Scearce Receives SPH Award for Staff Excellence
| August 01, 2005 | |
Steve Zeisel’s office can sometimes be, well, let’s say busy. The phones ringing, people dropping by for this or that, work stacked up on the desks.
Photograph of Janet Scearce
But in the midst of all the activity, you can always find a smile and a gentle voice – they belong to Janet Scearce, assistant to the chairman in the Department of Nutrition. For her calm, her competence and, as Zeisel puts it, her “remarkable skill in making people feel that they have been helped,” Janet Scearce is our School’s 2005 winner of the Award for Staff Excellence. The award has been given annually since 1991. This award is given to employees who exemplify outstanding work. The award signifies that the employee performs all duties with competence and goes beyond the job description in service to the School of Public Health. Winners are chosen for their friendly, pleasant approach, willingness to help others, problem-solving approach, ability to make things happen and leadership that contributes to a positive atmosphere. Janet is all that and more, according to colleagues who nominated her for this award. In nominating Janet, Zeisel said, “I could not function without the support that she provides to me. I am sure that the department’s staff, faculty members and students feel the same way.” They seem to. The six-member Nutrition Department Award Committee called her the “go to” person for anything from the Chair’s office. Jim Ervin, Associate Director of Development, often goes to Janet for help. He describes her “constant enthusiasm, sense of teamwork, and most of all, her total dedication to lend a hand, coordinate, help solve or handle any request or need from Nutrition faculty, staff and students, and colleagues across our School.” He says she offers assistance “with kindness, professionalism, completeness, a smile and sense of humor that brightens the days of others.” A reception honoring Janet was held Thursday, July 28, 2005, in the Research Center Atrium. Dean Barbara K. Rimer presented the award. Other outstanding employees who have received the School of Public Health Staff Excellence Award are: 1991,Linda Cook; 1992,Joyce Allen; 1993,JoAnn Roth; 1994,Gail Gibbs; 1995,Helen Dark; 1996, Donna Simmons; 1997, Pam McDonald; 1998, Melinda Walden; 1999, Betty Seagroves; 2000, Lynn McPherson; 2001, Donna Cooper; 2002, C.L. Lassiter; 2003, Charles Ayres; 2004, Carmen Woody. For further information please contact Ramona DuBose by e-mail at rjdubose@email.unc.edu. |
