This week’s ‘Thumbs Up’ recipients

Purdue Academic Advising Association’s Professional Development Global Advising Subcommittee

On behalf of PACADA, we extend our deepest gratitude to Summer Winrotte Vanasdalan, Monica Peck Cottrell (both Daniels School), Melanie Dorsey (Liberal Arts), Beth Allwes (Health and Human Sciences), Frank Robinson (Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning), Janice Reynolds (Career Success) and members of the PACADA research and membership for their outstanding coordination and collaborative spirit in planning PACADA’s portion of Global Advising Week. Your dedication, creativity and attention to detail brought this weeklong celebration to life, highlighting the incredible impact of academic advising across campus and around the globe. From brainstorming session ideas to ensuring every detail ran smoothly, your commitment helped create a meaningful and inclusive experience for all involved. Thank you for going above and beyond to make this celebration a success. Your work embodies the very heart of what Global Advising Week represents: connection, recognition and the power of collaboration. — Ayrielle Davis-Espinosa (Daniels School)

Jenni Montes

I just wanted to take a moment to express my deep appreciation for the initiative, time and heart Jenni (Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences) poured into gathering local business support and donations for Purdue academic advisors during Global Advising Week. Your outreach to the community — especially to businesses owned by Purdue alumni — may seem like a natural connection to some, but I know how much competition there is right now with Purdue Day of Giving, teacher appreciation and prom season all happening at once. You navigated that landscape with grace, persistence and a generous spirit, and because of you, we’re able to celebrate our advisors in such a meaningful way. Your work made this week feel extra special, and I just wanted to make sure you know how much it’s valued. We truly wouldn’t be able to do this without you! — Ayrielle Davis-Espinosa (Daniels School)

Charles Welborne, Melissa Maze, Tracey Stanifer-Dewey and Marissa Cannon

We had a configuration change that would greatly affect workflow and reporting for our department. Charles, Melissa, Tracey and Marissa (all Purdue IT) worked late with me to ensure that changes went in smoothly. They were swift to respond to errors, and everything was resolved quickly! I appreciate everyone from IT and Security for assisting in making sure our SAP Plant Maintenance system was working properly! — Jacob Garis (Administrative Services)

Matt Reed

After a recent dining event and cleanup, I couldn’t find my cell phone. After not finding it in or around the conference room and Google’s “Find My Device” indicating it was smack-dab in the middle of Northwestern Avenue, I decided it may have been tossed in the trash. Matt (Building Services) confirmed my fear by indicating he had already taken a load of trash to the dumpster behind the Northwestern Avenue Parking Garage. Without hesitation or question, he grabbed some gloves, and we went rifling through the trash until he found it. Being in one of the last trash bags to be tossed, it was of course at the bottom of the dumpster. So, a special thank-you to Matt for taking the time to recover my phone, and many thanks to all of our custodial staff who clean up after us every day! — Mary Ann Satterfield (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Beth Russell

I want to give a huge shoutout to Beth (Administrative Operations Payroll) for all the effort and dedication in helping get our temporary employees onboarded properly. The rabbit holes she went down to find out what to do and who to ask for information were very deep. Thank you for giving this your time and full attention. — Kathy Bryant (Operations and Maintenance)

Kelsey Pearson and Aaron Pearson

Kelsey and Aaron (both Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars) redecorated our reception area, and it is so welcoming! They spearheaded this project to make our office inviting and professional for our graduate and postdoctoral scholars. It looks great! — Lori Miller (Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars)

Student Life Business Office

The Student Life Business Office staff members are a caring, thoughtful group who are always willing to help. Whether one has questions about student employment, hiring, payroll, purchasing or reimbursement, this group is knowledgeable, focused and fun to work with. Thank you for being a reliable and trusted resource! — Will Heidbreder (Student Life)

Brenda Serrano, Marcy Nelson and the entire Building Services crew

We recently celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Department of Chemistry. There were many people working behind the scenes to make sure the facilities shined for our guests. I specifically want to recognize Brenda, Marcy (both Building Services) and the entire crew that takes care of the Brown Laboratory of Chemistry and the Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry for their dedication in making sure everything looked great. We can’t thank them enough for all they do to take care of us on a daily basis, but they really stepped up for this celebratory event. Their efforts and hard work certainly did not go unnoticed and were greatly appreciated. We are thankful to have this team working with us each day. — Ned Gangwer (Chemistry)

Aaron Green

When I faced a persistent Office 365 issue that stalled my work for over a week, Aaron (Purdue IT) responded to my ticket with remarkable speed and expertise, resolving the problem in just 30 minutes. His professionalism and efficiency restored our operations seamlessly, showcasing the critical role he plays in supporting Purdue’s mission. Aaron’s commitment exemplifies the spirit of excellence that makes Purdue a wonderful place to work. I also extend heartfelt gratitude to the entire Purdue IT team, whose tireless efforts as the backbone of our technology infrastructure keep our university thriving. Thank you, Aaron, and Purdue IT, for your outstanding contributions! — Dani Green (Industrial Engineering)

Nathan Anderson, Richard Badders, Jessica Deitrich, Tari Gemmecke and Candace McCracken

A huge thumbs-up to Nathan, Richard (both Distribution Systems), Jessica, Tari (both Infrastructure) and Candace (Financial Planning and Analysis) for their efforts that ultimately resulted in a savings to the university of approximately $10,000 in avoided costs on a $500,000 project I’m managing. — Casey Hartmann (Energy and Utilities)

Karen Neubauer

Thank you, Karen (Center for Instructional Excellence), for leading the summer syllabus redesign effort. She created a unified guideline document to help instructors provide a consistent framework for students, making it easier to find information. This update has streamlined syllabus revisions and ensured the most current references for Brightspace and AI statements. Thank you for these valuable improvements! — John Race (Office of Summer and Winter Sessions)

Jill Moss and Kristina Pelfree

Great job, Jill and Kristina (both Public Health) at planning the end of the year awards ceremony! — Katie May (Public Health)