2023 Lehigh Staff Appreciation Dinner Program
- Twenty Five Years of Service
- In Memory
- University Awards
- Retirees
- Spot Bonus Awards
- Tradition of Excellence Awards
- Athletics Special Achievement Awards
Twenty Five Years of Service
Congratulations to Lehigh staff members who marked 25 years of service during the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
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Fred Bechtoldt |
Facilities Services |
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Allen Biddinger |
Athletics |
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Bruce Bunnick |
Admissions |
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Sherry Buss |
College of Health |
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Christophe Guillon |
Chemistry |
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Stacey Kimmel-Smith |
LTS Client Services |
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Kim Miller |
Athletics |
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Anne Nierer |
Sociology and Anthropology |
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Debra Rubart |
International Fellowship Advising and UN Programs |
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Randolph Shebby |
Environmental Health and Safety |
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Deborah Utesch |
Athletics |
In Memory
Lehigh remembers active and retired staff who passed away during the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
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Kathryn Fair |
Financial Aid |
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Donald Fisher |
ID Office |
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Maryann Haller |
College of Arts and Sciences |
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Margaret Holzer |
Office of Research |
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Lois Kaercher |
The Learning Center |
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Eleanor Mastandrea |
Development |
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Michael Meyers |
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering |
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David Rader |
Facilities Services |
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Shirley Sutton |
Computing Center |
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Gerald Trumbauer |
Facilities Services |
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Rodney Yerk |
Facilities Services |
Lehigh University Awards
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2022-2023 Lehigh University Awards
John W. and Barbara R. Woltjen Award
Brittany Emanuel, Payroll Office
Louis and Helen Zirkel Library Staff Award
Mark Scott, LTS Client Services
Perry and Carol Zirkel Nonexempt Staff Award
Elise Schaffer, LU Art Galleries Museum
Lehigh University Exempt Staff Distinguished Service Award
Donald Roberts, Department of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity
Alfred Noble Robinson Exempt & Nonexempt Staff Award
Nicholas Christy, DOS Student Life
Hillman Nonexempt Staff Award
Annette McCans, Dean’s Office College of Arts and Sciences
Hillman Exempt Staff Award
Chad Kusko, I-CPIE
Best wishes to Lehigh staff members who retired during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
Robin Bodnar
Senior Budget Analyst, Provost’s Office
23 Years of Service
Robin retired in July of 2022. She also held positions in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the Payroll Office. In her retirement, she is learning to read and speak Ukrainian; is a member of the St. Mary’s Sisterhood, Choir and the new Financial Recording Secretary. Robin stated that she just loved working with everyone. She has so many good memories of so many good people. One of the things she enjoyed most was sharing her knowledge with others so that they too can succeed in everything they do.
Robert Bruneio
Transportation Manager, Transportation Services
36 Years of Service
Bob retired in November of 2022. Prior to Transportation Services, Bob worked in the Lehigh Police Department. While at Lehigh, he was Co-Advisor to Lehigh University Emergency Medical Services, served on many committees including the Chairperson of ERAC, and participated in numerous community events – in too many to mention – in Bob’s words. Today, Bob is working with a local EMS service overseeing the Mobility Services team that provides wheelchair transport for assisted living facilities, making sure senior citizens are safely transported to medical appointments. Bob states that as a dedicated staff member for 36 years, he took pride in being able to serve the many students, staff, and faculty. Providing excellent customer service to the Lehigh community was one of the many highlights of his career. Lehigh provided many excellent opportunities for him and his family and he will always cherish the many wonderful people that he had the honor to know and work with.
