ASU Mid-South Administrative Specialist Earns Staff Award

Virginia Gardner, Administrative Specialist at Arkansas State University Mid-South, has been named an Arkansas Community Colleges’ Outstanding Staff Member honoree for 2015-16.

“I am very humbled and honored,” said Gardner who joined the college staff in 2007. “I felt appreciated. I felt that my hard work had not gone unnoticed. This really means a lot. I take it as a particular honor that this will be the last one awarded by Dr. (Glen) Fenter.”

Gardner said she had no idea she had been nominated and admitted that she wasn’t watching closely as her photo appeared on the screen at the front of the room during a campus-wide meeting.

“I knew it wouldn’t be me, so I was ready to clap for whoever it was,” she said. “I was genuinely surprised. I felt bad that I didn’t say ‘thank you,’ but I couldn’t have done it without crying.”
The award didn’t surprise the people who nominated her.

“Virginia is a dedicated member of the Workforce Technology Center and is always willing to roll up her sleeves and help with whatever is asked or needed,” said Pete Selden, Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce Programs. “Virginia has been an integral part of making sure things operate efficiently in everything from SkillsUSA, concurrent high school programs, and work orders to advisory council meetings, grant data, and event planning.”

“Her experience and knowledge in the business and industry services component of the WTC has made her an exceptional asset, and we really appreciate her. She greets students each day with a smile, and they greet her by name as well.”

Peg Hess, ASU Mid-South Fiscal Support Specialist, said Gardner ensures that processes and procedures are followed.

“She is always making sure all documentation has been completed, and if it hasn’t been completed, she asks what needs to be done. At the end of the year, all of her documentation is completed well in advance of the scheduled time.”

Facilities Scheduling Coordinator Beth Arnold, Program Compliance Director Sheri Reid, and Program Compliance Officer Claudia Ohneck said Gardner is always “very friendly, helpful, positive and professional.

“She is consistently reliable and willing to do anything that is asked of her. You can always count on Virginia. She has a great rapport with the students and is an asset to them. She is very cheerful at registration and helps the students through the process with a smile. Students actually seek her out at registration just to say hello. Her customer service goes above and beyond. She is a valuable member of the ASU Mid-South family.”

Before coming to Mid-South, Gardner worked almost 30 years with three different companies in Memphis. When the third job played out, she found herself unemployed.

“There I was with a husband, two sons, and bills to pay and couldn’t get a job because I had too much business experience for a lot of places. I was out of work for 13 months; there were no opportunities for me. But I needed something.”

When nothing materialized, Gardner decided to shift gears and pursue a new career. She enrolled in the Information Systems Technology program at what was then known as Mid-South Community College. With the help of Barbara Reid and the Arkansas Career Pathways program, she received financial assistance that helped her work toward a degree.

Reid also helped her secure a part-time job on the campus, the first step toward full-time employment.
“She asked me if I had any interest in being a student worker in the Tech Center,” Gardner recalled. “She said, ‘The pay’s not great, and it’s not full time, but it’s a little something extra.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’d be happy to.’ I took the job, and the college has been stuck with me ever since.”

As a student, Gardner joined the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society. While her associate of applied science degree doesn’t relate directly to her job, she uses much of what she learned.

“I use a lot of aspects of my degree as an administrative specialist,” she explained. “I can help with some email, document, and printer issues. If it’s something fairly simple, I can take care of it and free our ITech people to do the big, important stuff.”

“And I love to share what I learn. If I learn a shortcut in Datatel or Microsoft Word, I send an email to everyone, and I like that other people do the same. I really love it here; we’re all here to help one another.”

The ACC Outstanding Staff Member program recognizes exemplary employees for their campus and community contributions. Mid-South selection criteria include exhibiting a positive attitude, showing commitment to professional development, performing college service to institutional advancement, supporting the College’s commitments to the community, demonstrating innovation and enthusiasm, and exhibiting integrity, professionalism and fairness with students and colleagues.

Previous Outstanding Staff Award winners include Candace Stewart, Emilee Sides, Beth Arnold, LaToya Roberson, Deborah Webb, Rita Hulen, Linda Graham, Melissa Cox Powers, Sherry Fountain, Verna Davis, Leslie Anderson, Jeremy Reece, Jerry Webb, Nancy Hogan, Don Threm, Tom Cook, Barbara Stewart, Debra West, and Sandra Williams.