CAS staff members “make a difference” for WMU

Karen Steeno and Lauren Carney

Karen Steeno (fall 2015 Make a Difference Award recipient) and Lauren Carney

Lauren Carney, College of Arts and Sciences, and Kim Tembreull, psychology, were honored as outstanding employees during a reception for WMU’s spring 2016 Semiannual Make a Difference Award held on Tuesday, April 12 in the Bernhard Center. They were among 14 recipients of the award.

Lauren Carney is the academic advisor in the Global and International Studies Program where she received huge accolades from students. Here is what one of her nominators said of her:

“Lauren has done an exceptional job of advising undergraduates on building a path in their time at WMU that embodies the university’s pillars of global engagement, being driven by discovery and centering on learning. She has also encouraged them to think about their future goals and shaping their experience around building a background that would allow them to be competitive in pursuing those goals.”

President Dunn and Kim Tembreull

President Dunn and Kim Tembreull

Kim Tembreull is an administrative assistant in the Department of Psychology. Here is what one of her nominators said of her:

“I am a new faculty member who just started in the fall of 2015. Kim has made my transition as seamless as possible. She facilitated renovation of my lab space and made sure it looked fantastic, got me all set up with my office and made sure my requested changes were completed as soon as possible. Everything she has done for me has been done with grace, positivity and fantastic efficiency.”

The Make a Difference Award Program is a campus-wide, peer-to-peer initiative that recognizes University staff members for their outstanding accomplishments and daily investment of energy and creativity. Only members of the non-faculty workforce of more than 1,800 people are eligible to receive the accolade.

Up to 15 staffers may be selected in each of two semiannual award periods. This year, 14 staffers were selected. Semiannual winners receive a before-tax prize of $300. They are selected by a committee comprised of their peers.

Recipients of each year's fall and spring semiannual award are eligible to receive one of four annual Make a Difference Awards that carry a before-tax prize of $1,200.