Beth Reid has been the Office Manager for Student Support Services since March 1996. In that capacity, Beth is responsible for a variety of critical program components involving the program's student database, monthly newsletter, social events, student assistance, and general office coordination. Simply put, Beth can be counted on. She is responsible for compiling crucial student information used for reports to the federal Department of Education on student success in the program. Beth also works each month to organize, compile, produce, and distribute the program's monthly newsletter. This entails coordinating at least five different authors' submissions with a variety of other necessary information. Beth is also the point person for organizing office events such as the semester awards and recognition social, for directing a committee of students, and for doing everything from producing the invitations and programs to ordering food for an event.
Student Support Services has recently undergone a process of moving from a primarily paper-based system of record keeping to a primarily electronic system that includes document imaging. Beth has been the key person in the transition process of creating new office procedures, as she worked with others to troubleshoot, plan, and fine-tune the system. She also made vital contributions in the design of new procedures and forms in the process.
Beth is also a major force in setting annual office goals. When a goal is established or discussed, she always suggests what she can do from her position to assist in reaching that goal, be it producing tailored lists of students to glean new information, gathering unique data from the program's database systems, or contacting people to make things happen. Beth often proposes goals of her own for the office or provides additional ideas for the successful realization of ideas others suggest. In sum, Beth is the central force, working quietly but effectively, that keeps everyone else in the office coordinated on a day-to-day and long-term basis.
Beth's unique warmth and genuine character also make her a good friend of many of the students whom Student Support Services sees everyday. Beth is always there to make the student feel comfortable, to speak with them if they are having a bad day, or to help them with whatever questions they may have. Her crucial "gatekeeper" function as welcomer and friend makes a positive impression on the university careers of the students the program serves.
Beth has a delightful sense of humor, yet is serious-minded in her work. She often attends UNK events and is a model ambassador for Student Support Services and UNK as a whole. Her work ethic is a unique and enviable blend of student service, leadership, and dependable management.
Because of her talents and commitment to her work and beyond, the University of Nebraska at Kearney is pleased to name Beth Reid the Employee of the Month for May 2000.