Six employees were honored as A-B Tech’s 2024 Employees of the Year during the college’s spring picnic on May 8. They were nominated by peers and students earlier in the year and final selections were made by the college’s Faculty Senate, Staff Association, and Continuing Education & Workforce Development. All winners received a certificate and a cash prize from the college. The Faculty Member of the Year and Staff Member of the Year also will be submitted in a statewide contest this fall.
President John Gossett said, “I am proud to present these awards to our employees this year. They each exemplify what we do here at A-B Tech: Serve well!”
The award-winners are:
Faculty Member of the Year: Monique Worley, Instructor, Medical Laboratory Technology
Monique has worked in the medical lab and phlebotomy department for sixteen years. She became a teacher after twenty years of working in a hospital lab. Her favorite part of her job is sharing her passion with students.
She said, “It means even more (to get recognition) because I am not a formally trained educator. I’ve got sixteen years of experience learning how to be a better educator and improving the quality of instruction over time….I appreciate the validation after years of hard work with literal blood, sweat, and tears.”
Staff Member of the Year: Dana Moore, Interim Dean, Engineering, Transportation & Technology
Dana started at A-B Tech in 2012 as a computer technology adjunct instructor. In 2015 she took a position as fulltime curriculum compliance and data management coordinator. She took over as interim Dean of Engineering, Transportation, and Technology in October of 2023.
She says one of the most exciting parts of her job is working with direct transfer agreement students who can receive credits for past courses taken. “Sometimes I find students who have completed their programs without knowing it, or need just one more course to finish,” she said. “It’s thrilling to know I’m helping to bring them some unexpected good news.”
Continuing Education Instructor of the Year: Jay Kaufmann, Coordinator and Lead Instructor, A-B Tech Barber Academy
Jay has worked in his current role for five years. His favorite part of the job is watching students grow within their desired fields and supporting and encouraging students on their way to becoming professional barbers. He said, “It is humbling to receive such an honorable award for doing what I love to do.”
Advisor of the Year: Erica Witsell, Education Navigator, Transitional Studies
Erica started as an adjunct teaching English Language Acquisition in 2014 and was hired in her current position as an Education Navigator two years ago.
She works with a mix of immigrant students navigating an unfamiliar system in a second language and high school equivalency or adult high school students whose experience with traditional education in the past may not have been ideal. She said, “I am honored that I get to help these students accomplish what many of them didn’t think was possible.”
Getting nominated was “incredibly meaningful” because it shows the college values the work she and her colleagues in Transitional Studies are doing to support students not just in learning English or earning a high school credential but in continuing their education at A-B Tech.
Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year: Michelle Payton, Instructor, English Department
Michelle just completed her tenth year teaching English at A-B Tech this spring. Her favorite things about her job are having the support of department chair, Heather Vaughn; teaching her students, and being involved in “groundbreaking efforts” like HyFlex learning.
Payton said, “Being recognized is a great honor as I know that we have a large talent pool of adjuncts.”
Part-Time Staff Member of the Year: Crystal Lucinian, Program Manager, Veterinary Medical Technology
Crystal has been the Vet Tech Program Manager since 2017. In her role, Lucinian sets students up for classes each semester. “Being behind the scenes, yet an essential member of this wonderful team is a perfect position for me,” She said. “I enjoy the managing, maintenance, and flexibility this brings to my life. It means so much to receive (an award like this); for someone who often works ‘in the shadows’ to know one is doing a good job.”