Employees of the month honored

February: Rory White
Classified employee of the month

Started at KU:Rory White came to KU in June 2001 as a carpenter in the Department of Student Housing.

Current title: Facilities maintenance specialist in the carpenter shop.

What that means: White has a broad range of carpentry skills and can do just about anything, from working on new construction to remodeling and renovating, from framing walls and installing new doors and windows to creating elegant finish carpentry.

Notable: The working environment is not always ideal and deadlines can be tight. White and his crew often work in cramped student rooms—filled with enough furniture, electronic appliances and personal possessions to furnish a modest house—replacing damaged doorjambs or repairing broken windows. They work quietly and efficiently, doing whatever needs to be done quickly and correctly.
In addition to his regular maintenance responsibilities, White almost inevitably is the person placed in charge of special projects.

Recent feat: In the past year he spearheaded the window replacement project for Gertrude Sellards Pearson residence hall, was the lead worker on an ambitious and much needed renovation of the student kitchen at McCollum Hall, and oversaw a complete makeover of the living room and offices at GSP.
White’s people skills rival his abilities as a carpenter . As a result, things seem to go especially smoothly when he is the project leader.

February: Carol von Tersch
Unclassified employee of the month

Started at KU: Carol von Tersch joined the Department of Student Housing as an interior decorator in 1982.

Current title: Assistant director for facilities design.

What that means: She is responsible for hall improvements for a student housing residential population of more than 5,000 students and staff. Her area of responsibility includes 60 residential buildings, from duplex apartments to multi-story residence halls and high-rise apartment buildings. Von Tersch assists in coordinating interior improvement projects, drafting preliminary plans and working drawings, selecting interior finish materials and furnishings, writing specifications for purchase requisitions, and scheduling installations of interior furnishing. She works with residence life staff and student groups to submit hall improvement projects for consideration and approval and assists with policy development and inventory control.

Notable: Colleagues report that von Tersch’s positive rapport with people helps her develop improvement plans that truly meet residents’ needs.

Recent feat: Because of her extensive knowledge of the department and her capacity to handle multiple responsibilities, von Tersch often is called upon to fill interim positions in addition to her own. She served as interim assistant director for custodial services and more recently was interim associate director for facilities maintenance and development for more than two years.