Shout-outs to Staff
The following are Libraries staff who have received a shout-out from one or more of their colleagues for going out of their way to be extra awesome at their job.
Danica Lewis
On October 13th, Danica led an exceptional workshop about the accessibility tool Grackle in the Research Engagement Instruction Group meeting. She taught us about this Google plugin, walked us through how to download and activate it, then demonstrated how to use it to make our slide decks, documents, and spreadsheets more accessible. This tool is an absolute game changer for improving accessibility of our resources and presentations, and we’re super appreciative of Danica for taking the time to lead this workshop and answer all of our questions!
Thank you!
Your colleagues in Research Engagement
- Research Engagement Instruction Group, Oct 14, 2022
Trevor Thornton
I approached Trevor Thornton about the possibility of creating an immersive shark exhibit in the Visualization Studio to run in conjunction with a shark-related book talk. Trevor created an exhibit that was more compelling and meaningful than I could have imagined. "Swimming with Sharks" produced the sensation of being underwater and up close with sharks, while also showcasing NC State shark research. The exhibit was visited by 264 people over the course of the week, including students in a Communication course and members of the general public. Connections were made between people doing shark research at NC State, CMAST, and beyond. As one young visitor said to his chaperone, "That was really cool!" Kudos to Trevor for making this fun and educational exhibit.
- Karen Ciccone, Oct 5, 2022
Courtney Hewett
On September 23, the Libraries hosted its first ever Femme Game Night to add more gender diversity to our gaming spaces. Courtney Hewett was the prime mover for this incredibly successful event -- she worked with two student employees (Jayden Sansom and Marie Schwartz) to plan, design, market and host 4 hours of game play in the Game Lab. Not only did participants have fun and build community, they thanked Courtney and the Libraries for hosting and a few students said it was their first time in Hunt Library. Courtney's inclusive and student-centered approach informed this whole process and was evident in students' engagement.
- Marian Fragola, Sep 26, 2022
Susan Ivey, Moira Downey
Last week, Susan and Moira participated in a meeting of the Research Operations Council (ROC), the group of our campus' high level administrators that provides leadership for NC State's research endeavors. Susan and Moira created a fantastic, clear presentation about a recent governmental memo (OSTP memo) that will have significant implications for our campus and the Libraries. Susan did an outstanding job presenting info on what the memo outlines, the impacts it could have on NC State, the support already in place (much of it led by the Libraries), as well as gaps that need to be addressed. The presentation was compelling and engaged many of the research leaders on our campus. Those of us there were able to field questions and support the info that Susan presented. Kudos to Susan and Moira!
- Hilary Davis, Sep 23, 2022
Bertha Chang, Alexa Carter
Earlier this week, Bertha and Alexa participated in the ABET accreditation visit as part of the College of Engineering's accreditation renewal process. They prepared extremely well for the visit, they arranged spaces for the visiting committee to meet with representatives from the departments in the College of Engineering, they met with one of the accreditors and gave a tour of Hunt while answering the accreditor's questions about how the Libraries supports engineering students. This was a very high profile visit and Bertha and Alexa did an outstanding job representing the Libraries and showcasing our support for the College of Engineering!
- Hilary Davis, Sep 23, 2022
Julia Reynolds
I often say, in all seriousness, that Julia keeps the Hunt Library running. She is reliable, knowledgeable, and creative when it comes to planning and coordinating the happenings around Hunt. She has helped me in more ways than I can count and I am always grateful for her steady presence and rye sense of humor. A lot of her efforts go on behind-the-scenes as she coordinates across multiple units to make sure we deliver a great experience for all. Recently, she helped with the planning and coordination for the vMLK workshop. Dr. Gallagher and Dr. Jones shared their gratitude in the following message:
"[we] were so gratified by the excellent arrangements that Julia helped to coordinate for food service (and we want to note that the food was delicious!)"
Thank you for everything, Julia!
- Hannah Rainey, Victoria Gallagher, Elizabeth Jones, Sep 14, 2022
Glenn Privette
Where would I be without Glenn? He is always willing to lend a hand and make sure our building looks and operates as it should. He is also good for a funny story! Recently, in preparation for the vMLK workshop, Glenn helped me search every nook and cranny of Hunt for some missing signs and brochures. He also coordinated the furniture set up for the event. Dr. Gallagher and Dr. Jones shared this message:
"Glenn, your efforts to make sure the rooms were appropriately set up resulted in an exceptional experience for all who attended. Thank you!"
Glenn, thanks for all that you do (seen and unseen)!
- Hannah Rainey, Victoria Gallagher, Elizabeth Jones, Sep 14, 2022
Ryan Hunter
Ryan has saved the day so many times with AV technology in the High-Tech Spaces. He is available to help when needed, often staying late and providing support over the phone and chat. A recent example of his excellent service happened in preparation for a recent vMLK workshop. Dr. Gallagher and Dr. Jones shared this message of gratitude:
"Ryan, thank you for saving the day on Thursday when we did the testing and runthrough and the sound was out of whack in every space...! Your efforts to recalibrate and adjust as needed made all the difference; indeed, it enabled workshop participants to experience vMLK assets as intended with the richness of the sound experience intact!"
Ryan takes great care and pride in his work. He is also always improving the stability and usability of the tech for us and all of our users.
- Hannah Rainey, Victoria Gallagher, Elizabeth Jones, Sep 14, 2022
Stacey Amundson
I just wanted to say how much I appreciate what Tripsaver does for the faculty at NC State. I just finished a book, which will come out in the spring, and I put the librarians in that division through the paces with an endless stream of requests over the course of several years. Many of these were quite challenging, some on quick turnarounds. I felt so fortunate at every turn that I could do these requests knowing that they would be fulfilled!
I want to especially single out Stacey Amundson, who was resourceful, patient, incredibly responsive, and got me everything I needed especially during the home stretch. I can’t imagine this book without the aid of Tripsaver, and I don’t take it for granted. Thank you and the libraries for being such a tremendous resource—you really do make it possible for us to research and write our books.
- Marsha Gordon, Sep 14, 2022
Hillary Fox, Tisha Mentnech, Danica Lewis
It is with great pleasure that I attempt to express my appreciation for Hillary Fox, Tisha Mentnech, and Danica Lewis, the three librarians who support researchers, faculty, and students in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology.. I became familiar with these three professionals through one of their many outreach efforts to help inform us what fantastic services the NCSU Library System provides. The presentation on library services to research and teaching functions was excellent and exciting—outlining the many ways that our excellent library system can serve us as researchers, teachers, and mentors. Furthermore, the kind of guidance and wisdom that our three librarians provide us is a “guide in the wilderness” of new publications and “opportunities” about which we researchers are pathetically ignorant, among so much more.
Dr. Allen Cohen (Entomology & Plant Pathology)
- Dr. Allen Cohen, Sep 1, 2022