James Christman
Sergeant, University Police Department
18 Years of Service
Ann Conahan
Parking Enforcement Officer, Parking Services
10 Years of Service
Ann Denker
Business Manager, Student Affairs
41 Years of Service
Ann retired in August of 2022. While her career at Lehigh was always in Student Affairs, she also held the position of Executive Secretary. Serving as the Building Monitor for Williams Hall, Ann was responsible for making sure everyone was out and accounted for when a fire alarm went off. In her retirement, she plans to travel and spend time with her grandkids. Ann worked for four Vice Presidents during her time at Lehigh – Preston Parr, Marsha Duncan, John Smeaton and Ric Hall as well as two interim VPs, Pete Beidler and Ian Birky. Ann also took charge of the entire coordinator staff in Student Affairs.
James Eshleman
Senior Analyst, LTS Technology Infrastructure and Operations
40 Years of Service
Janice Johnston Howie
Program Director, Martindale Center
17 Years of Service
Tahya Keenan
Administrative and Artistic Assistant, Zoellner Arts Center
10 Years of Service
Tahya retired in February, 2022. In her retirement, she is thoroughly enjoying time spent continuing research related to an instrument deeply steeped in ancient Egyptian culture known as the sistrum. Tahya states “I designed a 21st century version of this instrument (that had been buried by the sands of time) and collaborated with a manufacturer based in Florida who is producing it based on my design!”
Tahya says she treasures being a contributing member of the arts community here in the Lehigh Valley that culminated in being a part of a team bringing exemplary programs to the audiences at Zoellner Arts Center from speaker, musical artists, dancers and more. She has a very special place in her heart for the accomplishments of the Music Masters Mentor Program (3MP) which she initiated and coordinated with Bakithi Kumalo. She writes, “Witnessing a world-renowned, five-time Grammy award-winning musician casually sitting alongside a twelve-year-old, for example, encouraging her to find a way to express the music in her soul through the notes on her trombone is a sight I will always remember! It was a privilege to work with the Zoellner staff to bring wonderful programs from inception to fruition and I now exit stage left toward the wondrous future ahead (continuing to research and offer presentations about the Systrum). I will conclude by saying my father was a Lehigh grad (Class of ‘48); he was very proud of his experiences and education at Lehigh and loved being an alum and now I share his pride albeit not as an alum but as a retired staff member.”
Robert Keyse
Research Scientist, Materials Science and Engineering
12 Years of Service
Carol Laub
Coordinator, English Department
42 Years of Service
Sarah Loosbrock
Computer Operator, LTS Technology Infrastructure and Operations
43 Years of Service
Amy McCrae
Coordinator in Graduate Education and Life
24 Years of Service
Amy retired in October of 2022. Prior to working in Graduate Education, she also worked for Lehigh Support for Community Living and the College of Education. During Amy’s time at Lehigh, she participated in many graduate events. Some of Amy’s most memorable events include Holi, Garba night, Afghan kite flying, bubble soccer, Tuesdays@10 breakfasts, Graduate Women’s Exchange, Renaissance Faire, Horseback riding, crystal cave football games, and tailgating. Amy said she is still getting used to a retirement schedule – or rather non-schedule. She continues to travel with her husband. They’ve been to over 50 countries and will add a few more this year. Amy states that every day she came to work, she never knew what the day would bring. Her love for Lehigh is grounded in her love for the graduate students that utilized their office for help in so many ways -- a place to hang out and make new friends, and a place to meet students in other disciplines. Her job was coordinator, accountant, den mother, guidance counselor, listener, cook, chauffeur, and friend. It was the best job and she still misses the day-to-day interactions with our funny, brilliant grad students and the best colleagues anyone could ask for.
Marcia McKay
Employment Outreach Coordinator, Center for Career and Professional Development
17 Years of Service
Lawrence Messina
Bus Driver, Transportation Services
11 Years of Service
Theresa Muniz
Coordinator, Accounting Department
10 Years of Service
Rebecca Navedo
Coordinator, Dean of Students – Student Conduct
33 Years of Service
Rebecca retired in December, 2022. She also held positions in Housing Services and Residence Life. During her tenure at Lehigh, Becky participated in SOAR meetings with new staff members across campus. She also participated in certain activities with Gryphons.
