Justin Rose named the UIS Employee of the Month for June 2020

Justin Rose has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for June 2020. He is the director of diversity and inclusion in the UIS Diversity Center.

Rose’s nominator says he is without a doubt one of the hardest working people at UIS. In February, he led the UIS Black History Month Celebration “with record attendance, passion and unmatched energy,” according to his nominator.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve and is always thinking about what he can do for others,” his nominator said. “I would even go so far as to say UIS is a better institution and community because of the energy Justin J. Rose puts into his work.”

Rose’s supervisor, the late Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Clarice Ford, called him “a beacon of light for all at UIS,” when evaluating his performance in February 2020. “I cannot think of anyone in my division who lives and breathes UIS like Justin.”

Ford added that Rose is always available for students and student groups even on his days off. He often works more than eight hours a day and serves as a role model for students.

“Justin is always positive and motiving others to be great no matter what the sacrifice,” Ford said. “He is committed to make sure he is present, listening and providing support to all of the students he comes in contact with on a daily basis.”

On campus, Rose is the advisor for Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.; the Black Male Collegiate Society and the UIS Gospel Choir. He is also the co-advisor of the Rotaract Student Organization. Outside UIS, he is a member of Frontiers International and the Downtown Springfield Rotary Club.

At the same time, he is also earning his doctorate and routinely shares with the Student Affairs Division all he has learned about the best practices in higher education.

“He teaches, provides programming, advises and listens to his staff and students with his ears and heart,” Ford said. “His performance is beyond expectations and he always does it with a smile.”

Jason Noyes named the UIS Employee of the Month for May 2020

Jason Noyes has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for May 2020. He manages the Help Desk for Information Technology Services.

His supervisor, Kara McElwrath, says he goes above and beyond each and every day. As Help Desk manager, he manages a team of student workers who typically respond to computer and other technical issues seven days a week.

“Jason is always helpful and always professional,” McElwrath said. “No matter the problem, no matter what else is on his plate, he has never said ‘that’s not my job’ or ‘let me ask someone else to do that.’ He treats faculty, staff, and students with respect and takes on each of their problems as his own.”

Noyes was nominated for the Employee of the Month award by a person who agrees that he goes above and beyond, a faculty member who he recently helped set up a customized computer.

“Jason has been spectacularly helpful in enabling me to work at UIS this spring,” his nominator said. “He worked with me to find a proper computer, and then he customized it for me, and then he assisted me with challenges I faced upgrading a computer at home. All of this took many meetings and he has been unfailingly helpful and highly available.”

Noyes has taken on big roles lately, such as managing the transition from Windows 7 to Windows 10 for the entire campus, while also working on a replacement to the UIS Help Desk ticketing system.

“When someone goes to Jason with a problem, they know they are in good hands,” McElwrath said. “The confidence and assurance that he will stick with them until the issue is resolved puts everyone at ease. As a recent example, Jason worked tirelessly earlier this week to recover files from a damaged flash drive. Instead of giving up, instead of asking why there were no backups of the files, he just dug in and found a way to recover each and every file. This is the kind of service and diligence that he expresses every single day.”

Outside of work, Noyes hosts a morning radio show on Saturday’s on 970 AM WMAY and serves as a volunteer firefighter.

“The entire campus community (including me) depends on him and he doesn’t disappoint,” McElwrath said. “Honestly, I can’t imagine doing my job without him. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of Employee of the Month.”