Pam Proskocil, Staff Secretary III in the Department of History, has been named Employee of the Month for June 2004.
A KSC/UNK employee for 26 years, Pam has clearly demonstrated a commitment of continuing service to the campus. She has served under five different department chairs and through innumerable staffing as well as organizational changes in the department, the College of Natural and Social Sciences and the university. Pam is described as a committed professional who understands every aspect of her job and carries it out with care and precision. As a former chair said, "Ms. Proskocil understands her job, my job and the job of everyone else in the department better than anyone else I know."
She regularly takes the initiative in recommending to the chair and department specific actions intended to serve the interests of the department, the university and most of all the students. In representing the department to students who come in seeking help or information, she is unfailingly polite, professional and helpful. There is no doubt that her presence at the front desk does a great deal to build the reputation of the department, and the university as a whole, as student-friendly. Further, she is often an advocate for students--reminding both faculty and the chair how their actions or decisions might affect students. And she is equally professional and helpful in her dealings with the department faculty and other university personnel who rely on her knowledge, experience and connections throughout the university.
Dedication to her profession is evident in the numerous workshops and training sessions she attends to keep up with, and often ahead of, changes in technology and information processing throughout the university. For example, in one year, she attended workshops on accounts payable, policies, payroll, financial reporting, Central Supply processes, SAP, Web page design and My Nu Look. The faculty and the chair depend on her to help them learn new systems and administrative processes. Her competence is also evidenced by the fact that she is the backup data entry person for the Office of the Dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences. In addition to attending workshops and assisting other offices, she has assisted with the NU Foundation fund drive, served on a wide variety of campus committees and been an active member of Staff Senate--speaking out in support of staff needs and interests to faculty and the university administration.
In her daily activities in the Department of History, she not only completes her routine activities in a timely manner, but excels at the increasingly numerous and demanding special projects required from the department. For example, when the department underwent its five-year program review, she kept the project on schedule, and found, formatted and helped interpret statistical data. When asked for additional information, she either found it or found out who would have it. Finally, she proofread and formatted every page of the final product. In addition, she assisted the department in creating an assessment plan, recruitment letters, new brochures, departmental newsletter and several reports relating to the budget crisis. While still in the process of completing the self-study project, she began assisting with the department's next major project--collecting data and information for NCATE.
Her expertise and professionalism reduces the amount of time faculty must spend on bureaucratic and administrative tasks, allowing them to more fully dedicate themselves to their primary tasks of teaching, scholarship and service. She not only does everything necessary for departmental projects, she frequently takes the initiative to suggest additional kinds of information that might be needed or approaches that could be considered. Pam demonstrates a continuing commitment of service to the historical profession as well as to the university, the Kearney community, and the State of Nebraska.
It is with sincere appreciation that Staff Senate gives their continued good wishes in recognizing Pam Proskocil as the June Employee of the Month.