University News

Jones Named Administrative Employee of the Year

May 31, 2005

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MACOMB, IL – Patricia I. Jones, assistant director of the University Advising and Academic Support Center (UAASC) at Western Illinois University, has been named Western’s Council of Administrative Personnel (COAP) Employee of the Year for her ongoing work in the center and for her commitment to international students.

The annual award, presented by COAP in conjunction with the University president, recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a COAP member who has far exceeded his or her duties.

“Patti serves as an ‘unofficial’ consultant on international issues for the Center for International Studies, and she serves as an invaluable resource for other advisers on campus. She is a wonderful mentor for new colleagues,” said Candace McLaughlin, UAASC director and one of Jones’s nominators.

In her role as the assistant director for UAASC, some of Jones’s duties include training graduate assistants, coordinating the center’s services for international students and the campuswide advisers training workshop and serving as a resource for academic advisers across the campus. Jones is active in the National Academic Advising Association and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. She is also the co-recipient of a Fulbright Grant to lead a group of secondary teachers to South Korea with WIU Geography Professor Siyoung Park.

“Patti’s passionate professionalism, complete commitment to her work and outstanding and creative people skills have enabled her to develop in its entirety what our (NAFSA) region is. She has not merely set the tone, but she has created the Region as we know it,” said Tamara Felden, director of the Office of International Affairs at the University of Chicago and one of Jones’s nominators.

“The COAP Executive Council is pleased to honor Patti Jones for her hard work and dedication,” said Dan Maxwell, director of Student Activities and 2004 – 2006 COAP president. “WIU is a better place for Patti’s commitment to our overall excellence.”

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