College of Education and Health Professions Names Superior Staff Service Award Winners

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Superior Staff Service Award winners clockwise from top left: Kay Brusca, Kirsten Christian, Anaid Espinosa, Andrea Howard and Brandi Maples.

The U of A College of Education and Health Professions recently named the 2023-24 Superior Staff Service Award winners.

The awards recognize staff members who consistently go above and beyond to serve the college, students and the community. The staff members will be recognized alongside the college's outstanding faculty award winners at the end-of-year meeting on Friday, May 3, in Hillside Auditorium.

This year's winners are:

Service to the College of Education and Health Professions: Kay Brusca

Brusca, the dean's executive assistant and chief of staff, is an outstanding example of service to the college. One nominator noted that she often "wears multiple hats," working behind the scenes on college events and activities and helping to move the college's strategic plan forward with her positive and helpful demeanor. Brusca has also been called "the embodiment of [the WE CARE] Caring Culture."

Service to the Community: Kirsten Christian

Christian is an administrative specialist II in the Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy. Nominators recognized her for taking on additional responsibilities as interim office manager in the Speech and Hearing Clinic. She has gone above and beyond to learn the skills necessary to manage the clinic — including handling referrals, scheduling and day-to-day operations — while maintaining her role as an administrative assistant in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program. Christian navigated this challenge without sacrificing patient care for the community served by the clinic.

Service to Faculty and Staff: Anaid Espinosa

Espinosa is an administrative specialist II in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation. One nominator called her an "unsung hero" in her department and remarked that she is known for her "contagious positivity." In each nomination, Espinosa was commended for her kindness, patience and welcoming presence in the HHPR office. She has worked especially hard to streamline the travel process in her department, which all members of HHPR deeply appreciate.

Service to Students: Andrea Howard

Howard is an academic adviser for students in the college's health professions in the Boyer Center for Student Services. She assists students and their families from the beginning of their journey at the U of A until they walk across the stage at commencement. Howard goes the extra mile for students, giving each the individual attention they need and deserve while maintaining over 650 scheduled appointments per semester.

Service to the University of Arkansas: Brandi Maples

Maples is recognized as a leader in finance and administration, not only by the college but by the broader U of A community. She is frequently asked to share her expertise, help solve problems and recommend best practices. This year, Maples served as a subject matter expert on several projects across campus. Most recently, she helped design and pilot-test a new tool that will be used for budget reporting. She also recommended a new template to consolidate information from Workday and UA Connect and complete summer workload forms more easily and in a timely manner.

About the College of Education and Health Professions: The College of Education and Health Professions' six departments prepare students for a range of careers in education and health. In addition to its longstanding role of preparing educators and educational leaders, the college trains nurses, speech-language pathologists, public health specialists, recreation and sports professionals, counselors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and exercise scientists.