The UNK Staff Senate Employee Recognition Committee announces Dusty Newton as the UNK Employee of the Month for January 2002.
A new co-worker on the admissions staff nominated Assistant Director Dusty Newton for Employee of the Month. He writes that everyone in the department has made his transition to UNK easy and enjoyable, and he is highly impressed with the quality of the personnel and the professionalism that the entire office displays. He commends especially Dusty Newton as someone very committed to his job, a person who epitomizes being a true team player.
Some of Dusty's tasks include:
- International Admissions (Complying with these admissions has been more difficult because of the many changed immigration rulings that resulted from the recent terrorist attacks. These changes have made it difficult for students and institutions dealing with international students.)
- Planning special recruitment events
- Visiting community colleges
- Supervising the overall high school visits
- Planning college fairs
- Counseling students
All of these responsibilities are important and time-consuming. Dusty empowers people to assume responsibility for their part, that everything must be done as part of a team effort to make it really work. He is always the first one in the office to start the day. Dusty is that special role model who encourages staff to give all they can. He is an outstanding leader.
Admissions manages a large amount of information based on the strategy that close personal follow up with every student interested in our programs is essential. This is an on-going process that never stops. Therefore, many office personnel work during the nights and the weekends to follow up with students and to stay updated on what is happening at UNK. Dusty leads by example in this regard.
Because Dusty Newton is a leader who encourages his staff to be team players and who leads by example, the University of Nebraska at Kearney is pleased to name him Employee of the Month for January 2002.