Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is pleased to announce the 2020 Summer Term Circle of Caring Award Winners: staff member Aimee Niles and faculty member Kathy Gardner.
The Circle of Caring Award is given each term to recognize faculty and staff who go above and beyond their job duties and strive to uphold FNU’s mission and Culture of Caring every day.
Award winners are anonymously nominated by fellow FNU faculty and staff. Nominations are voted upon by a committee based on the following Culture of Caring characteristics: professionalism, mutual support, respect, positive communication and inclusivity. Here is what was said about this term’s winners:
Aimee Niles
“From the moment she began working with FNU, Aimee has kept our scholarly engines running. She often finds articles and other materials within minutes of a request going out, and I’ve known her to stay a teensy bit late on her own time just to wrap up an issue so faculty can move forward. Aimee goes the extra mile to figure out what is obtainable and communicates quickly and transparently. She’s flexible and easy to work with, often suggesting updated resources that she seeks out on our behalf. Aimee is a gem, and I’m sure my own scholarly productivity would be significantly reduced without her critical work behind the scenes.”
When she found out she would be receiving the award, Aimee said, “I was moved to tears when I learned of my receiving the summer term staff Circle of Caring Award and the ever so thoughtful words and sentiments expressed. I can’t tell you how much this meant to me, the summer term was an ever so special five years for me at Frontier. Again I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.”
Kathy Gardner
“Kathy is my ‘right-hand person’ in our course. She is always there to support me, discuss our class and provide a second opinion on grading or student situations. When I had to take some leave emergently, Kathy was readily available, took the reins, and the students experienced a seamless transition with my absence. This is not a small feat with more than 200 students in the course. I am grateful for her continued support and encouragement.”
Congratulations to this term’s winners, and thank you for contributing to the culture of caring at FNU!
Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations. There were some tough choices this semester! To submit your nomination for the fall term Circle of Caring Award, click here.
Dr. Tia Brown McNair is the Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and Executive Director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in Washington, DC. She oversees both funded projects and AAC&U’s continuing programs on equity, inclusive excellence, high-impact practices, and student success. McNair directs AAC&U’s Summer Institutes on High-Impact Practices and Student Success, and TRHT Campus Centers and serves as the project director for several AAC&U initiatives, including the development of a TRHT-focused campus climate toolkit. She is the lead author of From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education (January 2020) and Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success (July 2016 and August 2022 Second edition).