Six University Employees Recognized for Exceptional Performance by Gov. Phil Murphy at State Employee Recognition Award Ceremony

Six William Paterson University employees were among those honored by Governor Phil Murphy for their exceptional performance and service at a New Jersey State Employee Recognition Day (SERD) Award Ceremony in Trenton on May 9, 2024. The ceremony was held to recognize and honor state government employees for their outstanding contributions, a work ethic that inspires accomplishment, and their commitment to excellence in public service.

The six employees honored were: Johanna Prado, director of the Center for Degree Completion and Adult Learning; Amanda Vasquez, director of the WP Online Student Success Center; Kara Rabbitt, associate provost for academic initiatives; Daisy Rodriguez, associate director, counseling, health, and wellness; Steve Quinn, associate vice president for University admissions; and Jason Hunter, detective sergeant, University Police.

“Our success as a University and that of our students is driven by the dedication and excellence of our talented staff, administrative, and faculty employees, who are doing great work in every college, office, and department across campus,” says President Richard J. Helldobler. “I am proud to see these particular members of our community recognized for their exceptional work and service to William Paterson and the State of New Jersey.”

The award recipients were chosen from a statewide pool of nominees based on the following criteria: outstanding effort, consistent quality performance, and contributions to the department/agency above and beyond the call of duty; innovative thinking, taking initiative, identifying organizational efficiencies, and effecting cost savings; a demonstrated commitment to the citizens of the State and the clients we serve; demonstrated willingness to share knowledge, teach others, and work as part of a team; and representing the State of New Jersey with the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.

Johanna Prado, Amanda Vasquez, and Kara Rabbitt received the Governor’s Team of Excellence Award in recognition of their work successfully serving New Jersey's effort to accelerate adult degree completion among the state's estimated 750,000 residents with some college credit but no degree. They built a collaborative enterprise of wrap-around student support, credit for prior learning opportunities, and a core of dedicated faculty trained to teach students whose first experience with college may not have been a positive one. More than 1,700 students are now enrolled in either WP Online or the innovative Leadership and Professional Studies Program, which is tailored specially to adults. Their collective efforts were key to William Paterson University's being recognized as enrolling the most returners in the state through the "Some College, No Degree" Initiative, as well as receiving a $150,000 accelerator grant.

Daisy Rodriguez received the Leadership/Professional Achievement Award. As the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center’s department's mental health professional, Rodriguez provides superior supervision to more junior team members in service of students' wellbeing. She regularly demonstrates what it means to be a servant-leader by prioritizing the growth and development of her team and leading by example with a strong work ethic and unwavering commitment to the University’s students. Rodriguez sought approval, and arranged, for outsourcing of this responsibility and then took it upon herself to alone provide the necessary, after-hours backup coverage for nearly three years during the pandemic, so that her team was able to have a needed break during this trying time. She worked with WP's insurance provider and clinical staff to ensure that counseling visits would be properly coded for insurance reimbursement, generating thousands of dollars in revenue when resources are otherwise limited.

Steve Quinn received the Innovation and Efficiency Award for his innovative approaches and dedication to excellence, including: spearheading a revolutionary overhaul of University recruitment and admissions practices through collaborative efforts with strategic partners across campus; implementing policy revisions to align with industry best practices and identifying operational efficiencies; introducing strategic frameworks for prospect generation, communication, and yield initiatives, fostering a culture of forward-thinking within the admissions process; and restructuring staff into optimized teams and frameworks, enhancing the work environment and recruitment effectiveness.

Jason Hunter received the Community Service Award for his exceptional work ethic and commitment to the University community that reaches far beyond the scope of the job requirements, whether he is doing youth counseling work in the Paterson, N.J. community that he calls home, dressing up as Cat in the Hat and reading stories to young children at the University’s Child Development Center (CDC), or donating food to support various events. He has established and maintains an ongoing collaborative working relationship with the teachers and staff at the Child Development Center, ensuring that the health and safety needs of enrolled children and families are a priority. He has been closely involved with campus efforts to bring winter clothes, diapers, and hygiene products to families struggling with insecurity around food and other essential needs. A great advocate for education, he serves as an active member of the CDC's Early Childhood Advisory Council.

05/15/24