Grieve, Accounts Payable Manager, Procurement & Business Operations
- Kurt Miller, Adjunct Faculty, Online Education
- Michael Perkins, Instructor – Human Services, Psychology & Sociology, Academic Affairs
- Joseph Savopolos, Program Coordinator, Lemoore, California
- Michael Sleadd, Professor – Visual Arts & Music, Academic Affairs
