Health Care Engineering Systems Center office manager Michelle Osborne was recently announced as a recipient of the 2021 Chancellor's Distinguished Staff Award. Osborne is one of sixteen civil service employees that were chosen for the award, a recognition of exceptional performance. Experiences in managing pandemic-related issues came to the forefront in many of the nomination forms for 2021 recipients, including Osborne's.
In her role as office manager, Osborne manages administrative concerns, editorial duties, research activities, and organization of technical meetings for HCESC and the Jump Simulation Center. She also serves as assistant to director Kesh Kesavadas and assistant director Antonios Michalos. She is regarded as the "backbone" of the center, and is whom employees and students turn to with questions and concerns of all kinds.
“When staff began working from home, she single-handedly ordered, shipped and sometimes personally delivered supplies and materials to our researchers to enable them to continue their projects,” wrote nominator Veronica Severini, the HCESC marketing and communications specialist. “She worked particularly hard with our summer interns, often going to the office to replenish supplies to help fulfill research needs.”
In the midst of the pandemic, Osborne lost her brother, U. of I. Chief Information Officer Greg Gulick, to COVID-19. “She remained positive, and the tragedy never slowed down her eagerness to help, completion of office responsibilities or work performance,” Severini wrote. “She focused on her family and their needs while also being attentive to ours at HCESC, and for this deserves so much praise and appreciation.”
Each recipient of the Chancellor's Distinguished Staff Award receives $1,000 and a plaque. Recipients' names are also engraved on a plaque displayed in the Human Resources Office. Read the full story and view other award recipients here.