SUSAN TAYLOR, financial administrator in the Department of Economics, was recently presented with the Arnice P. Streit Award of the School of Humanities and Sciences by RICHARD SALLER, the Vernon R. and Lysbeth Warren Anderson Dean of the school.
Taylor was recognized at a ceremony in which four other H&S staff members were given the Dean’s Award of Merit. That award recognizes staff members who make meritorious contributions; foster team productivity, optimism and creativity; design and implement procedures that simplify work and save money; demonstrate high performance consistently under extraordinary circumstances; and contribute to the university, as well as the school.
Winners of the Dean’s Award of Merit are JOAN BERRY, assistant director and outreach coordinator for the Center for Ethics in Society; MARCIA KEATING, administrative associate in the Department of Physics; RYAN JOHNSON, administrative manager in the Department of Classics; and PATIENCE YOUNG, curator in the Cantor Arts Center.
The Arnice P. Streit Award, according to the school, “was created in 1987 in honor of the woman whose record of excellence in several key posts left an indelible impression on faculty and staff during her 27-year career in the school.”
Saller said this about Taylor:
“This year’s recipient has had an amazing 36-year career with Stanford, and for the last 10 years has served her department with great distinction. She has become the person everyone turns to and relies on far beyond her technically circumscribed role, due to her unflagging professionalism, creativity, resourcefulness and dedication.
“While it’s clear to everyone that her expertise is highly valued, time and again her colleagues point to her extraordinary level of productivity, the quality of her work, and, perhaps most importantly, the personal attributes that make her such an exceptional employee.
“The adjectives that nominees used to describe her are quite simply glowing: gracious, resourceful, trustworthy, creative, flexible, ethical, unflappable, unassuming, cheerful, efficient, enthusiastic, professional, extremely committed, exceptionally helpful and just a super-nice person.
“Her commitment to her job and to her colleagues, as well as the ease with which she handles problems and her compassion towards others – these were all constant themes throughout her nomination letters. She is widely recognized for her willingness to help and for consistently going above and beyond her role as finance administrator. As one faculty member said, ‘When you ask a question to no one in particular in the room and someone says, “I’ll take care of that,” you can bet it is this person.’ She is described as an island of calm and care in a sea of stress and trouble.
“She is exemplary and professional in dealing with faculty. She undertakes her work with a cheerful demeanor and with flawless results. She has saved faculty from losing grant money or having to pay penalties because of a reporting or renewal deadline that had somehow slipped away. She is described as an impeccable ambassador in dealing with visitors, seminar speakers, job candidates, visiting scholars and others.
“She has created an environment of camaraderie and professionalism among her colleagues, which has spread to the rest of the department. Her calm demeanor and willingness to help in any situation have contributed to keeping staff and faculty morale high.
“Her thoughtful presence in the department is felt and appreciated by all. She brings a strong work ethic, patience and enthusiasm to the office. As one faculty member said, she is an exceptional candidate for the Arnice Streit Award, embodying many of the personal and professional attributes old-school Stanfordites remember of Arnice herself.”
ARCADIO MORALES, residence dean in Residential Education and resident fellow at Twain Hall, has been named the 2010 winner of the MARGARET ANN FIDLER AWARD for Distinguished Service in Student Affairs.
DAVID KREPS, professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, has been elected a Distinguished Fellow of the