"You've been caught caring!"

This was the first line of a letter to Kay Brusca, who received the College of Education and Health Professions' WE CARE Round of Applause.

Brusca, Dean Kate Mamiseishvili's executive assistant and chief of staff, is the first in the college to earn the WE CARE Round of Applause. She was nominated for the award by the college's three associate deans: Paul Calleja, Matthew Ganio and Michael Hevel.

Rounds of Applause recognize faculty and staff who go above and beyond their job requirements and demonstrate extraordinary care for their colleagues, students or community. 

The "You've been caught caring" catchphrase was recommended by last year's Staff Advisory Council chair, Haley Carney.

The Round of Applause is one of the multiple action items the college activated this fall under its new strategic plan. The plan has three main priorities, one of which is to foster a caring culture. Among the goals under that priority is to cultivate a culture of recognition, inclusion, engagement and well-being in the college — which is how the WE CARE Rounds of Applause originated.

It's fitting that Brusca earned the first Round of Applause, as she dreamed up the award name during a planning meeting about the college's Caring Culture priority.

The award recognizes Brusca's "immeasurable contributions" in helping launch the WE CARE strategic plan and preparing for various welcome events to kick off the fall semester. Mamiseishvili's congratulatory letter to Brusca noted, "You have been an invaluable addition to the dean's team. We are in awe of your dedication, attention to detail, teamwork and patience."

The letter also lauded Brusca's habit of going "above and beyond" her everyday job responsibilities to help colleagues and create a welcoming environment for all. Mamiseishvili said Brusca is an excellent example of the "we care spirit" in action.

Faculty and staff in the College of Education and Health Professions are encouraged to nominate a colleague for this award at any time to celebrate their generosity of time, effort and care. Recipients will receive a letter from the dean, a commemorative WE CARE keepsake and inclusion in the dean's monthly round-up email. 

"I hope many more faculty and staff in the college will be caught caring," Mamiseishvili said.