Employees of the month

Jim Deputy

June Unclassified employee of the month

Current title: Computer systems administrator, Kansas Geological Survey.

What that means: Deputy provides technical support for the geological survey’s computer systems and individual assistance to the staff. He is dedicated to making sure the survey computer system operates at optimum level around the clock. He works evenings and weekends if necessary to see that this happens and is particularly attentive when severe weather threatens to make the network inoperative.

Notable: Even when everything is functioning at top level, Deputy is not satisfied to coast. He takes a proactive approach to system functionality and is always reading and studying to keep up with developments in the computer field. He is adept at positioning the geological survey for each new round of technology developments if they would be of benefit to the unit. He has seen many generations of hardware and software come and go and always rises to the challenge. In recent years, computer security has become a primary focus, and he does an outstanding job of keeping the survey systems secure.

The geological survey is not the only beneficiary of Deputy’s service, as he was a KU volleyball line judge for 20 years.

Quotable: “Jim’s presence at the KGS is felt every minute of every week that we have zero network malfunctions for long periods of time,” said William Harrison, director of the Kansas Geological Survey.

Donna Goodwin

June University Support Staff Employee of the Month

Started at KU: 1992.

Current title: Accountant, Department of Special Education.

What that means: Goodwin provides support to an extremely active faculty for all the external funding opportunities that they pursue. She takes care of budget preparation, works with the KU Center for Research, processes payroll and student/staff appointments and completes and assembles all necessary grant-related paperwork.

Notable: Goodwin started at KU as an accountant II in the Comptroller’s Office. She moved to Sponsored Program Accounting in the KU Center for Research in 1997 and was a manager in the Higuchi Biosciences Center from 2002 until 2005.

In her current role, from the moment a faculty member sits down with her to rough out the budget for a grant proposal, Goodwin serves in an integral way to support the planning, preparation, production and eventual implementation of externally funded projects. If necessary, she will help package proposals that cannot be submitted electronically.

In addition to her primary responsibilities in the area of grants, Goodwin also represents special education in JaySpace matters and submits all related reports. She is the staff representative in all departmental searches and departmental standing committees. She also is an effective supervisor of student assistants.