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January employees of the month

Vince Avila, Jr. Unclassified employee

Vince Avila, Jr.

Current title: Associate director of student housing for planning and development.

What that means: Avila is responsible for the effective and efficient function of a physical plant including more than 60 buildings and 100-plus acres on campus. The areas under his direct leadership comprise a $200 million capital investment and fixed-asset inventory.

Notable: In addition to overseeing work on the Crawford Center, Avila has given constant attention to the Hashinger Hall renovation, encouraging contractors, vendors and other staff members.

Jerry Wilson University Support Staff

Jerry Wilson

Current title: Facilities Operations Custodial Services.

What that means: Wilson's primary areas of responsibility are the Dole Institute of Politics and the Networking and Tele- communications Services offices. In addition, he serves as backup staff for the Visitor Center, the Landscape and Garage Facilities, and Nichols and Youngberg Halls.

Notable: Wilson's expertise in cleaning carpet and floor tiling make him Facilities Operations' first choice for last-minute flooring projects.

Quotable: "He is a hard worker, friendly and always professional," said Anna Hines, associate director of NTS.

NOTABLE ALUMS

Ruth Patrick has been called the "den mother of ecology." Patrick has worked for decades with diatoms, which are single-cell algae that are present in nearly every body of water. She discovered diatoms can be the prime indicator of water quality, because the cells readily absorb pollutants. She also devised a well-known model, the Patrick Principle, for determining a body of water's health by evaluating all life in it.