Employee Spotlight

Laura Kanney named RISE Employee of the Month

Ashland University recognizes faculty and staff who go above and beyond to make a positive impact on the AU community. One of the ways we do this is through an Employee Recognition Program called "RISE" - Recognizing Individuals for Service Excellence. One nominee who exemplifies the mission and values of the university will be selected as the RISE Employee of the Month. In addition to recognition in the Eagle Talk newsletter, the Employee of the Month will receive $100. Nominations received that are not selected for the monthly RISE Employee of the Month are considered for recognition in future months. The annual RISE Award will be presented at the All-Institutional Meeting held in August prior to the start of the new academic year. RISE Employees of the Month from the previous academic year will be in contention to receive the $1,000 award.

The October RISE Employee of the Month is Laura Kanney, director of fields and partnerships in the Schar College of Education. The following are excerpts from the nomination submitted:

"Laura Kanney is a natural choice for the RISE Award. Although she often operates behind the scenes, her impact is felt everywhere as she addresses challenges with an open and creative mindset. Laura's kindness, positivity and professionalism set a high standard for others. Her 'can-do' attitude means she rarely says no and frequently goes above and beyond to support her team. As director of fields and partnerships, she interacts with every education student. Her caring and kindness are evident in the way she works with students to help get them their preferred placements. Laura is the definition of a productive and committed team member. She is highly respected by students and co-workers, working effectively in a team environment motivating others to work towards a common goal. I know that students come first for Laura, and she puts the time and energy - and kindness - in that is needed all the time. She is a strong RISE candidate."

To nominate a faculty or staff member for the RISE Award, the form is available on the AU Portal home page in Forms Etrieve located under Additional Resources, or through the following link: https://ashlandcentral.etrieve.cloud/Index#/form/166.