During her retirement, Becky plans on traveling, reading, helping with the women’s ministry in a local church, and walking daily on Lehigh’s campus.
When asked to share a memory, Becky stated, “I loved working at Lehigh – a place where I learned about the University – learned the names of all the dormitories; learned all the names of the Greek houses and their alphabet names – learned about the process of student conduct. What I enjoyed more was the contact with the students, making friends, being able to help with parent phone calls and meetings, and making many friendships across campus in different departments. My coworkers became my family. Thank you, Lehigh, always in my heart!”
Anne Nierer
Coordinator, Sociology, and Anthropology
25 Years of Service
Anne plans to retire in June, 2023. In addition to Sociology and Anthropology, Ann was a Graduate Coordinator in the English Department; the Business Communications Coordinator in the Undergraduate Dean’s Office in the College of Business; the Administrative Coordinator for the Center for Optical Technologies; and the Graduate Coordinator in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department. In her retirement, Ann plans to spend time traveling and gardening.
Doris Oravec
Financial Manager, ATLSS Engineering Research Center
42 Years of Service
Doris is retiring May 3, 2023. Prior to working at ATLSS, Doris was an Accounting Clerk in the Bursar’s Office, a Software Specialist in the Computing Center (now LTS), and a Contracts and Grants Specialist in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. During her time at Lehigh, Doris volunteered with the Day of Caring Program painting and cleaning up non-profit sites. After tomorrow, Doris plans to spend more time with loved ones. She looks forward to having more time to cook and tend to her garden. Doris shared that her colleagues in the Computing Center used to call her the SneakerNet. This was in the 80’s before software could be distributed remotely so she would put her sneakers on and walk to the many computer labs around campus and perform software installations. A critical software update was needed one hot and humid August day which also happened to be freshman move-in day (before MOOV program started). She spent a good portion of that day being a friendly face and providing directions and information to the new students and their parents. It was an interesting and memorable day.
Margaret Petrovich
Security Coordinator, LTS Information Security
44 Years of Service
Debra Rubart
Coordinator, Office of International Affairs
25 Years of Service
Deb retired in April. Before landing in International Affairs, she worked as a secretary in the President’s Office, was a Coordinator in Academic Outreach, as well as a Project Manager in the Provost’s Office. Deb was actively involved in her 25 years at Lehigh including SOAR (Successful Ongoing Administrative Relationships) in which she conceptualized and led a team in the creation and execution of the onboarding program for new university nonexempt staff. This program provided peer-to-peer support and increased relationship-building with different offices across campus. Deb also worked behind the scenes to set up and formalize the Faculty Staff of Color Network. Deb was also responsible for the Administrative Staff Reference Guide in which she authored an administrative reference manual for university administrative staff that provided information on university-wide administrative processes and contacts. During her tenure at Lehigh, Deb served at ERAC from 2008 to 2011. During that time she held the roles of Secretary, Vice Chair, and Chair – of course, not ALL at the same time! Under Deb’s ERAC chair leadership, ERAC created and established Resources to Engage, Accomplish, Connect & Help (REACH), and worked with Human Resources and held four sessions over two days on Working Effectively with Faculty: A Guide Book for Staff and Managers in which 100 staff members attended.
Since retiring, Deb is working full-time as an Instructional Designer with Action for Child Protection; doing freelance instructional design work for Mindful Learning Design; is a member of the Board of Directors for Flint Hill Education Center; and volunteers as a Judge for the Lehigh Valley Science and Engineering Research Fair.
