Indiana University Kokomo honored 35 employees with a combined total of 531 years of experience for their service to campus.
Chancellor Mark Canada recognized the faculty and staff members during the annual spring convocation.
Terri Butler, administrative assistant in the School of Business, was honored for 45 years of service.
“Terri Butler certainly has left her stamp on the School of Business, where she is loved and appreciated,” Canada said. “It’s impossible to put a number on the contributions she has made over the course of 45 years.”
Donna McLean, associate professor of communication arts; and Sarah Sarber, senior advisor to the chancellor were honored for 35 years of service.
Chris Darr, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, said McLean has been a staple of the campus and the Department of Communication.
“Her passion for our students has always impressed me,” he said. “In particular, she has led multiple trips abroad over the years to places like Italy and China. I have heard comments from many students about how these trips changed their lives. Donna’s impact on these students will last a lifetime. Many students have also commented on Donna’s compassionate and friendly demeanor. She cares deeply about our students, and they know it, which is even more impressive.”
Canada said he counts on Sarber for advice on a number of subjects.
“Sarah Sarber has made an incalculable impact on this campus in her multiple roles over the past 35 years,” he said. “I have had the pleasure of working with her for many of those years, first as a fellow member of cabinet and now as chancellor.”
Associate professor of psychology Kevin Clark, associate professor of psychology Kathryn Holcomb, and day shift custodian David Whitley were applauded for 25 years of service.
Twenty-year service award recipients were: Kelly Gebhart, IT support center manager; Kathy Kennedy, web customer and content manager; Rick Phelps, custodian supervisor; Bill Rahl, maintenance supervisor; and Gregory Steel, professor of fine arts and new media.
Those honored for 15 years included: Tara Bass, administrative assistant; Janice Childress, campus manager, institutional analytics; Michael Koerner, associate professor of new media; Lina Rifai, associate professor of vertebrate biology; LeeAnn Salmons, athletics office manager; and T.J. Sullivan, associate professor of biology and molecular ecology.
Those honored for 10 years were: Mark Canada, chancellor; Angela Coppola, associate professor of health science; Garrett Harper, associate director of IT support; Hyungkang Hur, associate professor of public management; Sharon Johnson, administrative assistant; Eella Kemper, director of advising; Julie Kendall, administrative assistant; Mark Meng, associate professor of hospitality and tourism; Kim Mossburg, senior lecturer in health science; Melinda Stanley, senior lecturer in healthcare management; and Michelle Trueblood, system administrator.
Five-year honorees were: Sean Bishop, custodian; Jim Coby, assistant professor of English; April Evans, director of human resources and payroll; Naomi Jones, clinical assistant professor of nursing; Dea Kent, director of the family nurse practitioner track and assistant professor of nursing; Melissa Pruitt, financial aid counselor and scholarship coordinator; and Lu Wang, assistant professor of science education.
Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.