ROSEBURG, Oregon – Umpqua Community College (UCC) is proud to announce its recipients of the 2021 NISOD Excellence Awards. This year’s honorees include Alyssa Harter, Department of Arts and Humanities, and Joy Yori, Office of Administrative Services.
NISOD’s Excellence Awards recognize men and women each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues. In 1989, in connection with a University of Texas at Austin national study of teaching excellence, NISOD hosted its first ceremony honoring NISOD Excellence Award recipients. The response to that ceremony was so positive that NISOD began what has become the largest and most inspiring gathering that recognizes the contributions and achievements of community and technical college faculty, administrators, and staff.
“It is a great honor to receive this award and I give many thanks to my past and present students, colleagues, and mentors for helping me reach this great distinction,” Harter, said. “This year has been a long and trying one. Receiving this award has given me a great push as I reach the finish line of our academic year.”
“Transforming lives is more than a component of a mission statement, it is a gift of empowerment to our students, our faculty, our staff, and our administrators at UCC,” Yori said. “I am honored to receive the NISOD Excellence Award. This award affirms my continual desire to be the leader who is not defined by title or position, prestige or fame; but one who is able to engage people in process, create a space of safety and mutual trust, and transform lives through kindness, integrity and honesty. Every day the opportunity to learn something new, teach someone something new is given to us. From the classroom, the cubicle, the hallway, a Zoom, or the home lives can be changed and people can be empowered. I firmly believe no matter where you are on the organization chart you are valuable, you have purpose, you can contribute to the whole, and you can transform a life. A heartfelt thank you is given to my campus colleagues for transforming my life and allowing me to be a part of theirs.”
Excellence Award recipients are recognized during NISOD’s annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, to be held virtually April 28-30, 2021. Excellence Awards recipients receive a specially cast, pewter medallion hung on a burnt-orange ribbon.
“Recognizing those individuals who have contributed to student success and their colleges’ mission is something we look forward to doing each year,” Dr. Edward J. Leach, NISOD’s Executive Director, said. “The extraordinary work of these men and women includes not only what they do for their students and colleagues, but what they do for the communities in which they live and work. We’re honored to be able to play a part in celebrating their achievements.”
About NISOD
The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) is a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges.
About Umpqua Community College
Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities.
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