Employee Appreciation Celebration
The 2026 celebration will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, April 10, at the Stubblefield Center.
Recipients of this year's Faculty, Staff, and SGA awards and those receiving Years of Service awards will be recognized during the celebration.
At the heart of every student’s educational journey are the remarkable individuals who shape the minds of tomorrow: our talented faculty and staff. We believe in fostering an environment where passion meets expertise, creating an unparalleled experience for our students.
At the annual UAFS Employee Appreciation Celebration, we publicly recognize these individuals for their invaluable contributions! This special event honors their years of dedicated service and positive impact on our institution.
During the celebration we take the time to recognize milestone achievements by distributing Years of Service Awards to those who have reached significant work anniversaries.
We also present awards to individuals selected by their colleagues for their outstanding contributions and commitment to excellence.
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- Lucille Speakman Excellence Award for Staff
- Lucille Speakman Excellence Award for Faculty
- Luella M. Krehbiel Adjunct Teacher Excellence Award
- Excellence to the University, to the Profession, and to the Community Service Award for Faculty
- Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Award
- Lori Norin Faculty Appreciation Award
- Mark Horn Staff Appreciation Award
2026 Service Pin Recipients
| Name | Title | Department |
| Mitzi Jo Moore | Administrator of Grants and Contracts | Finance |
| Jeffrey Richard Warndof | Interim Director | The Writing Center |
| Hayden Woodhull | Server/Security Administrator | Information Technology |
| Jostun Martin Pomplun | Sports Information Director | Athletics |
| DeJon Courtney Jordan | Director | SSS STEM |
| Kevin A. Staples | IT Specialist | Information Technology |
| Kristin Elaine Williams | Program Coordinator Accelerated/Instructor | School of Nursing |
| Lynette Inona Thrower | Institutional Assistant | Dean of Students |
| Rhonda Leigh Fow | Director of Foundation Finance | Foundation |
| Jacob Silvers | Instructor | College of Business |
| Mark William Standifer | Instructor | College of Business |
| Sally Story | Associate Professor | Music and Theatre |
| Madison Nicole Dickerson | Assistant Professor | Social Work |
| Chih-Hao Wu | Professor | Smart Systems Engineering |
| Ethan Pearson | Instructor | School of Nursing |
| Kendra Abel | Interim Executive Director/Assistant Professor | School of Education |
| Janet Jahn | Assistant Professor |
School of Education |
| Name | Title | Department |
| Amy Star Cates | Part-Time Administrative Specialist III | Financial Aid |
| Jourdan Elizabeth Scoggins | Assistant Professor | School of Nursing |
| Chizuko Iwaki | Associate Professor | Mathematics |
| Troy Eugene McElroy | Skilled Tradesman | Facilities Maintenance |
| Sharon Kay Nguyen | Assistant Professor | School of Nursing |
| Cheryl Jane Holden | Executive Director/Associate Professor | Healthcare Administration |
| Sonia Romero | Assistant Executive Director/Assistant Professor | School of Nursing |
| Dr. Justina V. Buck | Assistant Professor |
College of Business and Industry |
| Edward Portman | Library Administrative Support Supervisor | Library Services |
| Jasmine Smith | Director - Alumni Affairs | University Advancement |
| Cody Roland Holt | Senior Instructor | College of Business and Industry |
| Daniel Hayden | Head Coach | Athletics |
| Dustin Major Foster | Assistant to the Vice Chancellor | University Advancement |
| Kiyun Han | Associate Professor | College of Business and Industry |
| Name | Title | Department |
| Liz Blair | Assistant Director - Data Quality and Management | Foundation |
| Virginia M. Hardgraves | Associate Professor/Executive Director | Dental Hygiene |
| Brian Paul McLaughlan | Associate Professor | Computer and Information Science |
| Rick Creekmore | IT Server Administrator |
Information Technology |
| Lorne Tippit | IT Technician | Information Technology |
| David Lee Anderson | Skilled Tradesman - Locksmith | Facilities Maintenance |
| Jeff Adams | Assistant Director | Career Services |
| Dr. Brandon Hutchison | Associate Professor | Mathematics |
| Bun Song Lee | Associate Professor | College of Business and Industry |
| Nicha Karen Otero | Department Head/Associate Professor | Behavioral Sciences |
| David P. Mayo | Associate Professor | Physical Sciences |
| Name | Title | Department |
| Laura Witherington | Professor |
English, Rhetoric and Writing, and Media Communication |
| Gregg Dell Roberts | Assistant Professor | Behavioral Sciences |
| Bryan Scott Alexis | Professor | Art and Graphic Design |
| Dr. Dave Stevens | Dean of Students | Student Affairs |
| Amy Catherine Skypala | Associate Professor | Biological Science |
| Name | Title | Department |
| Veronica Lee Frederick | Database Administrator | Information Technology |
| Name | Title | Department |
| Krystal Brasher | Director - Accounts Payable | Finance |
| Name | Title | Department |
| Ernest Paul Cialone | Professor |
Art and Graphic Design
|