TULANE TALK

January 5, 2007

Good Morning:

I hope your New Year is going well. Just before the holidays I had the opportunity to carry out one of my favorite presidential duties: the presentation of the Staff Excellence Award to 10 outstanding Tulane University employees.

These individuals were nominated and selected by you, their peers. To me, this makes the honor all the more special and meaningful. Each of this yearís winners will receive a cash prize of $1000 and a commemorative plaque. Marjorie and I will also have the pleasure of hosting the recipients at a special dinner in their honor at Two Audubon Place.

ìExceptional individual.î ìHas the university at heart in everything he does.î ìShe holds the department together.î ìSomeone special.î ìTop notch.î ìPerforms with grace and diplomacy.î ìOutstanding work ethic.î ìGoes above and beyond the call of duty.î ìExcellence before and after the hurricane.î These were just a few of the comments that accompanied the nominations forms of this yearís winners. What a testament to the quality and character of these individuals.

And this year’s winners are: Rhonda Barre, administrative coordinator, School of Medicine; Michael Batt, production manager, Department of Music; Paula Burch-Celentano, university photographer; Claudia St. Marie, executive secretary, Department of Spanish and Portugese; Jeanny Keck, executive secretary, Department of French and Italian; Larry Smith, director of Facilities Services’ Architecture and Engineering Division; Carol Pizer, assistant director, Academic Advising Center; Natalie Barranco, senior program manager, Community Health Sciences; Crystal ìJoanieî Vicknair, assistant director of Study Abroad; and Kirsten Breckinridge, assistant director, Center for Public Service.

Please congratulate and thank these wonderful colleagues when you see them around campus.

Have a great weekend,