University News

Harrison Named February EOM

February 27, 2024

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University First Year Advising Center and Student Learning Center Office Manager Erin Harrison has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Month for February.

Harrison started at WIU in Spring 2023. Before WIU, she worked in event planning, banking and trust administration, cake artistry and graphic design and has owned multiple small businesses over the past 14 years.

Harrison earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management from WIU in 2005.

"Erin most certainly is a wonderful asset to the First Year Advising Center and the Student Learning Center," her nominator said. "Erin does an outstanding job in her everyday duties and is always so helpful when I ask for help. The two centers she oversees as office manager have experienced many changes in the last year or so and she was newly hired this Spring. She has implemented several new processes and procedures that help make our centers run more efficiently and smoothly. She is organized and well-experienced with Excel, organizational tools, etc. She puts above and beyond effort into thinking through the best way to efficiently get the work done and to keep everyone organized. Her systems help keep the office suite functioning. Having her join our team has been a positive impact and I hope she knows how much we appreciate her."

Harrison is not only nominated for her organizational skills and for keeping the office running, but for her positive attitude.

"She is as sweet as can be," her nominator said. "Recently a colleague of ours took another job and Erin organized a going away party for her. She put a lot of time and effort into making it special for our colleagues. She donated her time and talents of baking to the cause. It was special and a great opportunity for us all to come together. We had a wonderful lunch and shared many laughs. Another example is Erin has volunteered to do the baking of treats to celebrate staff members' birthdays. She is often doing little things for others in the office and it does not go unnoticed."

Harrison is commended for how she is as a supervisor to student workers.

"She is wonderful to them," her nominator said. "All in all, Erin has just been a wonderful addition to our staff and I am thankful for her as I know my colleagues are as well. She puts a lot of effort into her work and it is very much appreciated. She is quiet and humble, but she has made a huge impact in the short time she has been here thus far. She hit the ground running and has had a lot of great ideas that have helped run our office smoothly as we work through several transitions."

"We have an outstanding team of dedicated professionals in the First Year Advising/Student Learning Center, with the common goal of providing support, resources, accountability and advice for students to help them thrive and be successful," Harrison said. "I'm happy to use my talents, skills and available resources to support our advisors and academic coaches to the best of my ability. I'm very grateful to have received this award, but the wonderful students and staff I work with every day are why I do what I do."

In August 2010, the Goldfarbs established an endowment to permanently fund the University's Civil Service Employee of the Month award. The Goldfarb endowment is used to fund a $100 award for the recipient of the Civil Service Employee of the Month, as well as a plaque.

The WIU Foundation provides a $500 stipend for the Civil Service Employee of the Year. Western faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as community members wishing to nominate a civil service employee for the monthly recognition, should contact the Civil Service Employees Council (CSEC) at csec-nominations-g@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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