University of Arizona Classified Staff and Appointed Professionals

A Staff Awards for Excellence ceremony honoring a number of UA employees was held on April 20, 2011.

Among the recipients is Talisha Mottinger, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Business Office Manager. Talisha is recognized for her leadership role in getting the Department of Energy funded $15M Energy Frontier Research Cenger (EFRC) at the University off the ground. She also contributed extensively to the merger of Chemistry and Biochemistry and has brought a sense of stability to the department through the transition.

The Staff Awards for Excellence are designed to recognize employees who go above and beyond the call of duty in their jobs, whether it's by putting in extra hours, initiating innovative programs or always arriving at the office with a smile.

Read the full article in UA News

COSSAC: The Science of Giving

The College of Science Staff Recognition Award of Excellence Winners were recognized at the Excellence Awards Luncheon on Aptil 21, 2011.

The College of Science Staff Advisory Council (COSSAC) serves as a liaison and advisor to Dean Ruiz on staff issues, with a goal of empowering College of Science classified staff and nonacademic professional appointed personnel, enhancing their quality of life, and building a sense of community.

2011 Winners from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry include:

Award of Excellence	Mark Yanagihashi, Senior Lab Coordinator
Star Award Winners	Deidre Belle-Oudry, Manager, Instructional Laboratories	Laura Lustro, Administrative Associate
Development Grant Recipients	Gary Nichol, Assistant Staff Scientist	Stephanie (Peng) Shu, Assistant Staff Scientist

The COSSAC Professional Development Grant  recognizes the need to provide limited funding for staff enrichment, including additional funding for training and travel, when alternative sources for funding are rare or do not exist. This additional funding opportunity has been possible due to the fundraising efforts of CoSSAC and generous contributions from the College of Science.