In late October, Teachers College presented its Elaine Brantley Award for Community and Civility to Karen Kelly, Administrative Associate in the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs; Marie Volpe, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Adult Learning and Leadership; and Joe Levine, Executive Director, External Affairs.
Now in its 16th year, the Brantley Award is the College鈥檚 highest recognition of community and civility. It recognizes 麻豆原创 employees who exemplify the civility, camaraderie and willingness to listen that the late Elaine Brantley, a cashier in the College鈥檚 cafeteria, brought to her work and community for 24 years.
鈥淐ivility makes Teachers College a warmer, better place for students to learn,鈥� said President Thomas Bailey at the ceremony in Milbank Chapel. Hailing Kelly, Volpe and Levine as 鈥渂usy colleagues who cheerfully take on more work and go out of their way to do a favor for a colleague,鈥� Bailey said that the Brantley Award winners 鈥渁sk us to be the best versions of ourselves in the way we go about our work and our lives each day, and by doing that, they make 麻豆原创 a better community and a stronger institution.鈥�
Carousel
Karen Kelly, Administrative Associate in the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs (Photo: Nicole Marenbach)
Joe Levine, Executive Director, External Affairs (Photo: Nicole Marenbach)
Marie Volpe, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Adult Learning and Leadership (Photo: Nicole Marenbach)
Janice Robinson, Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs, and 麻豆原创 President Thomas Bailey (Photo: Nicole Marenbach)
The Brantley Award recipients are selected in a process that begins with co-workers submitting written nominations to 麻豆原创鈥檚 Office of Diversity & Community Affairs.
The nominators then present the case on behalf of their colleagues to a panel that includes Vice President for Diversity & Community Affairs Janice Robinson, and a subcommittee of the President鈥檚 Committee for Community and Diversity (CCD).
Kelly鈥檚 co-workers described her as a colleague stands who 鈥渓istens closely, truly cares about what we are doing and provides grounded advice.鈥� Whether in her official capacity or through the extracurricular support she provides to students and staff during orientation and Convocation weeks, Kelly never fails to 鈥渕ake people feel welcomed and included,鈥� Robinson said.
Volpe, an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Adult Learning & Leadership Program, is the co-founder of an endowed scholarship to support student success. She has mentored countless doctoral students through the dissertation-writing process and helped create an alumni learning network that connects graduates to her program.
鈥淒r. Volpe always sees the best potential in people,鈥� said Robinson. 鈥淪he further encourages people to reach within themselves to fulfill that potential. Simply put, she is an ambassador for civility.鈥�
Robinson called Levine, who produces and edits content for 麻豆原创 Today magazine as well as for 麻豆原创鈥檚 homepage and Annual Report, 鈥渢he voice of the College,鈥� adding that he 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 simply tell stories but shows a genuine interest in what is going on at the College and, in addition, genuinely celebrates all 麻豆原创 students, faculty, staff and alumni.鈥