Richard Walters
Boiler Operator, Facilities Services
25 Years of Service
George Yasko
Director of the Health Science Technology Building, Office of Vice Provost for Research
40 Years of Service
George retired in December. In addition to his role as Director of the HST Building, he also was a Laboratory/Electronics Technician in the Geology and Earth and Environmental Sciences Departments; a Laboratory, Field Technician, Internship Mentor/Coordinator in the Lehigh Earth Observatory (LEO) as well as a Technical and Program Manager in the College of Arts and Sciences – STEPS Operations. When asked what he is doing now, George replied that he is NOT spending hours answering emails and attending meetings. He IS spending time hanging out and traveling with his wife, Cherie, going on holiday with family and friends, brushing up on the piano, mandolin, baritone ukulele, and didgeridoo, riding his bike, designing and printing 3D things, visiting wineries and breweries mid-weekdays, tinkering, doing nothing, and doing whatever he wants. And he is really really really really enjoying Sunday nights! George also shared that he had many great memories and opportunities presented to him at Lehigh.
“Being a member of a three-person team and designing, building the electronics, and writing the software for the PISPPI (Portable Pore Pressure Instrument), testing the instruments in Barnegat Bay, NJ, being caught in a quickly developed lightning storm in an aluminum Boston Whaler. Ultimately, accompanied them to the bottom of the Pacific in the submersible ALVIN. The one position I loved the most was my time with LEO (Lehigh Earth Observatory), having had the opportunity to work with nearly 800 students one-on-one and in small groups over LEO's run on a variety of projects, most of them environmentally based. Some weeks I’d spend most of my days outdoors, providing students with hands-on, real-world experience, thinking, wondering if anyone at Lehigh knows what they are paying me to do.” He is still connected, and gets together with some former LEO students today and attends their weddings! He misses (some of) the work, the challenges, and all of the many great people he enjoyed working with.
2022-2023 Spot Bonus Award Recipients
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Mandi Alford Julia Ammary Michael Anderson Brenda Bachman Fred Bechtoldt Steven Benko David Bernini Stefanie Burke Nicole Burke Denise Campion Alyssa Clapp Lori Claudio David Coates Weston Conner Ryan Correa Tara Coyle Susan Disidore Richard Eime Brittany Emanuel Penny Fasching Micha Fell Patricia Florkowski Amanda Fraley Kathleen Frederick Gale Fritsche David Garofalo Erica Gluszynski Daniel Goonewardene Benjamin Grams
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Laurie Gray Evans Mary Sue GulickRosa Guzman Laine Hardcastle Joseph Hartner Carolina Hernandez Christopher Herrera Kaleena Hess Maria Ioannidou Milton Jenkins Jason Jones Cynthia Kane Jennifer Kershner Ilena Key Stacey Kimmel-Smith Joseph Klocek Jonis Lainez Ainsley Lamberton Linda Lefever Caitlin Leidy Amelia Lester Lemmons Stephen Lewis Kerry Livermore Gregg MacKenzie Mark Makovsky Heather Messina James Monek Christopher Mulvihill Todd Murray Scott Nauman
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Jesse Pearson Margaret Petrovich Marshall Pysher Sarah Riccaboni Athena Rivera Brandin Robinson Vilma Rodriguez Deborah Ruthrauff Jeff Rutt Roman Ryszewski Christine Samuel-Maynard Elise Schaffer Ashley Sciora Libby Seyfried Munroe Sollog Douglas Spengel Taylor Storer Amy Temos Kara Uhrich Megan Van Voorhis James Vincent James Wagner Kurt Weber Kirk Williams Jeffrey Worman Holly Zakos Linda Zaoudeh Brooke Zellers
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2022-2023 Tradition of Excellence Award Recipients
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Stacey Alderfer Brenda Bachman Joseph Bates Rebecca Bruneio Denise Campion Mark Canney Jenny Chao Meredith Constable Christopher Creswell Diane Croke Kathleen Dugan Emily Fisher Richard Houck |
Erin Karahuta Katrina Kraft Chad Kusko Heather Messina Ann Marie Mulhearn Tania Rossi Hope Sagnip Libby Seyfried Gina Sierzega Brett Smith John Troiano Dominic Wallitsch Beth Yen |
2022-2023 Athletics Special Achievement Award Recipients
Pattie-Ruth Taylor
Francis Troyan