USM Board of Regents Staff Awards

The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents Staff Awards represent the highest honor bestowed by the Board of Regents for achievements of exempt and non-exempt staff employees from institutions within the University System of Maryland.

Congratulations & Good Luck!

TU's final candidates for the 2024 USM BOR Staff Awards are:

Cynthia M. Baker – Inclusion, Multiculturalism, and Social Justice
Henry O. Jackson – Extraordinary Public Service
Tammie King-Kelly – Outstanding Service to Students

Award Criteria

The nominee’s success should be beyond the scope of their full-time professional responsibilities. These awards are based on the quality of the nominee’s work within their institution, community or surrounding environment, and are measured by the impact the nominee makes within one of the five award categories listed below.

Along with recognition, final award recipients receive a $2,000 stipend from the USM Board of Regents and all Towson University finalists are honored by the TU president with a $1,000 stipend.

Eligibility

Any employee or student may nominate a staff employee with the knowledge and consent of the nominee. Staff employees may also nominate themselves.
Nominee must be a Staff employee of the University System of Maryland community, including all Staff employees in Regular and Contingent II status.
Nominee must be employed with the USM for at least five (5) consecutive years and at TU for the most recent year as of September 29, 2023. Winners of the awards must be employed at TU at the time the winners’ names are announced.
Chancellor, Presidents, Officers, and Senior Leadership are not eligible. AT TU this applies to any Staff employee ranked as Vice President or above.

Award Categories

There are two awards given in each of the categories - one for an exempt staff employee and one for a non-exempt staff employee. The effectiveness/efficiency category can be given to two exempt or two non-exempt or one exempt and one non-exempt staff employees.

1. Exceptional contribution to the institution and/or unit

A creative and implemented approach to process improvements
Original idea that contributed to the success of the unit/institution
A Staff employee who is in a non-leadership position that provided leadership, team building and/or facilitated a team or project that enhanced the organization
A Staff employee in a leadership position that consistently grows their organization by mentoring and growing each of their subordinates

2. Outstanding service to students in an academic or residential environment

Consistently makes a difference and impact in student lives
Contributed to an innovative, original idea that implemented and transformed an aspect of the “student experience”

3. Extraordinary public service to the university or the greater community

A personal dedication to a project or cause that definitively improved the greater community
A Staff employee of the USM community who throughout the employee's career has, in a collaborative and sustained manner, made a difference in the larger community
Sustained record of service over a period of years carried out through the individual’s role(s) in the University system rather than as a private citizen

4. Effectiveness and efficiency regarding an academic or administrative transformation with a savings of $10,000 or more

Exemplary ideas that, when implemented, will serve to further the USM’s goal to continually increase the effective and efficient use of its resources. One award from the listed categories may be made for an exemplary initiative that has the potential to be implemented system-wide.

5. Inclusion, multiculturalism, and social justice

Ability to build, nurture, and advance inclusion, multiculturalism, and social justice practices within their community. Their community may comprise their internal institutional community, their external institutional community, or a combination of the two.

Submit a Nomination

Nominations are accepted in the fall. To nominate a Staff employee, use the links below to download forms needed. Complete the Nomination Cover Sheet, Position Description Form, and Nomination Letter. Be certain to follow the stated formatting for all letters.

Nominations window has closed for 2024 cycle. It will open again in the fall of the year.

Document Links:

USM Board of Regents Staff Awards Overview (PDF)

Descripción general de los premios al personal de la Junta de Regentes de la USM en español (PDF)

Nomination Cover Sheet

Portada de nominación

Position Description Form

Formulario de descripción de puesto

Template for Nomination Letter (WORD)

Template for Recommendation Letters (WORD)

Past TU Recipients and Nominees

Effectiveness & Efficiency in Administrative or Academic Transformation

Barb Neal (2011)
Louise Miller (2012)
Steve Kolb (2013) - Recipient
Marcie Weinstein (2014)
Marcie Weinstein (2015)
George Kram III (2017)
George Kram III (2018)
Julie Leary (2021) - Recipient
Jackie Gabrielian (2022) - Recipient
Anthony Rosas (2023) - Recipient

Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and/or Unit

Extraordinary Public Service to the University and/or Community

Susanna Craine (2004)
Nance Reed (2004)
Gail Price (2006)
James Spivack (2006)
Randy Peaker (2009)
James Spivack (2009)
Karen Fulton (2010)
Bernie Gerst (2010)
Bernie Gerst (2011)
Gail Price (2012) - Recipient
Heather Sorensen (2012)
Susan Willemin (2013)
Bobbie Laur (2014)
Jayne French (2014) - Recipient
Bobbie Laur (2015)
Randy Peaker (2015)
Greg Primrose (2016)
Katie Simmons-Barth (2016) - Recipient
Greg Primrose (2017)
Jackie Durbin (2018)
Antwaine Smith (2019)
Antwaine Smith (2020) - Recipient
Patricial Watson (2021) - Recipient
Karen Pottash (2023)
Henry O. Jackson (2024)