Staff Senate 2025-2026 Outstanding Staff Team and Part-Time Employee Awards Announced

The U of A Staff Senate is pleased to announce the awards for Outstanding Staff Team and Part-Time Staff Employee this year.

Fernanda Caero of the Sam M. Walton College of Business has been awarded the Part-Time Employee of the Year. She received not one, but eight letters of support from her colleagues at the Walton College of Business. Pursuing a Master of Business Analytics, she is a graduate assistant in the Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation (SEVI).

From Jason Ridge, professor in and chair of the SEVI Department, Caero is consistently known for "uplifting her peers while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism." Ridge also shared that "she doesn't just complete her work expectations—she anticipates needs, identifies opportunities for process improvement and takes the initiative to implement effective solutions."

The Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Student Services Team has been named the Outstanding Team of the Year by Staff Senate. The award recognizes outstanding staff members who work together as a team, applauds accomplishments and encourages and promotes excellence in the workplace.

The nomination, submitted by Associate Dean Jacquelyn Mosley, included 12 full-time staff members:

• Lucas Simmons, director of Waldrip Student Center
• Abbie Tanner, academic counselor
• Melinda Sue Dunalp, academic counselor
• Cathy S. Hamilton, academic counselor & online programs coordinator
• Jody Davis, director of student records
• Kayla Twyford, coordinator of undergraduate student recruitment
• Becky Alverson, scholarships, development and external relations
• Vicky Watkins, director of curriculum management and international programs
• Isabel Whitehead-Adams, coordinator for honors programs
• Janet Collins, director of career initiatives
• Lexi Workman, associate director of creative services
• Christi Fox, Waldrip Student Center administrative assistant

Mosley nominated the team based on its sustained efforts to support student success in Bumpers College and at the U of A. Noting their accomplishments, Mosley shared, "The Bumpers College Student Services team is nothing short of extraordinary. We are incredibly fortunate to have individuals who don't just do their jobs, they live our Bumpers mission, champion our students and embody everything 'Ag, Food, Life' stands for. Because of them, Bumpers College leads the entire University of Arkansas with a 90% freshman retention rate (highest on campus)."

Not just achieving success in their individual roles, Mosley shared about the importance of the staff's teamwork and collaboration, noting that "their work has touched every corner of the college, from student advising to scholarships, from retention outreach to international experiences, from orientation to career development and everything in between."

The Staff Senate congratulates Caero and the Bumpers College Student Services Team for their accomplishments this year! We are grateful to have dedicated staff like them throughout the campus and their work and commitment to the U of A. The awardees have received certificates of appreciation, along with a monetary award. They will also be recognized at the Employee Recognition Reception this coming fall.

About Staff Senate: Created in 1976 by Board of Trustees Policy 810.1, Staff Senate and its elected senators have the responsibility of making recommendations to university leadership on any matter of staff concern, including quality of work life, the efficiency of operations, and staff service to the campus community. Staff Senate advocates in the areas of compensation, working conditions, health and wellness, fringe benefits, safety, parking, and other workplace issues. In addition, Senate works to celebrate, recognize, and give back to staff through programs such as Employees of the Quarter & Year, awards for Staff Team and Part-Time Employee of the Year, Staff Appreciation Week, the annual Staff Appreciation Picnic, Staff Senate Scholarships, and RazorGifts.

Monthly meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3 p.m. and are open to the public both in-person and virtually. Meeting details, lists of sitting senators, and additional information can be found at Staff Senate website.