Teresa Seacrist is the November EOM

Parking Operations Chief Clerk Teresa Seacrist thought she was on her way to help plan the Administrative Affairs holiday party, but instead found another party waiting for her in the PAC Restaurant.

Seacrist was named Employee of the Month for November 2011 during a special ceremony. She started working at UIS in October 2008 and helped start the Parking Operations Department on campus.

“She’s wonderfully pleasant to work with, she’s kind, she’s got a big heart, she almost makes getting a ticket worthwhile and fun,” said Dave Barrows, UIS associate chancellor for Administrative Affairs.

Co-workers praised Seacrist calling her a “joy to work with” and talked about her passion for her job and attention to detail.

“She’s a one woman shop, she’s very conscientious reconciling her accounts, learning that process, understanding, trying to do her very best and she’s made that process effortless,” said Julie Close, Administrative Affairs business manager.

Seacrist came to UIS after a career in real estate and knows she made the right choice to join the team.

“I feel like this is a wonderful family. I love being here. I’ve always said when I came here I felt like I won the lotto,” said Seacrist.

As Employee of the Month, Seacrist will receive a special parking spot for the month along with some extra spending cash on her i-card.

Shawn Craig Shures is the October EOM

Not many people help plan their own Employee of the Month party, but that was the case for Shawn Craig Shures, who thought her co-worker was receiving the award.

Shures walked into Mary Jane’s Café in Brookens Library cheering for her co-worker, Angie Harbison, but she soon figured out the surprise. Shures was named Employee of the Month for October 2011 in a room full of co-workers, friends, and family.

“I’m speechless and I talk for a living, so this is pretty good,” said Shures. “I love UIS, I love the Office of Graduate Intern Programs, I love working for the Center for State Policy and Leadership, I love everybody at UIS.”

Shures has worked as the Assistant Director of Graduate Recruitment for the Graduate Public Service Internship (GPSI) program since 2004. She also worked for the office during the 1990s.

“In my opinion, Shawn is a champion for this campus. She is one of our unsung heroes, who works tirelessly for the benefit of the Office of Graduate Intern Programs, UIS, and the students and agencies we serve,” said Kim Hayden, former director of the GPSI program.

Hayden added, “Shures consistently exceeds expectations, in terms of her job knowledge and skills necessary to perform her job. She consistently demonstrates creativity and new ideas to improve the workflow for the program.”

As Employee of the Month, Shures will receive a special parking spot for the month along with some extra spending cash on her i-card.