TULANE TALK

January 25, 2008

Good Morning:

“Does everything wholeheartedly.” “Always has an amazing attitude.” “Commitment is unbelievable.” “Helps others all the time.” “Your deadline becomes his.” “Cares about people who work with her.” “Makes sure the job is done in the way that you need it done.” “Able to shift gears and talk to people at all levels.” “Motivates others.” “On call 24 hours.”

Does this sound like anyone you know? It should. These are some of the comments your fellow employees used to describe their nominees for this year’s Staff Excellence Awards.

Just before the holidays I had the pleasure of informing these exceptional and vital members of the Tulane community of the honor you bestowed upon them. Each of this year’s Staff Excellence Award winners will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and will be a guest at a special dinner hosted by Marjorie and me at Two Audubon Place.

If you try matching the comments above to the names below, I bet that you will learn something very interesting: that these same qualities, these same statements of dedication and commitment could be used to describe you, as well. For it has been my experience that the extraordinary Tulane employee is the rule rather than the exception. These annual awards are truly a testament to all of you.

So, without further ado, this year’s winners are: Tammy Bordes, laboratory technical specialist, Tulane Cancer Center; Glenda Folse, privacy and contracting officer, Office of General Counsel; Valerie McGinley Marshall, departmental development officer II, Stone Center for Latin American Studies; Oscar Sill, security administrator, Technology Services; David Lee, superintendent of construction, Facilities Services, Uptown; Michael Pizzolatto, program manager, Center for Public Service; Patricia Parrie, executive secretary, Division of Collaborative Research, Tulane National Primate Research Center; Mary Catherine Bourgeois, manager, Uptown Telecommunications, Technology Services; Tim Schuler, laboratory supervisor, Physics; Erica Woodley, director of residential education, Housing and Residence Life.

Have a great weekend,