Winners, who were nominated by colleagues, express humility and gratitude 

Five outstanding staff members have been named employees of the year by the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

The honorees are:

• Misuhng Suh, ceramics, foundations and sculpture lab coordinator, Department of Art and Art History
• Virginia Kester-Meyer, program manager, Department of Ethnic Studies
• Karen Hawley, program assistant II, Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures
• Katherine Rousseau, assistant director and internship director, International Affairs Program
• Mary Fentress, program manager, Department of Applied Mathematics

Suh has overseen ceramics, metal shop and sculpture since 2004. Since 2018, she has worked as lab coordinator II in the Ceramics, Foundations and Sculpture Sculpture’s Post Studio Practice areas. Her work includes maintaining and organizing art studio spaces and oversight of the maintenance of equipment, store, supplies and equipment.

Suh said she feels extremely fortunate to work with the amazing staff, faculty and students in art and art history. “I cannot begin to tell how grateful I am for this recognition from Staff Advisory Committee for selecting me and everyone who nominated me. Thank you.”

Kester-Meyer joined the Department of Ethnic Studies in December 2018. She is involved in process and policy development for many departmental activities and is responsible for departmental finance; human resources; faculty affairs; academic scheduling and curriculum; research administration; and supervision of staff and student employees. She also manages the finance and human resources elements of the department’s doctoral program and contributes to graduate program development.

Kester-Meyer also expressed gratitude for the recognition: “To be celebrated in this way by my colleagues, and by the college, is a wonderful and affirming gift.”

Hawley is the program manager and graduate program assistant in the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures. She has worked at CU Boulder since March 1994.

Hawley thanked the Staff Advisory Committee and the college for the recognition: “I was so honored to have been nominated for this award by my department and feel very fortunate to work in such a supportive department.”

Rousseau has been with the International Affairs Program since 2006. She has served as assistant director of the program since 2012.

Rousseau said she appreciates that the Staff Advisory Committee has established such a significant recognition for staff. “I’m proud to be an A&S staff member and to work with such outstanding and dedicated colleagues on a daily basis.”

Fentress has been with applied mathematics for eight years but has been on campus for 21 years. She serves as the department program manager and works closely with the chair and staff to oversee the operation of applied mathematics. 

“I am absolutely honored to be a recipient of this award,” she said. “I'm blessed to work in a wonderful department that has great faculty and students. I'm grateful to work with an enjoyable staff because the laughter and the camaraderie that we have as a team is the best!”

The Employee of the Year Award is presented annually to College of Arts and Sciences staff in recognition and appreciation of exceptional job performance. All A&S classified and university staff may be nominated for this award, excluding current members of the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Staff Advisory Committee (SAC). 

Nominations are accepted from fellow staff, faculty or students who have firsthand knowledge of the nominee's performance. The award comes with $1,500.