Award Winners

The Administrative Professional Star Award was created to express appreciation by recognizing the accomplishments of administrative professional (AP) employees who demonstrate outstanding individual performance at CSU. The goal is to recognize professional employees who make a difference and “shine” in our CSU community.

The criteria for deciding an AP Star recipient include:

  • A willingness to go above and beyond in their work within their department, in collaboration with other units and the campus community in general
  • Using available resources in a more effective manner, or creatively doing more with less
  • Contributed to the other CSU administrative professionals on campus
  • Recognizes and honors the importance of work-life balance and supports it in themselves as well as their area, department and the University

This year, we had 60 excellent nominations! This is an increase of 26 from 2015!

Narrowing the recipients down to eight (8) was a challenge for the committee because all these candidates excel at what they do and had everyone wonderful support from their colleagues for this award.

The AP Star recipients this year are, in alphabetical order by last name:

Rosanna Bateman
Academic Success Coordinator and Assistant Director of the Academic Support Center
College of Liberal Arts
When the College of Liberal Arts grew from seven (7) to 15 Academic Success Coordinators, Rosanna was an essential part of the process, from serving on the search committees to planning and organizing all the new employee trainings. She identifies and collaborates with student mentors for the Arts and Creative Expression Learning Community and had an integral role in the incorporation of a student-developed video for incoming students and their families. Her commitment to student success is evident from her efforts creating a workshop for students needing further academic assistance. Because of the workshop’s positive impact, it is now a for-credit course. She reflects a positive work life balance by volunteering to adopt more student advisees when her co-workers are on maternity leave as well as coordinating with co-workers to participate in the Empty Bowls program to help feed those in need. Additionally, Rosanna served on the planning committee for the Professional Advisors Network, helping organize events and speakers for all advisors on campus and is also serving on Administrative Professional Council as a representative for Area 9 and on the Parking Committee.

Angela D. Branson
Research Project Manager
College of Engineering
Angela was hired in the College of Engineering as a Coordinator to help manage more than 10 separate budgets, software licensing for over 80 applications and coordinating many, many purchases with hundreds of faculty members. As with most employees, her responsibilities expanded in the last five (5) years to include Human Resource responsibilities and training for student employees, mail services organization and most recently, the duties of Client Services Manager. Angela is not afraid to move furniture, get dirty or ask questions. Her insight regarding concerns with using certain software programs during foreign travel lead to the creation of CSU foreign travel recommendations based on her model. Outside of her work responsibilities, her community service includes the role of Secretary for the Administrative Professional Council and volunteering at the Larimer County Human Society’s shelter.

Diana Collins
Business and Facilities Manager
Office of the Vice President for Research, Laboratory Animal Resources
As the Business Manager, Diana is responsible for the financial stability, human resources, material management and activity coordination of multiple areas. Diana’s ability to identify significant costs to reduce saved the department nearly $2 million in the past seven (7) years. She developed a complex accounting method and was the project lead for updating and transitioning the animal management system for over 100,000 animals to a new vendor and reporting structure. During two recent major reorganizations, Diana maintained a strong level of communication across several departments while accurately reporting to regulatory agencies, conducting a detailed large scale equipment inventory and the merging several budgets at the beginning of the fiscal year. Her work with Human Resources through the hiring and training of new employees reduced errors during the personnel changeover. Through all this, she still finds time to attend her daughter’s basketball practices and game.

 

Jessica Fuentes
Executive Director of Finance
College of Agricultural Sciences & Agricultural Experiment Station
Because the Agricultural Experiment Station has a presence in 62 of Colorado’s 64 counties, Jessica’s responsibilities are incredibly wide reaching. Her interest in and desire to understand the Extension’s county connections resulted in stronger relationships with those partners, who provide 40% of the department’s total funding. Her extensive knowledge of university fiscal policy has further advanced relationships with Office of Sponsored Programs and Extension employees. When reviewing the organizational structure of the Extension, Jessica recognized the need to better define the financial system and took steps necessary to more to a “department-based” structure. While this change took an abundance of her time and energy, it also resulted in more effective and efficient fiscal management. Jessica’s work is important to her and she works long hours but she models work life balance by always putting her family first.

Peter (Mac) McGoldrick
Director of Operations, Powerhouse Energy Campus; Assistant Director, Energy Institute
Energy Institute
Not only is Mac highly involved with the Powerhouse Energy Campus and Energy Institute, he is also a respected Instructor in the Philosophy Department who supports students on both academic and personal levels. In his Director and Assistant Director roles, Mac supports 15 researchers and more than 90 students doing research in the 95,000 square foot facility. He brings people from diverse backgrounds and spent the past 14 years building bridges between researchers, private industry, departments and colleges by showing everyone their shared common ground. He regularly finds sponsors for the department Annual Chili Cook-off and funding for the Impact Challenge, a student design competition to create innovative energy solutions and entrepreneurial models. Mac also leads a weekly guided meditation and coordinates a yoga class, both of which are open to all staff as well as now hosting a new lunch and learn series called “Power lunch” incorporating presentations on hobbies, conferences, life-hacks, etc.

Eric Tisdale
Assistant Director of IT
College of Health and Human Sciences
Eric oversees the College of Health and Human Sciences Client Services group, including the helpdesk, serving more than 5,500 customers. He works with faculty and staff to acquire technology within their budgets, develops applications for various research and academic projects and helps create strategies to enhance the overall Information Technology environment. Eric’s efforts with the department’s transition to AcademicWorks, a new scholarship database system, was instrumental in ensuring students who were qualified were considered by the awarding committee. He also developed an advanced software system to facilitate recruiting graduate students. As best described by a nominator, Eris is a strong team player, who thinks of himself “as a member of the CSU community first, a member of the college second and an IT professional third.”

Wesley R. White
Communications Specialist
Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
Wes has long been providing technical support and producing themes and images to promote the department. He has created new promotional and informational materials and is using his social media expertise to empower others by training them on best practices for their communications. His knowledge of design and video production helped produce a high quality promotional video with an alum and his collaborations led to a story about Conservation Leadership through Learning students airing on CBS Denver News. He is currently in the process of rebranding the college and over hauling the websites, requiring a great deal of communication between all the college departments. Wes’s work life balance includes his family and small scale farm and although he is dedicated to his work, he recognizes there are other important aspects of his life needing his devotion as well.

Brett Wolk
Research Associate
Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, Department of Forest & Rangeland Stewardship, Warner College of Natural Resources
Because of Brett’s work, the visibility of the Institute has increased within the department, college, university and State of Colorado. His commitment to the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute motivated him to initiate a program evaluating the effectiveness of activities to reduce wildfire risk to life and property around the state. He voluntarily presents about his work to government agencies, elected officials and state-wide communities. This past year, Brett worked directly on securing more than $250,000 in funds, enabling the department to hire additional research associates. His efforts hiring and mentoring students, particularly the opportunity to work in the field, gives the students incredible professional and personal life experiences. He also serves as a coach for the Plant Identification Team of the student Range Club, which regularly places high in national competitions. Brett often organizes social events for institute employees and partners and includes his family.