ATSU’s Kirksville, Missouri, campus employees recognized for achievements, anniversaries
Posted: June 22, 2022
A.T. Still University (ATSU) hosted its annual Missouri campus Employee Recognition & Award Ceremony on May 18, 2022, honoring outstanding achievement and employment anniversaries.
ATSU’s Kirksville, Missouri, campus’ Distinguished Service Award went to Bob Ehrlich, director, facilities/plant operations.
Nominators submitted the following comments in support of Ehrlich’s selection:
- “Bob exemplifies all of these qualities: dedication, willingness to serve, strong work ethic, and positive outlook. He has worked tirelessly to ensure the facilities on the Kirksville campus look good and operate well. He knows the campus like the back of his hand and strives to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff. He goes above and beyond by responding to campus facility needs both day and night. He definitely deserves to be recognized for his 20-plus years of work at ATSU.”
- “He goes above and beyond to make our campus clean and safe. He does so much behind the scenes to ensure all is operational and fully functional. He is the person who is on campus early, stays late, and is taking the calls at all hours day and night to triage plans for weather, campus events, building projects, a pandemic, etc. In addition, he keeps a sense of humor and has the hidden talent of being an amazing quilter. The recipient is very well deserving of the distinguished service award.”
- “Bob works tirelessly and endlessly (early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and everything in between) going above and beyond. Many do not realize the work he does behind the scenes to keep operations running smoothly. He is great to work with – a true asset to ATSU, and his expertise, knowledge, and sense of humor will be missed when he retires.”
- “Bob is available 24/7 to take care of any and all issues as they come up (I swear he never slept). He never complained, regardless of what the job involved, and he always did it with a smile (and we usually had lots of laughs too). He is totally deserving of this award.”
- “This guy is a rock. No matter the time of day or night, he is always on ‘ATSU watch.’ No matter how tired he might be, he is always there to lend a hand, a shoulder, or an ear. He is not just a colleague, but a true friend and a great human being.”
The University also recognized the first Missouri campus recipient of the Diversity Awareness Program (DAP) Award. This award was established to recognize faculty and staff who demonstrate leadership through their deeds related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to celebrate those contributions advancing the cause of social justice and equality within our campus community’s reach.
The term “dap” refers to a gesture of friendship and solidarity originating during the 1960s and a way to communicate a pact to look after one another.
The award was presented to:
Caroline M. VanSickle, PhD, MA, assistant professor, anatomy, ATSU-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM)
“She is the chair of the DEC committee; she is a Safe Zone for All ally. She is also seeking to become a master trainer for the Safe Zone for All program,” a nominator wrote. “She is also the academic advisor for student organizations on campus. She is also on the committee for the Kirksville city’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. She is active via showing up and showing support for events and activities that are provided by offices on campus and student organizations. She does not just show up for provided opportunities, she is engaged and leaves valuable feedback to ensure the growth and continuation of the event(s).”
Other recognitions included:
ATSU-KCOM Dean Margaret Wilson, DO, ’82, presented the A.T. Still Staff Awards for Excellence in Teaching for Basic Sciences to B. Henry Han, PhD, associate professor (tenure), pharmacology, and for Clinical to David Cleaver, DO, ’06, assistant professor, internal medicine.
ATSU Senior Vice President-Academic Affairs Norman Gevitz, PhD, presented the ATSU-College of Graduate Health Studies (ATSU-CGHS) 2021 Outstanding Employee Award to Heather Brown, EdD, MTS, assistant director, University Writing Center, and 2021 Professor of the Year Award to Eric Matthews, PhD, MS, associate professor, Doctor of Health Sciences program.
Quarterly Employee Excellence Award recognitions included: Debra Blessing, aging studies coordinator, Area Health Education Center, ATSU-KCOM; Tabitha Sawyer, academic affairs coordinator, Academic Affairs, ATSU-KCOM; Corey Sanford, lead multimedia specialist, Academic Technologies, ATSU; and Robert Long, simulation specialist, Medical Education, ATSU-KCOM.
