Congratulations to the latest CEHS Staff Star Award recipient, Zoe McManaman, office assistant, at the Buros Center for Testing. McManaman has been with Buros since 2015 bringing a “can do attitude and helpful and generous nature.”
Her nominator said that McManaman finds innovative ways to support the Buros team. One example is a “go bag,” also known as Zoe’s Box of Wonders, that is sent with conference materials. It “contains an assortment of supplies that would be in short supply at conferences but that could be needed if something went wrong with or at the exhibit setup.”
“Above and beyond” was used to describe McManaman’s work ethic. “She routinely remains in the office well past 5 p.m., to ensure that anyone needing assistance whose watch may be a few minutes slow will still be able to receive help,” said a nominator. “She has sought to upgrade her skills in Excel by taking workshops and consulting others, when needed. Most notably, she has asked for additional responsibilities, for example, in obtaining a Purchasing Card, which required completing a training workshop and learning a number of new procedures, rules and regulations. Although she is not required to do so, she frequently reminds the Center’s director and other staff members of their appointments and asks what sort of assistance we need from her in order to do our work.”
According to the nomination, McManaman's “incredibly good nature” is a steady influence on the Buros Center. “She is a stabilizing presence with the Buros Center and relates very well with others of all ages and from many different backgrounds. Our entire staff—including our seven or eight graduate assistants— appreciates her warmth and apparent interest in our lives and our work."
She has even taken it upon herself to name the pair of ducks who visit the court yard outside the Buros Library in honor of the Buros founders—Oscar and Luella.
“To be sure,” says a nominator, “we appreciate her ‘can do’ attitude and her helpful and generous nature and consider ourselves very fortunate to have her on board with us.”
If you know of a staff member who you believe goes above and beyond their scope of duties, make sure and nominate them for a CEHS Star Award at https://go.unl.edu/staraward.