Each year, UAB’s School of Health Professions recognizes faculty and staff for their contributions over the past academic year. The Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences is honored to share that Klaressa Washington, Program Manager II, received the staff award for Excellence in Service at this year’s celebration.
SHP’s Excellence in Service award is presented to a staff member in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the university community, the School of Health Professions (in a capacity other than their usual assignment/department), or another non-profit organization in the community. The award recognizes the achievement of a singular outstanding event or the continuous outstanding and dedicated service the individual has provided over a long period of time.
“It was a surprise,” said Washington, “our department has an open-minded concept of leadership. They value staff, they know we are not just doers and notekeepers. Staff members are active participants in pushing the department forward.”
For three years, Washington has worked diligently with CDS’s Genetic Counseling (GC) and Biomedical and Health Sciences (MSBHS) programs. Her day-to-day is a blend of administrative tasks for each program, along with connecting with students and faculty. “For both programs, they’re so different. Their goals are different, their faculty is different, the students are different, they’re all going down different paths,” said Washington.
She has been instrumental in helping the MSBHS program restructure its admissions process, increasing both its applicant pool and class size by more than 10%. She advises potential medical and dental students, monitoring their academic progress throughout the academic year while also serving as a teaching assistant for the MSBHS Professional Development Seminar Series. There she moderates team assignments, reviews personal statements, participates in mock interviews, and guides students through the process of applying for professional school.
Her nominator, CDS Interim Department Chair Floyd Josephat, EdD, said, “Klaressa’s dependability, approachability, and collegial spirit make her a key member of the CDS team. When our department has gone through times of change, she has consistently gone above and beyond her assigned responsibilities and exemplifies the highest standards of service.”
Looking forward, Washington is helping her students prepare for commencement in May while actively keeping in touch regarding their professional school and post-commencement career goals. “The spring semester is exciting,” Washington says, “It’s not just about our students reaching their goals with commencement, but we’re preparing for next year’s cohort with admissions season. It’s very exciting.”
