June employees of the month

Kevin Curry
June unclassified employee of month

Started at KU: Kevin Curry joined Continuing Education in 1997.

Current title: Program manager

What that means: Besides program management and assessment, Curry also is responsible for financial and administrative support and operations management. For 22 of his colleagues, he solves computer problems, delivers materials, manages registration tables, supervises students and oversees some of the division's summer camps.

Notable: As one colleague notes: “If you need packets stuffed by yesterday, he can do it. If you need a budget finalized, he will do it. … He can manage a conference from start to finish, but he is also willing to do anything he needs to help everyone in KUCE meet our goals, be professional and to do our very best.” This willingness to help is often cited by his co-workers, who also admire his kindness and generosity, his consistent good humor and his reliability. “He is a team player extraordinaire,” a colleague says, “and he is on everybody's team.”

Sherrie Saathoff
June classified employee of month

Started at KU: Sherrie Saathoff began working at KU in June 1976 as an office assistant in the Department of Special Education.

Current title: She is recruitment and admissions officer for Special Education.

What that means: Saathoff oversees student orientation and course scheduling and coordinates student support activities. This year she also has handled some of the department's Human Resources needs.

Notable: Colleagues call Saathoff a “problem solver extraordinaire” with well- honed professional and interpersonal skills. She is regularly asked to organize or support projects, charity events and socials both on- and off-campus. As a parent and volunteer, she is actively involved in several facets of the Lawrence disability community.

Recent feat: When the department lost a valued colleague this year, Saathoff not only picked up the extra work but also provided comfort and support for colleagues, displaying her genuine respect and concern for the well-being of others.