JoeAnn Kennedy, a program administrator for the doctoral programs in the School of Nursing, has been named UAB Employee of the Year. Kennedy was chosen from the Employee of the Month award winners selected during this past fiscal year, August 2015-July 2016.
Kennedy will be the guest of honor at an invitation-only ceremony and reception honoring her with the highest non-academic employee award in December.
“I am honored to receive the extraordinary recognition, however, I have not earned this single-handedly,” Kennedy said, noting she has developed many meaningful relationships with her colleagues.
“It is a pleasure to be around people who inspire and motivate you on a daily basis,” she said. “I am glad to be a member of the SON team.”
Kennedy, who initially was selected January’s employee of the Month, was praised for her knack for being wherever she was needed at the time she was needed most.
In her role, Kennedy is responsible for scheduling faculty meetings and taking minutes, ensuring various forms are distributed and maintained, coordinating large functions such as orientations and intensives, assisting students and creating and maintaining program databases and more.
"One of the many qualities about JoeAnn that really stands out is her incredibly patient, professional and kind attitude,” said Karen Buckner, director of operations. “Her work with our joint DNP and Ph.D. programs has required that she balance a demanding workload while providing support to a population of students who have busy lives and need TLC when it comes to navigating their return to academia for their terminal degrees.
Kennedy says the best part of her job is making sure all requests and needs are met. “I like to see a smile on a student or faculty member’s face when they get the assistance or answer they are looking for from me,” she said.
Asked to share secret to her success, Kennedy says simply, “I love what I do, so I don't consider it work.”
Congratulations to the monthly award winners
August: Shantay Holmes is the heart of a busy transplant office
September: Jazmund Walker ‘goes the extra mile’ to recruit students
October: Dawn Grill ‘brings the atmosphere’ to Government
November: Jamie Moody helps ‘redesign the residence experience’December: Nancy Timpa is Education’s ‘ambassador of first impressions’
February: Cathy Tanner is everywhere someone needs her to be
March: Melanie Armstrong never tires of saying ‘Thank you’
April: Teresa Amos helps ensure the hospital makes a good first impression
May: Jeff Myers helps the world see the wonders of UAB
June: Laura Gallitz leads by serving
July: Jeff Foster is a master of the ‘monstrous tasks’Each month, UAB recognizes an outstanding employee for their dedication, hard work and contributions to the university’s success. If you know of a great employee, you can learn how to nominate them for this recognition atuab.edu/humanresources