During the thirty months that Lewanda Diaz has worked in the Department of Management and Marketing at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, she has proven herself a wonderful asset to its students and faculty. Her performance this year has been invaluable, for she worked diligently with three search committees and nine prospective candidates to coordinate schedules, to book airline flights and to make motel reservations. Beyond these expected tasks, Lewanda provided and saw to the many "little extras" that make prospective employees feel welcome, even before their arrival on campus. She checked with prospective faculty candidates about possible dietary restrictions and their beverage preferences. Then, Lewanda made sure that these wishes were accommodated during the interview process.
Lewanda maintains a cheerful demeanor, often under trying circumstances. Last summer, the business office building underwent renovation. All the windows and doors were replaced; new offices were created in the basement; and the sidewalk and yard were torn up for several months. Through that trying time, Lewanda focused on the potential beauty of the completed project and kept her sense of humor. This summer, she helped schedule the moving of the entire department. She packed up the materials from her office and from those of faculty members who were away from campus. She oversaw the switching of telephones and spent countless hours ensuring that all was in order in the new quarters.
The smile in Lewanda's voice as she greets visitors and students, re-routes calls, takes messages, and handles miscellaneous tasks brightens everyone's day. Wherever she sees work to be done, she does it. She is always willing to help students, faculty and visitors. Faculty appreciate greatly her efficient organizing of their travel arrangements when attending conferences and professional meetings.
Lewanda Diaz uses sound judgment in organizing her work activities. Everything is completed on time or ahead of schedule. She anticipates busy workflow periods and schedules work study time accordingly. Work study students find her supervision a maturing experience and good preparation for the world of work. She also makes the workplace pleasant by tracking the birthdays of the department's faculty, graduate assistants, and work study students. Once a month she organizes a celebration day complete with treats.
Lewanda's thorough comprehension of her duties and responsibilities leads to highly accurate work production. Her unsurpassed understanding of the myriad forms that UNK uses enables her to complete her work quickly and efficiently. Because she possesses an adaptable, flexible approach to all assignments, Lewanda masters new tasks quickly.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney is pleased to recognize Lewanda Diaz's exceptional performance as a departmental secretary and her grace and ease in creating and maintaining a pleasant work environment on our campus. The University takes great pleasure in naming Lewanda Diaz the Employee of the Month for December 1999.