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Shirley Barber
Outstanding Staff Award
Recognition Year:
2016
Shirley Barber is the key to successful, organized, timely, accurate, student and faculty-centered administrative support in the Department of Urban Affairs and Geography. In her role, she supports 29 full-time and affiliated faculty members, and undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in five degree programs and three certificate programs. No matter how many varied and simultaneous requests she receives, she is able to remain calm and professional, and rely on her sense of humor, all while meeting deadlines and producing high quality work.
Her duties include monitoring and managing the department budget, purchasing supplies and equipment, assisting with course scheduling and searches, managing student employees, maintaining the website and department files, and coordinating a variety of events, including a recent reaccreditation site visit. She also steps in when needed to help with administrative duties of the Applied Policy Research Institute, adding another complex layer to her daily tasks. Ms.Barber is an extraordinary sounding board and confidant and always mains the trust people place with her. She is indeed the glue that holds the department together.
