The Universities at Shady Grove Board of Advisors Kendall Service Awards recognize faculty, program directors and staff who have performed exceptionally in supporting student success at USG. Established in 2006 by philanthropists and long-standing USG supporters, Cliff and Camille Kendall, the awards are presented by the USG Board of Advisors each spring for Excellence in Teaching and Outstanding Service to Students. This year a new award honoring the Program Director of the Year was presented.
In 2013, more than 100 nominations were submitted by the USG Community, highlighting the contributions of staff and faculty members from USG’s university partners and service centers. Nominations are reviewed by a committee of previous award winners, a student representative, and a member of the USG Board of Advisors.
2013 Board of Advisors Kendall Service Awards:
Excellence in Teaching
Elizabeth Wright | Lecturer, Towson University Elementary Education Special Education (EESE) Program
Elizabeth is an exceptional educator and mentor, whose efforts enrich her students academically, professionally and personally. Professor Wright is a skilled teacher who combines extensive content knowledge with creative instructional approaches to insure that her students graduate as well-rounded education professionals. She is committed to student success and will go “above and beyond” to make certain that all her students get the support they need to fully understand the material. Her students describe her as “generous, kind, hardworking and creative.” They point to the resource notebooks Elizabeth requires all her students to keep as examples of a valuable learning experience that they plan to keep long after they have graduated.
With her warm smile, Elizabeth challenges her students to be satisfied with nothing less than their very best efforts and helping them believe that they are capable of exceptional achievement.
Outstanding Service to Students:
Lawrence Isenberg | Multi-Trade Chief III, USG Facilities Management Department
Larry makes sure the campus is ready for our students to learn and have a positive student life experience. It is his constant willingness to lend a hand and do whatever needs to be done, which makes him invaluable to our organization. He is committed not only to students, but to faculty, staff, and visitors at USG.
Larry is always quick to respond - he is committed to offering excellent customer service. He is always there when you need him. As one co-worker commented, “Larry works hard and always responds with a bright smile and a corny joke.” Larry goes above and beyond the call of duty in supporting USG's goal and mission. Larry, and all of the facilities staff members, are the behind the scenes heroes. They are the ones who make the grounds look great for an event – or who fix the blinking light bulb in the classroom. They are also the ones who help with the installation of new comfortable furniture that make students’ late night studying sessions more bearable. For these, and the hundreds of other actions that Larry takes to make USG a beautiful campus and a great space to study and work, we are fortunate to have him as part of the USG family.
Program Director of the Year:
Katherine J. Morris | Program Director, UMBC Social Work Undergraduate Program
Katie serves as the Program Director for UMBC’s Social Work bachelor’s degree program and is in her 10th year as a faculty member at USG. Katie’s ability to connect and coordinate with her team of professors in the social work department has made the department one of the best here at USG. She provides competent and professional leadership while also maintaining a collaborative atmosphere within the department.
She makes sure that the students at USG maintain their connection to the main campus and sponsors events at USG that involve main campus faculty. One student commented: “she has inspired us to be social workers and help individuals in need in our local community. She has shown us not only through teaching but by example how to lead and help others.” Katie has been actively involved in inter-professional and interdisciplinary initiatives at USG including the very successful Poverty Simulation this fall.
Katie is a motivator, educator, and a tireless advocate for students. She is totally dedicated to her job, always ready to intervene, to empower, and support students in finding solution to problems. A student observed: “Katie wants us to take on challenges and do the best we can. She wants us to realize our full potential and is always there for us when we need her. She sees our strengths when we may not be able to see them and she encourages us to be the best.”