Columbia College faculty and staff gathered on Thursday, April 10, in the Southwell Complex to celebrate the 2024-25 academic year at the annual Employee Appreciation Luncheon.
President Dr. David Russell shared his gratitude for team members attending in person or joining virtually from around the country, lauding the innovation, hard work and professionalism throughout every division of the institution.
“The opportunity to serve Columbia College as president has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my career,” Russell told faculty and staff. “I am inspired on a daily basis by your dedication to our institution and your persistence in moving us forward. Truly, the people in this room epitomize the slogan ‘All In For CC’ as we enter a new era for the college.”
Following a meal served by Aladdin Campus Dining, employees who achieved a milestone between five and 40 years of service time at the college were recognized with a round of applause as they crossed the stage to greet Russell and receive an award packet from Human Resources. Employees honored for their years of service during the event have combined to work 2,215 years and counting for the college.
Senior Payroll Manager Phyllis Grant was welcomed with a standing ovation after the announcement of her 40th anniversary working at the college, a response that she said made her feel “honored and incredibly grateful.”
“I felt valued and celebrated, which is a feeling I will carry with me always,” Grant said. “The thing I find most gratifying about my work at Columbia College is just being part of an institution that encourages growth and relationships. I treasure the everyday moments and memories that I will hold dear in my heart forever.”
Click here to view a photo gallery of the event.
SAAC Staff Achievement Awards
Each year, to show appreciation of the college’s dedicated staff, the Staff Association Advisory Council presents awards to deserving staff members.
These honors include the Professional Excellence Award, Community Service Award, Global Cougar Achievement Award and Presidential Award of Excellence. Recipients receive a personalized glass award, a monetary gift and their names on a plaque outside of the HR office.
Congratulations to the following 2025 SAAC Staff Achievement Award recipients:
Professional Excellence Award: Tammy Mann, Education Department Director
“This is truly humbling. Receiving this award means that I have been helpful to others along the way, and that’s a really important thing. Working with so many different people and departments to make things better for our students is very fulfilling. I’m so thankful to have Columbia College in my life for almost 30 years. I remember showing up for my job interview all those years ago and thinking this would be such a great place to work. I was right!”
Community Service Award: Denise Gelina ’16, Bursar
“Receiving this award holds profound significance for me. It serves as a testament to the fact that the individuals I work alongside recognize my genuine commitment to both their success and the success of our students, on both a personal and professional level. … College life can present many challenges, and knowing that I can assist students in navigating these obstacles and ultimately succeeding is deeply rewarding. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to Columbia College, a place that has not only shaped my academic journey but also had a profound impact on me and my family.”
Global Cougar Achievement Award: Nicole France, Academic Advisor
“Receiving this award is an incredible honor that fills me with a profound sense of gratitude and pride. It’s not just recognition for my efforts, but a validation of the values instilled in me from a young age. Initially, I expressed these values through my time in the military. As a veteran, transitioning to being a civilian again can be challenging, but the sense of community and camaraderie that I found here at Columbia College has made that shift easier. Being recognized by my peers as someone who believes in our mission to help students achieve their potential is very affirming and motivating for the future.”
Presidential Award of Excellence: Dr. Suzanne Tourville, Assistant Provost
“I was very surprised to receive the award. It definitely feels good to be recognized for my contributions. However, I want to be clear that the actual work of the projects that I was credited with leading was not completed by me alone. I am lucky to work alongside many highly qualified and dedicated individuals. Without them, nothing would get done! I strongly believe in the ability of education to transform lives, so I appreciate being part of the CC community as we work to put our mission into action.”
Frazier Moon Location of the Year
The Frazier Moon Location of the Year Award 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.
These accomplishments exemplify the values of the late Dean Frazier Moon, who served Columbia College from 1974 to 1996. Moon was an advocate for students and dedicated his life to making a difference for adult learners.
The 2025 recipient of the Frazier Moon Location of the Year Award is Denver, led by Director Jim McNally and Assistant Director Tamra Ellermeier.
The Denver location continues to grow with a significant influx of new students over the past three years coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. A majority of students at the location are international and in-seat. This academic year, the location has recorded a 38% year-over-year increase of credit hours enrolled, with two summer session registrations still to complete.
Harold Nichols Plant & Facilities Award
The Harold Nichols Plant & Facilities Employee of the Year Award is given to the Plant & Facilities employee who best demonstrates the work ethic, team-player attitude and good humor of the late Harold Nichols.
Nichols was a longtime college maintenance employee who died unexpectedly in 2006.
The 2025 recipient of the Harold Nichols Award is Grounds Supervisor Tyler Scott.
List of service award recipients
Below are the names of the 145 colleagues who received years-of-service awards.
Congratulations to all the honorees!
