Employees of the month honored

Lisa Gayle Hall
June classified employee of the month

Started at KU: Lisa Hall began her KU career in August 1998 as a Secretary I in the Department of African and African- American Studies (AAAS).
Current title: She now holds the title administrative specialist.
What that means: As the only full-time classified staff member in a busy department, Hall wears many hats, depending on the time of day, the day of the week or the season of the year. She is the department’s secretary, receptionist, bookkeeper and payroll clerk. She manages the departmental Web site and e-mail and is safety officer. She also makes travel arrangements for faculty and visiting scholars and is co-scheduling officer for courses.
Notable: AAAS houses several related units—the African Studies Resource Center, the Langston Hughes Center, the Multicultural Africana Scholars Program and the Institute of Haitian Studies. Although Hall’s primary responsibility is to the department, she also is office manager and payroll clerk for each of the affiliated units.
Recent feat: In spring 2003, AAAS became the fifth member of KU Multicultural Scholars Program directed by Professor Renate Mai-Dalton of the School of Business. Hall was asked to set up the personnel, secretarial and financial aspects of the departmental program and to serve as liaison with the parent body in the School of Business. She has continued to oversee the program under the directorship of Chico Herbison.

Virginia A. Nichols
June unclassified employee of the month

Started at KU: Virginia Nichols began her KU career as a student employee in the Office of Institutional Research and Planning (OIRP). She was so valuable that when she completed her degree, she was asked to join the staff full time.
Current title: She is now a statistical and information officer and has worked in OIRP for almost 30 years.
What that means: Nichols produces and maintains a vast amount of data about KU and higher education in general. She develops, analyzes and maintains information for federal surveys and major college guides. She is the “go to” person when University Relations or the Chancellor’s Office needs specific and accurate KU facts.
Notable: Each spring she coordinates the production of “The University of Kansas Profiles”—the bible of KU data—and updates the Web version of Profiles throughout the year. She responds to approximately 50 comprehensive surveys annually and answers inquiries from KU administrators, faculty and staff; the Board of Regents staff; students; parents; and local and national media.
Recent feat: For the past nine months, Nichols has added to her normal duties several time-consuming functions that normally are performed by a colleague who is on leave. Despite these additional responsibilities, she still finds time to assist her colleagues on projects, answer questions or give an outgoing report one last check for accuracy.