CVM recognizes outstanding staff
CVM recognizes outstanding staff
The college honored nine employees during its Staff Recognition award ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 27. The awards are presented annually in recognition of how vital administrative staff and employees are to the college’s student education, animal healthcare and research efforts. A committee solicits and reviews nominations of individuals who go “above and beyond” in support of the college’s mission.
Meet our 2025 award-winners:
Dean’s Award
Jason Sanders and Chronica Simpson
Custodial Staff
What their nominators said:
“They are absolute rock stars!”
“These two amazingly lovely humans work as a team. … These two are constantly working to make this a cleaner and better work environment. … In addition to working constantly on improving our spaces, they are a joy to encounter. They are always smiling and showering us with compliments and kindness. These two literally brighten my every day that I run into them in a hallway or at the dumpster. They make the CVM a better place, and they deserve recognition for going above and beyond.”
Debra Hatch Czerkawski Award
Kellye Berkley
Veterinary Tech III
Clinical Affairs
What her nominators said:
“Kellye is the perfect nominee for this award because of her dedication to the CVM, the betterment of not only the service she works for (Soft Tissue Surgery), but the students (CVM and Tech interns) she works with. Kellye is a wonderful teacher to those of us that get to work with her. She takes her time to explain and answer questions. When I started working with Kellye, I hardly knew the difference between a spay and a neuter, and she took the time to discuss and explain the different procedures that I would be scheduling for STS.
“She explained to me what goes into each procedure, what we would need from RDVM’s to be able to schedule, why we don’t schedule certain procedures on the same day and how to triage and prioritize appointments. Kellye is respected by all doctors, techs, students and staff. Many will come to ask for advice from her. I have watched her calmly go over the different tools with a tech intern and explain exactly what they are used for, along with giving her tips on how to remember them. … So many people don’t want to take the time to go over the whys, whats and hows, but not Kellye. If you want to know, she wants to teach you.”
Staff Recognition Award
Jennifer Kang
Applications Systems Analyst
Vet Med Communications & Marketing
What her nominators said: “I am nominating Jennifer Kang for the Staff Recognition Award because of her outstanding work ethic and her positive attitude in the workplace. Some specific examples include helping me create a new webpage about public health careers. Throughout the entire process she was timely, knowledgeable, and was more than happy to help. Additionally, she keeps the entire PAOH team updated on our website analytics and comes up with suggestions on how to reach a wider audience and make our website more engaging. Everyone from PAOH has, at one point or another, noted her hard work to support the program.”
“She proactively looks for ways to support us, responds to our requests with remarkable speed … and is an absolute pleasure to work with. Her positive and helpful attitude is truly appreciated.”
Lori Carden
Central Receiving Services, Manager
Department of Pathobiology
What her nominators said:
“Lori is, quite simply, one of the most exceptional employees I have ever worked with in almost 20 years at Auburn University. She is competent, diligent, professional, and seems to be able to get anything done! Lori has been instrumental in the last year in establishing the department’s Central Receiving, where we receive all packages and diagnostic laboratory submissions. This has entailed attention to more implementation details than could possibly be enumerated here, and Lori has been the driving force. Through it all she has managed to get buy-in from those initially reluctant and has fostered an environment of utmost professionalism in those hired to help her with receiving.”
“Lorene has consistently proven to be a hardworking, cooperative, professional staff member, who spares no efforts to complete her tasks, and really make our lives a lot simpler. She has always been able to deal with multitasking and organization of complex subjects with a smile on her face.”
Liming Shen
Research Assistant
Clinical Sciences
What her nominators said:
“Liming is an indispensable contributor to research at the Auburn University CVM through her initiative, organization, and positive attitude. However, what is most significant, and worthy of recognition, is her remarkable contributions to the training of house officers and students. Liming’s patience, kindness and aptitude for teaching have been instrumental to the success of multiple graduate and summer scholar projects. Many house officers have remarked that they would never have been able to do their research and meet their clinical obligations without her help, support, and dedication.”
“Liming has been an invaluable mentor to the veterinary students and graduate students that have worked in the laboratory. Her influence has been significant and beneficial. Students arriving in the lab generally do not have a lot of basic science expertise. Liming has been responsible for teaching them the concepts and practicalities of bench research, including the intricacies of assays the lab performs. She supervises students daily and helps them interpret data, and even oversees the preparation of posters and presentations, making sure that everything is perfectly aligned and that color choices meet her high standards. All of this is done with her perpetual good humor, and her ability to laugh at her own idiosyncrasies and perfectionism.”
Ludmila Globa
Research Associate
Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology
What her nominators said:
“When we discuss the family atmosphere and welcoming environment that is Auburn and the College of Veterinary Medicine, it is shaped and sustained by individuals like Ludmila Globa. I have had the pleasure of working with Ludmila for over a decade and from the first interaction she was welcoming, humble, kind and selfless. She shows a spirit of service and is unwavering in her dedication to others. Her willingness and genuine desire to support and guide students and colleagues in learning technical skills and scientific techniques fosters an atmosphere of learning and professional growth.”
“Ludmila is a spectacular human. Daily, she goes above and beyond for this department. She brightens up every area she visits with her smile, lab coats, snacks, hugs, and her extremely happy plants in offices and hallways. When we needed someone to ensure the autoclave was functioning, Ludmila figured out a way. She consistently produces good science.”
Jaime Burnham
Human Resources Assistant
Vet Med Administration
What her nominators said:
“She consistently exceeds all expectations and always goes above and beyond. I have personally witnessed her on her hands and knees, cleaning and fixing things when she didn’t have to. Jaime’s primary goal is to help and make things easier for everyone around her. She has a huge heart and creates a work environment that feels like home. For example, on the day of Employment Appreciation, Jaime showed up to work before everyone else, arriving at 6:20 a.m. to ensure everything was ready for all the other employees. Her commitment and proactive approach made the event run smoothly and made everyone feel valued and appreciated.”
“Jaime is always prompt, efficient and displays a positive attitude even when our requests can be time sensitive (past due) and frustrating (new job openings with minimal information). She is persistently Johnny (or Jaime, … if you will) on the spot! Jaime is an integral part of an awesome Human Resources Team and a pleasure to work with – consistently available and professional.”
Regina Rodriguez Williams Award
Samantha Thrower
Veterinary Assistant
Clinical Affairs
What her nominators said:
“Sam Thrower has been a steadfast and invaluable member of the equine surgery team for many years. Her commitment to ensuring the service runs smoothly is evident in everything she does. She consistently goes above and beyond to support students, residents, and clinicians. Sam is highly organized, dependable, and frequently steps in to cover evening, night, or weekend shifts when needed, always without hesitation. Her absence is immediately noticeable because of the critical role she plays in our daily operations. Sam takes initiative, anticipates needs and essentially runs the service with precision and care. … Sam is, quite simply, integral to the daily functioning of our service.”
“Samantha brings exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and a calm, focused demeanor to a fast-paced and often unpredictable clinical environment. She is remarkably efficient in managing the daily workflow, keeping our service on schedule, coordinating with faculty and house officers, setting up equipment for exams and surgeries, and ensuring that appointments are made and managed in a timely and professional manner. Her ability to think ahead, solve problems on the fly, and maintain composure under pressure directly enhances the quality and consistency of the care we provide.