5-YEAR SERVICE AWARD
Valerie Adams, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Corey Blake, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Amber Boeckman, Senior Director of Admissions & CRM Operations – Admissions
Glen Bush, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Rachel Chabu, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Meredith Cotten, Clinical Instructor – Academic Affairs
Caleb Crites, Campus Safety Officer – Campus Safety
Amy Elbrecht, Training Program Coordinator – Training and Quality Assurance
Matthew Glindemann, Academic Assessment Specialist – Academic Affairs
Dempsey Hall, Location Support Assistant – Fort Leonard Wood, MO
Dustin Hawkins, Video Production Strategist – Marketing
Brandon Haynes, Tutor – Tutoring Services
Emily Hirdler, Academic Advisor II – CARSS
Robert Hohenstein, Visiting Professor – Academic Affairs
Lisa Hussey, Assistant Director – Admissions
John Jennings, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Erich Jett, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Allison Jones-Olson, Head Volleyball Coach – Athletics
Tony Killian, Senior Office Coordinator – Student Affairs
Deborah Leialoha, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Raea Mills, Senior Instructional Technologist – Academic Affairs
Zachary Mitchell, Enrollment Systems Administrator – Enrollment Services
Tanesha Morgan, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Ndeye Ndiaye, Assistant Professor – Academic Affairs
Yvan Nezerwe, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Louise Nguyen, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Kristen O’Haro, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Jared Opoien, Director – CARSS
Everly Parsons, General Maintenance – Plant and Facilities
Rodney Piercy, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Cory Prasch, Instructor – Academic Affairs
Tamika Rolling, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Daniel Scott, Location Support Assistant – Lake of the Ozarks, MO
Stephanie Wightman, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Amy Wiliams, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
George Winney, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
10-YEAR SERVICE AWARD
Gregory Batson, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Margaret Bradley, Systems Analyst – Technology Services
Tomas Brock, Head Men’s Basketball Coach – Athletics
Robert Carey, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Jessica Davis, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Ryan Evans, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Laura Flacks-Narrol, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Lawrence Hardwick, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Melissa Hill, Director of Student Accessibility Resources – Student Affairs
Deborah Jameson, Athletic Assistant – Athletics
John Johnson, Associate Information Security Analyst – Technology Services
Toni Lewis, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Sandra Logan, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Catherine Matson, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
James McNally, Director – Denver, CO
Andrew Monnig, Assistant Payroll Manager – Payroll
Anna Osborn, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Denise Parker, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Eric Parsons, General Maintenance Lead – Plant and Facilities
David Prince, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Dylan Quail-Hock, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Peggy Reed-Lohmeyer, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Josue Roman, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Katherine Rothwell, Student Success Coach II – CARSS
Allen Shepard, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
David White, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Stephanie Whitener, Senior Director – CARSS
Benjamin Wood, Assistant Director of Data Management – Institutional Research
15-YEAR SERVICE AWARD
Sindy Armstrong, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Leslie Borgmeyer, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Jennifer Celinski, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Sara Clark, Registrar – Office of the Registrar
Connie Collins, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Susan Fisher, Analyst – Financial Aid
Samual Fleury, Assistant Vice President – Strategic Communications
Jennifer Goodell, Senior Academic Advisor I – CARSS
Courtney Hodacs, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Andrew Howard, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Amy Johns, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Kristina Marcum, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
David Nelson, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Jill Perrigo, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Carmen Price, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Renwick Pulwarty, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Ross Reed, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Thomas Scheira, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Janice Smith, Academic Advisor II – CARSS
Jonathan Squyres, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Dorothy Taylor, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Andrew Upham, Advisor – TRIO SSS
Coleen Williams, Training Program Coordinator – Training and Quality Assurance
20-YEAR SERVICE AWARD
Allison Ehret, Academic Operations Specialist II – Academic Affairs
Misha Fugit, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Jodi Johnson, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer – Human Resources
Leslie Kennon, Digital Creative Strategist – Mail, Imaging & Print Services
James Koshar, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Jason Oesterly, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Kermit Parker, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Eileen Preston, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Eric Roark, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Jessica Stewart, Senior Academic Advisor II – CARSS
Randall Wall, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Jason Youngquist, Senior Information Security Engineer – Technology Services
25-YEAR SERVICE AWARD
Gregory Adank, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Janet Bagby, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Mary Batterson, Access Services Librarian – Library
James Busch, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Anthony Callisto, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Kimberly Coke, Student Support Services Director – TRIO SSS
Frederick Crawford, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Timothy Cruise, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Daniel D’Alesio, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
John DeNigris, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
James Earhart, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Thomas Elliott, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Robert Faust, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Paul Fioramonti, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Glenn Gelman, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Randall Gibbs, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Coolidge Hargrett, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Donald Hayden, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Randall Hutton, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Manuel Juzon, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
James Miller, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Ronald Moser, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
David Mull, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Renee O’Daniel, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
James Oglesby, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Kenneth Perry, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Ronald Pridgin, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Sonda Ridgway, Senior Director of Procurement & Business Operations – Finance & Business
Brett Rogers, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Evelyn Rogers, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Karen Ryabchenko, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Judith Shaw, Choral Accompanist – Academic Affairs
Nancy Spaeder, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Lee Stanton, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Thomas Stauder, Associate Professor – Academic Affairs
Kip Thompson, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Suzanne Tourville, Assistant Provost – Academic Affairs
Alan Traverse, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Melinda Treftz, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
Joshua Wagner, Reprographics Coordinator – Mail, Imaging & Print Services
Beth Waters-Earhart, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
30-YEAR SERVICE AWARD
Leslie Toalson, Senior Processing Specialist – Mail, Imaging & Print Services
Wendy Spratt, Head Softball Coach – Athletics
35-YEAR SERVICE AWARD
David Byland, Adjunct – Academic Affairs
40-YEAR SERVICE AWARD
Phyllis Grant, Senior Payroll Manager – Payroll
As a faculty member who’s taught at CC for 22 years, I’m truly sorry to have missed the 2025 Employee Appreciation event. My apologies, as I wasn’t aware of it—likely due to teaching exclusively online. Nevertheless, a huge congratulations to all the wonderful staff and faculty who attended! I was certainly there in spirit and look forward to joining you at the next one.