2021 Service Award recipients:
5 years: Tanya Armistead, BA, academic advisor, ATSU-CGHS; Matthew Bonnel, simulation clinic equipment specialist, ATSU-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH); Jessica Corrick, operations assistant, Still Research Institute, ATSU; Stephanie Elsea, executive assistant, President’s Office, ATSU; Christopher R. Ferguson, business analyst, Administrative Computing, ATSU; Dana Funderburk, CPA, MBA, vice president for finance/CFO, Finance Office, ATSU; Sara Heimer, MBA, assistant director of payroll, Human Resources, ATSU; Jordan Kane, off-site rotation coordinator, KCOM Regional Medicine, ATSU-KCOM; Mandy Ledford, student success coordinator, ATSU-MOSDOH; Presley Melvin-Dean, MA, academic advisor, ATSU-CGHS; Jack Morris, MS, PMP, director, Research Support, ATSU; Hamid Nurrohman, PhD, DDS, associate professor, ATSU-MOSDOH; Jeffrey Osborn, boiler plant operator, Boiler Room, ATSU; Chandra Pierson, Kirksville Family Medicine coordinator, ATSU-KCOM; Brandi Snow, academic clinical education project coordinator, Academic Affairs, ATSU-KCOM; Rachel Stice, admissions application coordinator, Admissions Residential, ATSU; Sarah Thomas, MSW, LCSW, director, Behavioral Health and Wellness Counseling, ATSU; Jordan Weichelt, MBA, business analyst, Administrative Computing, ATSU; Rekha Yesudas, PhD, MPhil, MS, assistant professor, Pharmacology, ATSU-KCOM.
10 years: Sonya Clark, student accounts coordinator, Finance Office, ATSU; Michael Cramberg, anatomy lab manager, Anatomy, ATSU-KCOM; Sarah Crossgrove, MBA, director, Research and Grants Administration, Sponsored Programs, ATSU; Sarah Everman, PhD, associate professor, Kinesiology, ATSU-CGHS; Jaana Gold, DDS, PhD, MPH, CPH, professor, MPH – Dental Emphasis, ATSU-CGHS; Kelly Kirkland, MBA, business operations manager, ATSU-KCOM; Tatyana Kondrashova, PhD, associate professor, research, Family Medicine and Community Health, ATSU-KCOM; Jennifer McNeely, MA, director, Learning Resources, ATSU; Heather Rudy, MA, assistant director, Museum, ATSU; Stephanie Sullivan, administrative assistant, Anatomy, ATSU-KCOM; Julie Truitt, administrative support, Learning Resources, ATSU.
15 years: Jeffrey Alexander, PhD, FAACVPR, ACSM-CEP®, associate professor, Doctor of Health Sciences, ATSU-CGHS; Jennifer Bryant, development coordinator, Development, ATSU; Amy DeLeon, general accountant, Finance Office, ATSU; David Koenecke, DC, assistant vice president, Admissions Residential, ATSU; David Middlemas, PhD, associate professor, Pharmacology, ATSU-KCOM; Matthew Rhea, PhD, professor, Kinesiology, ATSU-CGHS; Tabitha Sawyer, academic clinical affairs coordinator, Academic Affairs, ATSU-KCOM.
20 years: Jamie Carroll, senior graphic artist, Academic Technologies, ATSU; Jason Haxton, MA, director, Museum, ATSU; Krista Llewellyn, MA, director of advancement services, Development, ATSU; Debra Loguda-Summers, public services & 3D print services manager, A.T. Still Memorial Library, ATSU; Karen Snider, DO, assistant dean, KCOM Curriculum, Medical Education, ATSU-KCOM.
25 years: Brenda Aucutt, mailroom clerk, Mailroom, ATSU; Ron Parrish, skilled general maintenance I, Maintenance, ATSU; Donna Sparks, MA, director, Admissions Residential, ATSU.
30 years: James Cox, PhD, associate professor, Biochemistry, ATSU-KCOM; Cheryl Gashwiler, printing technician; Printing Services; ATSU; Timothy Geisbuhler, PhD, associate professor, Physiology, ATSU-KCOM; Virginia Halterman, director of community & public relations; Communication & Marketing, ATSU; Lisa Norman, BS, PMP, research projects manager, Research Support, ATSU.
35 years: Leisa Walter, library assistant, A.T. Still Memorial Library, ATSU.
45 years: Robert Theobald, PhD, professor, Pharmacology, ATSU-KCOM.
Additionally, the following 2020 Service Award recipients were honored at this event:
5 years: Christopher H. Ferguson, museum registrar, Museum, ATSU; Kathy Schroeder, standardized patient coordinator, Medical Education, ATSU-KCOM; Sheri Walters, PT, DPT, MS, SCS, ATC/L, CSCS, assistant professor, Kinesiology, ATSU-CGHS.
10 years: Sue McDaniel, MS, instructional designer, ATSU-CGHS.