Monica Kroft is the August Employee of the Month

Monica Kroft, administrative assistant to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs/Provost, has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for August.

Kroft was nominated for her consistent professional and supportive interactions with everyone she meets as well as her excellent communication, organizational and problem solving skills.

“She is a thoughtful, conscientious supervisor, as well as a hard-working staff member who can be counted on to ensure that critical operations, projects and events are handled effectively and on time,” said a nominator.”

Monica is known for managing a complex array of responsibilities and a high volume of work, along with the new major projects that have been added to the Provost’s Office over the last two years.

She is considered a “go to” person for many staff members in the Provost’s Office and beyond.

“Monica is a respected and valued member of the Provost’s team, and her contributions to the smooth running of the Provost’s Office are significant," said another nominator.

Joy Thibadeau is the July Employee of the Month

Joy Thibadeau, assistant to the vice chancellor for graduate education, has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for July.

Thibadeau is known for her outstanding commitment to customer service. She has also implemented several initiatives to make processes more efficient, such as consolidating the employment application for graduate students.

“Joy is kind, helpful, and professional in approach,” said one of her nominators. “She is a good listener, and tries to understand the perspective of those with whom she is working. She is collegial, and does excellent work as a member of a team.”

She is always looking for ways to improve the functions of her office, particularly in terms of implementing new electronic processes when they would improve efficiency.

“She is eager to consider new ideas and to do research to discover best practices or to find examples from other campuses,” said a nominator. “She maintains a good sense of humor in the face of challenges.”

Thibadeau has an excellent track record of not only meeting deadlines, but of finishing tasks ahead of schedule. She stays calm and focused even during the most stressful periods of the academic year.

“I can count on Joy to always keep in mind that providing an excellent educational experience to our students is our first priority,” said a nominator. “She has a strong commitment to their success, which in turn inspires her commitment to excellence in her position.”