Samantha Perrin, Karlene Clark receive student employee and supervisor awards
Samantha Perrin, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in higher education, has been named the 8th annual UND Student Employee of the Year. Samantha has worked in the Career Services office as a peer advisor since the fall of 2014, helping students with career development and serving as a mentor and coach to new graduate assistants. She was nominated by Ilene Odegard, her supervisor and Director of Career Services.
Odegard’s nomination says, “Samantha plays a vital role within the Career Services office and takes on every task with a positive and willing attitude. She has played an integral part in the office, including creating an assessment plan, many rubrics, and conducting student surveys. Each time Samantha is given a task, she exceeds my expectations and goes beyond. I am particularly impressed with Samantha’s ability to multi-task while maintaining a high level of involvement on campus.”
Samantha’s leadership abilities shine outside her role in Career Services as well. She serves on the Student Affairs Student Employee Working Group, is a student representative for NASPA, served on the UND Presidential Search committee, and is also a first generation college graduate. Samantha will receive a $500 scholarship as the Student Employee of the Year and will be presented with her award at the Leadership Awards on April 29.
Karlene Clark has been named the inaugural UND Student Employee Supervisor of the Year. She supervises and trains student employees at the circulation desk of the Chester Fritz Library, and was nominated by her colleagues including Stan Johnson, Sally Dockter, and Stephanie Walker. Her colleagues write “Karlene is patient, understanding and takes time to teach, reinforcing values which serve throughout life. Her leadership is by example, instilling confidence and independence. She builds upon their skills and develops abilities, emphasizing the individual, and contribution to teamwork.”
Karlene also serves on the Student Employment Working Group and the Student Employment Standards Committee. She has created and shared five minute assessment forms and evaluation rubrics with other supervisors. Through Karlene’s mentoring, three of her recent student employees have made the decision to continue their education, completing graduate programs in library science and becoming professional librarians. She has a major impact on the lives of all of the students she supervises and many of her workers have stayed in touch over the years. Karlene will be presented with an award at the Leadership Awards on April 29.
Both Karlene and Samantha’s nominations have been submitted to the Midwest Association of Student Employment Administrators for consideration for state and regional awards. A total of 12 nominations were received for Student Employee of the Year, and three nominations for Student Employee Supervisor of the Year. Student Employment would like to extend a big thanks to the Student Employee/Supervisor of the Year Committee, Lacey Pietron, Desi Anderson, and Mary Anna Carls, for their hard work in determining the 2016 winners.
