Ethics and Compliance announces 2014 Walk the Talk Award recipients

April 21, 2014  


Today (April 21) six individuals from the University community will be named recipients of the inaugural Walk the Talk Award, presented by the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance, for their outstanding dedication to the University's Statement of Integrity and Code of Conduct.

The Statement of Integrity and Code of Conduct promotes such things as integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, good stewardship, and avoidance of impropriety and conflicts of interest. Specifically, this award is presented to those individuals who most exemplify strong ethical character in their dealings with others, champion ethical practices or programs, or apply personal values in a manner that demonstrates integrity and high standards of excellence.

Recipients were selected by a committee composed of representatives from the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance, Human Resources, and the Office of the Dean of Students from all four University campuses. Serving on this year's committee were Amy Carlson, Michelle Clauss, Rose Costello, Lisa Goodnight, Trent Klingerman, Sue Miller, Diana Moryl, Robin Newman and Kelley Stier.

A reception will be held at Purdue Memorial Union, where Alysa Christmas Rollock, vice president for ethics and compliance, will announce the 2014 award recipients. Rollock says that this year's nominations reveal that "many members of our University community truly do 'walk the talk' when it comes to advancing a strong culture of ethics."

Along with today's Walk the Talk Award Reception, award recipients will be honored with official recognition at their respective campuses. Name recognition also will be given to award recipients on an electronic plaque to be posted on the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance website.

2014 WALK THE TALK AWARD RECIPIENTS

FACULTY

Lorna L. Hecker is a professor of marriage and family therapy as well as the director of the Marriage & Family Therapy Center at Purdue University Calumet. Hecker is a native of Pearl City, Ill., and has been at Purdue Calumet for 22 years. Hecker has been chosen as an award recipient as her high standards of moral and ethical values and principles are an encouragement to her peers as well as the master's students in the Department of Behavioral Sciences who are preparing to embark on their professional careers.

Hecker sets a wonderful example of ethics and integrity in the profession for the Marriage and Family Therapy master's students. A co-worker said that one of her first encounters with Hecker's deep devotion to training students in the program about ethics was when she stumbled upon a sheet of paper hanging in the graduate students' office. The co-worker recalled that the paper said in effect "Stop! Are your actions ethical? On a scale of 0-10, with 0 being Lorna and 10 being 'sleep with a client,' where does your action fall?" Hecker has also championed ethical practices in the profession by editing a book on ethics titled "Ethics and Professional Issues in Couple and Family Therapy" published in 2010. In addition, Hecker has recently advanced her knowledge about HIPAA ethics and compliance issues by undergoing extensive training and an exam to become a Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS) expert for the mental health profession, and she is writing a book on HIPAA compliance as it relates to the mental health field.

Jane E. Rose is associate professor of English at Purdue North Central. Rose is a native of LaPorte, Ind., and has been a faculty member at Purdue North Central for 17 years. Rose has been chosen as an award recipient because she exemplifies the values set forth in Purdue's Statement of Integrity and Code of Conduct through her championship of academic freedom.

As a literature instructor, Rose offers courses that often touch on a variety of sensitive topics, from gender and race in literature to modern interpretation of classical themes. Rose has been described as being "skilled in promoting an environment where each student feels safe in exploring and analyzing these themes." She treats her students with fairness and expects her students to follow her example by treating each other with respect and dignity. Rose is known for her ability to champion freedom of expression in the classroom, open inquiry, and debate that furthers education and enrichment as well as intellectual diversity and inclusiveness. Rose makes it clear through both action and word that each student's opinion is valued and respect is paramount to cooperative learning.

STAFF

Christine Collins is the associate director in the Office of International Students and Scholars at the Purdue University West Lafayette campus. She is a native of Lafayette, Ind., and has been a staff member at the University for approximately 11 years. Collins has been described as "a role model to others who are new to the field" and as someone who "models ethical principles while holding others to the highest standards of excellence."

Collins goes out of her way to support international students as they adapt to the Purdue community. She has actively worked with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to establish an on-campus one-stop-shop location where SSA can meet for scheduled appointments with international students. This wise use of University resources has helped meet the needs of international students. She tirelessly works to find resolutions to problems. Her co-workers state, "At times, this is no small feat given that Chris is bound by immigration regulations set forth by the Department of Homeland Security" that she must adhere to in order to protect the individual and the University.

Dimples Smith is the training and employee relations administrator in Human Resources at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. She is a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., and has been a staff member at IPFW for approximately 10 years. Smith exemplifies the values set forth in Purdue's Statement of Integrity and Code of Conduct. She has been described as an "inspiration" and "the embodiment of ethics and integrity" by her co-workers.

Smith is well-known for her thoughtful and considerate demeanor, honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, and ability to put the best interest of others above her own. She is also known by the time commitment and service she devotes to the University as well as her church and local community. Smith is often selected to serve on a search committee, strategic plan committee, APSAC or other campus committee because of her objectiveness and strong sense of ethics. One co-worker stated that "[w]hen Dimples acts, it is after she has considered what is legal, what is in accordance with Purdue policy and, most importantly, what is the right thing to do. Dimples is the moral compass for the office."

STUDENTS

Matthew Meier is a junior from Beecher, Ill., majoring in mechanical engineering at Purdue University Calumet. Meier was chosen as an award recipient because he embodies the principles set forth in Purdue's Statement of Integrity and Code of Conduct. Specifically, he has been described as a good person who possesses integrity, honesty, a good work ethic, and a commitment to his community and the University. He is also known for his good stewardship of financial resources. Meier is truly a committed student who possesses honesty and trustworthiness with the student funds to which he is entrusted.

A fellow student commented that "Matt exudes personal integrity and ethical practices. One could say that, as the student president of Purdue University Calumet's Honors Program, he has an obligation to do so, but ethics and integrity are at Matt's core. He's the type of person who sacrifices his social time and a good night's rest -- not his integrity -- to succeed." Meier is known for considering whether his decisions are logical, fair, within the best interest of the program, and within the best interest of the University before he acts upon them. And, despite his hectic schedule, he is never too busy for fellow students who seek him out for information or advice about classes, program activities or policies. He is known for being an excellent listener who carefully considers all information before issuing an idea or recommendation -- and because he is diligent in this way, his suggestions are always sound and acceptable to everyone.

Elizabeth Tobin is a senior from Roanoke, Ind., majoring in psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Tobin has been chosen as an award recipient because she demonstrates an incredibly high degree of integrity and a purpose-led life that is an inspiration to those on campus. Tobin leads by example by championing ethical practices and programs at IPFW.

In 2012, the Office of the Dean of Students developed and implemented a unique peer-led program called the Dean of Students Diplomats. The mission of the Diplomats Program is to promote academic integrity, civility, student rights, responsibilities and conduct, ethics and responsible freedom by sharing knowledge and educating students in the IPFW community. Tobin was selected as a Diplomat because of her leadership qualities, involvement as a peer health educator, and her high academic achievements. It has been said of Tobin that she "approaches life with purpose and strives for honor, honesty, and service in all her endeavors." Therefore, it was not surprising that Tobin chose "Academic Honesty" as a workshop topic that she created and presented to her peers on campus. As a Diplomat, Tobin has also presented at FYE Learning Communities, a Nursing Orientation, Psi Chi Honor Society, Reverse Career Fairs, a Welcome Back Block Party and at the ISAA Conference at IU Bloomington, titled "Dean of Students Diplomats: The Development and Implementation of a Peer Leader Program on a College Campus." She represented the Diplomats as a community volunteer for the BIG Event, and has been an active recruiter for the Diplomats Program.

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