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Employees of the month

Jean Hall

November Unclassified employee of the month

Started at KU: 1996.

Current title: Associate research professor, Center for Research on Learning

What that means: Hall is principal investigator on several health care and disability policy research projects in the Division of Adult Studies at the center.

In her 13 years at KU, Hall has become nationally known in the field of health care policy for people with disabilities. She has published widely and obtained many federal- and state-funded research projects. What drives her research is not only the strong desire to contribute academically to the field but her commitment to changing the lives of people with disabilities. She is keenly aware that policy change has the power to positively affect lives.

Notable: In the past 18 months, the subject of health care policy related to disability research has garnered considerable attention, and Hall has been asked to contribute her research and policy insights at state and national levels. Former Sen. Robert Dole, R-Kan., and three other former senators formed the Bipartisan Policy Center to examine pressing issues facing the nation. One of the topics was health care reform, and during Dole’s Policy Center event in Kansas, Hall’s research was highlighted as an example of best practice.

During the course of her KU career, Hall has brought in millions of dollars of research funding while helping the state create and maintain support programs for people with disabilities who would like to work, maintain their health and lead productive lives. In 2004, she wrote a proposal that earned the State of Kansas a $22 million grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to conduct a five-year experimental intervention to determine whether disability can be delayed or prevented by improving the level of health coverage offered to workers with potentially disabling conditions.

Melodie Hough

November University Support Staff employee of the month

Started at KU: 1995.

Current title: Administrative professional, Office of the University Registrar

What that means: Hough oversees the NCAA academic eligibility certification process for about 550 student athletes. She works with various academic units, the academic support program in the athletics department and the Athletics Compliance Office to gather “a mountain” of information on each student athlete to determine whether he or she has fulfilled the eligibility requirements for financial aid and competition. She takes great care to ensure that all student athletes are certified by the time of their first sports event. Hough also is responsible for the comprehensive fee schedule, a 30-page document that covers everything from tuition, course fees and campus fees to residence hall rates and parking fees and fines. She works with departments across campus to update the schedule for annual review and approval by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Notable: Hough provides leadership to the registrar’s office in a variety of ways. In addition to participating in the senior leadership group, she volunteers for other projects. As the office’s sustainability officer, she has taken the lead on efforts to create a greener work environment. To reduce paper consumption, she researched and is helping implement ImageNow, a paperless imaging system that allows storage and sharing of documents electronically.

Quotable: “If I ever need to discuss the certification status of a student athlete, or need additional information that helps me perform my job responsibilities, Melodie is always there for me. She is helpful, professional and courteous,” said Dino Bell, director of eligibility for the athletics department.