Staff Recognized at Annual Celebration

Above: CofC President Andrew T. Hsu (far left) with winners and finalists of the 2022–23 Staff Awards (l–r): Lindy Coleman, Evie Palmisano, Chrystal Matthews, Damaris Jones, Diane Tanner, Kate Tiller (SAC chair), Danielle Brown, Rashad Towns, Eileen Raney and Karen Fritchman. (Photos by Catie Cleveland)

On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, the Staff Advisory Committee to the President (SAC) hosted the College of Charleston’s annual Staff Celebration Lunch and Awards Presentation in the TD Arena McAlister Hospitality Suite. Nearly 200 staff members attended the in-person celebration – a zero-waste event catered by Dining Services – with even more staff members attending remotely for the awards presentation and raffle drawings.

Indeed, there were plenty of opportunities for staff to win prizes, but it was the recipients of the 2023 Staff Awards who really won big at the celebration. Before presenting the awards, Kate Tiller, SAC chair and senior associate athletic director for student-athlete success/senior woman administrator, thanked SAC members for their work making the celebration a success.

Dining Services catered the Celebration of Staff, a zero-waste event.

“This entire event is all about recognizing the hard work and dedication of the College of Charleston’s staff members,” she said, adding that all staff members are invited and encouraged to complete an anonymous SAC Feedback Survey by June 30, 2023, and also to submit their questions and concerns via the Staff Input and Ideas Form anytime. “It is our job to serve as the voice of staff to the president and College administration. We hope that everyone in this room continues to share your thoughts, ideas and concerns with SAC.”

With that, President Andrew T. Hsu took the mic to thank the SAC representatives “for their advocacy and their care for our campus community” before turning his gratitude to all staff members: “Your dedication to your jobs and to each other make this university so special. Again, thank you for your many contributions to the life of this university.”

The Staff Awards illustrate just how much those contributions mean to the College, with nearly 40 staff members nominated for this year’s staff awards.

“All of this year’s nominees were selected based on their specific achievements at the College,” said Rashad Towns, associate director of building maintenance for Facilities Management Operations and Maintenance and vice chair of the SAC. “They are proven collaborators and strong partners across campus. Each nominee exhibits excellent customer service and has embedded the College’s core values in their day-to-day work.”

President Hsu with the Staff Awards winners (l-r): Lindy Coleman, Eileen Raney and Rashad Towns.

And with no further ado, the 2022–23 Staff Awards winners were announced.

Lindy Coleman, director of the Center for Student Learning, received the most prestigious staff award: The $1,500 Outstanding Staff Member Presidential Service Award, which recognizes staff who support and engage other offices and organizations on campus, have furthered the College’s core values, have been instrumental contributors to the College community and consistently collaborate and partner with other offices and organizations in order to benefit the campus community.

“It is difficult to capture in words why Lindy Coleman is so deserving of the Outstanding Presidential Award,” the nomination for Coleman said of her impact on the College, “but everyone who knows Lindy would agree that not only her contributions to the College, but perhaps even more importantly her ability to create and sustain a community, makes her an exemplary candidate in all areas of this award.”

Eileen Raney, programming manager/analyst in the Division of Information Technology, also won $1,500 when she was named the 2023 Temporary Staff Employee of the Year. Two other temporary staff members were recognized and awarded $500 each: Danielle Brown, student-athlete advisor in the Athletics Department, and Diane Tanner, assistant for administration and public relations in the Office of Professional Development in Education.

CofC staff member applaud the nominees and winners of the 2022–23 Staff Awards.

“Eileen is a true leader,” her nominator said, noting that Raney retired from the College and came back as a temporary member of the systems enterprises team. “She has been an in-the-trenches staff member, a team leader, a manager – and now she continues to be a major contributor to the College … . It is my very great honor to nominate her for this award.”

The $1,500 Permanent Staff Employee of the Year award for 2023 went to Rashad Towns. The following permanent staff members were also recognized with a $500 prize: Karen Fritchman, director of employer relations in the Career Center; Damaris Jones, office manager in the Department of Biology; Chrystal Matthews, administrative coordinator in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology; and Evie Palmisano, technical director of the Sottile Theatre.

“Rashad is a tremendous asset to the College,” wrote his nominator. “He has a calm, steady approach to his work, as well as his teams. He genuinely cares about finding solutions. He is a problem solver by his very nature. Rashad is not just a dependable leader – he is a doer. His commitment and followthrough are second to none. He is a great encourager and does things to boost morale and to show his team that he is present and willing to help, all the while working to better himself in certification programs and professional development. Rashad is a fierce ally for his team and division, and he is a strong voice on the Staff Advisory Committee for his area. You could not ask for a better advocate on your side.”