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Employees of the month

Judy Bachman

April University Support Staff employee of the month

STARTED AT KU: 2004

CURRENT TITLE: Custodian, Twente Hall

WHAT THAT MEANS: Keeping the five-level home of the School of Social Welfare clean.

NOTABLE: Bachman is dedicated to the well-being of Twente Hall and its occupants and has become an integral member of the school community. The 80-year-old building has its unique challenges for maintenance, including many nooks and crannies and multiple bathrooms, but Bachman keeps Twente looking its best. She is also alert to unlocked doors, minor needed repairs, handicap access and all other facets of building life. Thanks to her keen eye and care for the building users, the fraying carpet has been replaced in the elevator, front door molding repaired, dirty filters replaced in duct work and numerous other small but useful improvements made.

Rebecca Smith

April Unclassified Staff employee of the month

STARTED AT KU: 2007

CURRENT TITLE: Executive director of communications, advancement and administration, KU Libraries

WHAT THAT MEANS: Smith’s primary responsibility is public relations through marketing, communications and media relations, as well as stewardship of donors in collaboration with KU Endowment.

NOTABLE: Smith combines a big picture approach with extraordinary planning skills and attention to detail. Working with internal leadership, she helped identify key library audiences and refined the key messages into a strategic communication plan that guides the advancement work. The visibility of KU Libraries on campus, in the region and around the country has been raised, due in no small part to her work. For example, Smith assisted Dean Lorraine Haricombe in establishing the Library Board of Advocates, an advisory group to the dean that helps enhance the libraries’ visibility and reputation. She has increased the number and quality of public events, which has resulted in larger audiences at the events. She also introduced new serial library publications that highlight accomplishments, services and resources to both external and internal audiences, with a resulting increase in support and connections that strengthen KU Libraries.