Award for Staff Leadership

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The Pierce Award for Staff Leadership is given annually by the Pierce Institute to a staff member who demonstrates admirable leadership, dedication, and service to Oxford College and its students. The award includes public recognition, a plaque, and a significant monetary award.

The recipient of the 2012 Pierce Award for Staff Leadership is Jim Brown, director of Academic Computing Technologies.

Since arriving in August 1995, Brown has been dedicated to the people and mission of Oxford College, serving students, faculty, and staff in myriad ways with patience, wisdom, enthusiasm, and humor. He provides servant leadership-by listening to and responding to the needs of others-in all types of initiatives and programs, especially those involving pioneering efforts to improve teaching and learning with technology.  Brown always goes above and beyond what is expected, whether on professional projects-such as working to develop annual IT sessions for the Institute for Pedagogy in the Liberal Arts-or in devoting his personal time to extracurricular activities. He has been a favorite leader, for example, on numerous Alternative Spring Break trips. Participants on those trips remember fondly Brown's leadership on the service projects as well as his culinary skills-such as the famous gourmet breakfasts he cooked for the group.    

Brown's vitality for life and his generosity to others are a model for all of us. As one person noted: "His service is grounded in his love for Oxford and his commitment to helping others with no expectation of reward or recognition."

Previous Pierce Award for Staff Leadership winners include Mickle Browning, senior maintenance mechanic, Physical Plant (2009; 2011, posthumously); Ann Cargile, manager of records and registration (2010); Crystal McLaughlin, director of student development (2008); and Regina Barrett, administrative assistant for academic services (2007).

For more information or to nominate a staff member for the 2013 award, contact: Andrea M. Plater, Administrative Assistant, The Pierce Institute

770.784.8379, aplater@emory.edu