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Deborah Taylor, left, and Lynn Ellison display their 2021 Staff Excellence Awards.
Winners of College’s 2021 Staff Excellence Awards Named
| On April 16, the College of Health Professions announced the recipients of the 2021 Staff Excellence Awards. Lynn Ellison, an executive assistant in the Department of Respiratory Care, was the recipient of the Excellence in Customer Service Award. Deborah Taylor, executive assistant to the dean, was the recipient of the Excellence in Performance Award.
Ellison’s nominators wrote that “Lynn is the embodiment of the UAMS core values. She is a vigilant steward of her time and the department’s resources, demonstrating the highest level of integrity in all of her work. She is diligent to tackle projects and search for creative solutions. She consistently conducts the department’s business with honesty and attention to detail.”
When the building’s heater malfunctioned and pipes burst recently, Ellison chose to work on campus to assist those who remained, revealing her commitment to the UAMS mission and program’s priorities. This year alone, she worked with vendors and purchasing to save more than $17,000 in equipment costs through educational grants and discounts.
They stated: “Lynn’s creativity is evident in making our meetings, conferences and special events professional, unique and memorable. We were especially impressed with last year’s virtual graduation. Despite the awkwardness and uncertainty, Lynn’s work created an environment that made it feel like a ‘real’ graduation. The event was pivotal in recognizing the achievement of the graduates, and assuaged the disappointment of not being able to celebrate in person with their classmates and faculty. Lynn is recognized across the college as cheerful, accommodating, and quick to collaborate with other departments.”
The College of Health Professions’ Excellence in Customer Service Award is to recognize the staff member whose significant contributions through service to its customers are instrumental in achieving the UAMS mission. The College of Health Professions’ Excellence in Performance Award is to recognize the staff member whose significant contributions through individual and team effort are instrumental in achieving the UAMS mission, and who best exemplifies the core values of integrity, respect, diversity, teamwork, creativity and excellence. Candidates for both awards may be nominated by students, staff, alumni, or faculty members.
Taylor’s nominators wrote: “Her position description states that she provides administrative support to the dean and the associate deans, but few will challenge the fact that the support Deborah Taylor provides reaches all faculty and staff in the college, students, visitors, numerous UAMS departments and Offices, and outside organizations. Not sure how something is done or need some direction? Contact Deborah. She strives for and achieves excellence in all that she does. She also takes initiative and uses her creativity to develop more effective ways of accomplishing tasks efficiently and safely.”
Taylor is actively involved in a variety of college and university projects and initiatives. She helps coordinate the college’s UAMS Day of Giving initiative, provides support to the chair of the campus-wide Rockefeller Lectureship Committee, creates and publishes the college’s internal monthly e-newsletter (First Thursday), interfaces with the Provost’s and Chancellor’s Offices on behalf of the college, and helps plan and execute events such as the CHP Hooding Ceremony and Graduate Brunch.
“Deborah embraces the diversity of those with whom she interacts, respecting their opinions and values,” they stated. “Her sustained record of significant contributions to the CHP and UAMS missions and her embodiment of the CHP core values makes her an excellent candidate for the Excellence in Performance Award.”