Courageous Change Leader
The Courageous Change Leader (CCL) award is the highest honor bestowed on a staff member within the Division of Student Affairs. As a division we established six commitment statements identifying how we expect staff to approach their work holistically supporting students in the development of meaningful lives. These commitment statements are the overarching expectations for our work in this student-centered environment. The CCL award recognizes one or two staff members within the division who embody these commitment statements.
Courageous Change Leaders are chosen by the Vice President's Leadership Team and receive a $1,000 honorarium, plaque, and one additional day off. (VPLT members are ineligible for this award).
Impact
This award recognizes a professional (3 years or more) who is a game-changer on campus and within the division. Recipients are outstanding performers whose contributions to our division through their work celebrate a positive impact in the lives of our students, in advancement of our strategic plan, and/or in creating community in our division.
The Impact awardee is selected by an ad-hoc committee and receive a $500 honorarium, plaque, and one additional day off.
Outstanding Newcomer
This award recognizes a professional newer to the division (3 years or less) who shows strong potential for excelling in our division of student affairs and whose positive contributions are noteworthy. New perspectives, new energy, and new ideas can impact our work in profound and meaningful ways.
The Outstanding Newcomer awardee is selected by an ad-hoc committee and receive a $500 honorarium, plaque, and one additional day off.
Student Affairs Champion
Members of the Division of Student Affairs may nominate an individual outside of the division who has been an outstanding partner and/or made a meaningful contribution through exceptional dedication to the mission and vision of the Division of Student Affairs. Recipients are engaged partners, collaborative, and student focused.
The Student Affairs Champion is selected by an ad-hoc committee led by the Vice President for Student Affairs and receives a plaque.
2023 Award Recipients
.jpeg)
Courageous Change Leader
Audryanna Reed
Associate Director for High-Impact Practices, Residence Life and Student Housing
We are excited to announce Audryanna Reed as the recipient of this year's Courageous Change Leader Award! Her dedication to excellence and continuous improvement has had a profound impact on our division, our organization, and the Dallas community at large. Audryanna consistently goes above and beyond to meet challenging goals and inspire those around her to do better.
Audryanna's ability to break down barriers and drive change is evident in her role as Co-Chair of the SMU in 4 Micro assessment committee. Through her leadership, the committee engages in discussions about using data checkpoints and interventions to enhance student success. Her efforts have been instrumental in identifying and addressing equity gaps, ensuring that all students receive the support they need to thrive at SMU.
Read more on why Audryanna was deserving of this award in the 2022-2023 Impact linked below.
Impact
Amanda Bobo
We are proud to award Amanda Bobo, Associate Director of Employer Relations for the Hegi Family Career Development Center, with the Impact Award for her exceptional contributions to the Division of Student Affairs. With over 5 years of dedicated service, Amanda’s journey from Residence Life to her current role as Associate Director for Employer Relations has made an impact. Under her guidance, the All Majors Career and Internship Fair has thrived, reaching record highs in participation and employer attendance. Amanda’s inclusivity and strategic planning have led to increased opportunities for students of all majors, connecting them with employers in meaningful ways.
In addition to her work in employer relations, Amanda’s leadership on the Staff Professional Excellence Committee has enriched the entire division through guest speakers and growth-focused sessions.
Outstanding Newcomer
Kaleb Loomis
Our Outstanding Newcomer this year is Kaleb Loomis, Assistant Chaplain in the Office of the Chaplain and Religious Life. Since joining us less than two years ago, Kaleb’s professional excellence and commitment to student development have made him a positive agent of change on campus. Kaleb successfully revitalized critical areas of religious life on campus, such as Kairos and Spiritual Life Mentors, guiding them to lead Christian worship and fostering interfaith engagement. His compassionate leadership style and patient
demeanor have cultivated a welcoming and nurturing environment within our office, the Division, and across campus.
Beyond his role in the Office of the Chaplain, Kaleb is an outstanding leader in Student Affairs commitment areas. He goes above and beyond to support his colleagues, actively represents Student Affairs on the Staff Association’s Staff Advocacy Council, and contributes significantly to our professional association, ACSLHE.
Student Affairs Champion
Timmie Hathorn
We are delighted to announce Timmie Hathorn as the recipient of the inaugural Student Affairs Champion Award. As the Executive Director for Alumni and Career Services at the Meadows School of the Arts, Hathorn’s dedication to creating new learning opportunities and fostering collaborations has significantly benefited the SMU community. This year, Hathorn played a key role in expanding alumni involvement and internship offerings to Meadows students in partnership with the Hegi Family Career Development Center, resulting in exciting new opportunities in the arts for SMU students.
Timmie’s unwavering dedication and partnership have had a profound impact on both Hegi and Student Affairs as a whole. Her efforts have resulted in the creation of new partnerships and opportunities that better serve the SMU community, enabling students to thrive academically and professionally.
Previous Award Recipients
Courageous Change Leader Award |
Outstanding Newcomer Award(Previously Rising Star) |
||
| 2019 | Bonnie Hainline, Campus Recreation | 2022 | Jermisha Frazier, Women and LGBT Center |
| Madison Mucci-Ferris, Residence Life and Student Housing |
|||
| 2020 | Meghan Perez, Office of the Student Experience |
||
| 2021 | Dr. Sidney Gardner, Women and LGBT Center | ||
| Staphany Lopez-Coronado, Social Change and Intercultural Engagement |
|||
| 2022 | Matt Nadler, Hegi Family Career Development Center | ||
| Bonnie Pickett, Student Affairs Administration | |||