Colorado Mesa University (CMU) recently held its annual employee recognition event, honoring the exceptional contributions of its faculty and staff. The event served as a platform to highlight the dedication and accomplishments of the hundreds of individuals who play essential roles in making CMU a human scale university.
The occasion paid tribute to each employee's commitment to CMU's mission, recognizing notable milestones of service. Among the 234 staff and faculty members acknowledged for their years of service, 119 marked one year of service, 52 celebrated five years, 37 reached one decade and 12 accomplished 15 years.
Fourteen employees stood out for reaching more than two decades of service at CMU. Employees recognized for their long-standing commitment to CMU include:
30 Years
- Carrie McVean
25 Years
- Rhonda Claridge
- Susan Goebel
- Calvin Hofer
- Verner Johnson
- Elizabeth Nelson
- David Taylor
- William Wright
20 Years
- Carol Christ-Campbell
- Michael Lyon
- Les Miller
- Vincent Patarino
- Scotty Reed
- Bryan Rooks
In addition to honoring service milestones, the event spotlighted outstanding faculty, staff and departments for their excellence in teaching, leadership and service.
Award recipients and nominees include:
Early Career Distinguished Faculty Award
Winner: Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies Rachel Weinzimmer
Since her start at CMU in 2020, Weinzimmer has been actively engaged in course redesign in the Physician Assistant (PA) program, resulting in positive feedback from students. She created a cohesive and effective learning environment that incorporates life support certifications seamlessly into the PA curriculum. Her clinical expertise remains current through practice in local emergency departments, enhancing her teaching with real-world experience and fostering community ties that have resulted in new clinical rotation sites. Weinzimmer shares her knowledge with students across multiple health disciplines, strengthening the interprofessional curriculum at CMU.
Nominees: Nate Bachman, Abdulah Bajaba, Chris Carcia, Patrice Connors, Cassandra Fenton, Jennifer Fortuna, Caitlin Moore, Holly Oberle, Jennifer Radomski and Eileen Woolwine
Distinguished Faculty Award
Winner: Associate Professor of Radiologic Sciences Olga Grisak
Grisak's tenure at CMU demonstrates her dedication to academic leadership, teaching and service. Starting as an Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator for Radiologic Technology in 2013, she later became program coordinator in 2018, managing three programs. Her pivotal role in transitioning the program from an associate degree to a bachelor's degree reflects her commitment to advancing radiologic sciences education. In addition to teaching and administration, Grisak takes on a significant advising load and participates in numerous recruiting events, emphasizing her commitment to student success.
Nominees: Tyler Anderson, Kathy Diehl, Kate Dreiling, Eli Hall, Jonathan Hinkle, Tiffany Kinney, Christopher McKim, Sloane Milstein, Kyle Stone and Johanna Varner
Distinguished Faculty Award for Clinical and Technical Faculty
Winner: Associate Technical Professor of Culinary Arts Wayne Smith
Wayne Smith has made significant contributions to student success in culinary arts. His leadership in the food safety and sanitation course resulted in an impressive 85% of students earning the ServSafe Manager Food Safety Certification. Smith's commitment to hands-on learning is evident in his development of the confectionary course and the Sustainable Cuisine Initiative. As an advisor, he goes above and beyond by connecting students with industry recruiters for job placements and internships. His weekly lab hours provide students with opportunities for skill development and personal projects, encouraging continuous learning and growth.
Nominees: A’lanne Conrad, Megan Englund, Damion Gustafson, Anneke Moresco and Tom Sylvester
Administrative Department of the Year
Winner: Information Technology (IT)
CMU’s IT Department is the unsung hero behind the scenes, ensuring all technology campus-wide operates smoothly. They maintain, troubleshoot and upgrade systems, with efforts often going unnoticed until an issue arises. Their work is fundamental to the university’s daily operations, supporting communication, education and collaboration across departments. IT is valuable to CMU’s mission, keeping everyone connected and productive, even when faced with complex challenges.
Runner-up: Financial Aid
Distinguished Staff Member of the Year
Winner: Assistant Director of Admissions Mara Chilcote
Mara Chilcote is a cherished member of the CMU community, embodying dedication and attentiveness throughout her 10 years of service in the Admissions Office. She represents CMU's values through her dedication to helping others, resilience in overcoming challenges and her humble demeanor. Known for empowering others and upholding CMU’s principles, she is a cherished colleague, friend and role model. Chilcote's diligence, care and support are essential to the admissions team, reflecting CMU's core values daily.
Runners-up: Laureen Cantwell-Jurkovic and Stephanie Parsons
The purpose of the employee recognition event is to show appreciation for the efforts of the academic and administrative community on campus, highlighting the significance of each employee’s role in advancing the institution’s overarching mission. By celebrating the unique contributions of each faculty and staff member, CMU reaffirms its commitment to excellence and innovation in higher education.
