NSU announces winners of President’s Model the Way awards

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--Four faculty and staff members were honored for their outstanding contributions to Northeastern State University recently.

NSU President Martin Tadlock awarded these employees with Model the Way awards at the institutions opening meeting August 10.

Faculty winners were Dr. Stephan Sargent, associate professor of curriculum and instruction at NSU-Broken Arrow, and Dr. Anne Watson, assistant professor of music. Staff recipients were Sue Catron, director of business affairs, and Jamie Stocks, coordinator of micro-computing for instructional support services.

The Model the Way program honors those individuals among many who display a commitment to the principles of NSU, Tadlock said. This is my first time to be able to present these awards and I am delighted to do it.

Former NSU President Don Betz established the Model the Way awards in 2009 to honor members of the faculty and staff who exemplify service above self in all they do, demonstrate tireless effort to promote the mission of NSU and exhibit a sense of community and collegiality among fellow employees.

Sargent is director of the NSU Reading Clinic. He has been program chair for the reading and literacy department since 2005. He holds a doctorate and bachelors degree from Oklahoma State University and a masters degree from the University of Tulsa.

Stephan has a remarkable ability to support and inspire students and colleagues to achieve great things., said NSUBA reading faculty Meagan Moreland. He demonstrates the spirit of the faculty for which NSU has been known for over 100 years. We have observed his phenomenal performance with graduate and undergraduate students and his efforts on various committees.

A literacy specialist, Sargent helped develop the NSU Reading Clinic. He also has established ongoing, on-site sustainable reading clinics at Roy Clark Elementary and Briar Glen Elementary schools in Broken Arrow to provide clinical reading services. He served on the steering committee as an unpaid consultant for the San Miguel School of Tulsa and designed its literacy program.

Serving others is an integral role of the professoriate and a central goal of my professional career, Sargent said. Foremost, serving in the real world affords me the opportunity to enrich the lives of real people in real time. However, serving others also allows me to augment student learning by providing authentic experiences that involve them.

Watson joined the music faculty as assistant professor of clarinet and music theory in 2008. She is NSUs chamber music coordinator a founding member of the Ironwood Trio, a clarinet ensemble that performs around the U.S. She holds a bachelors degree from West Texas A&M and earned her masters and doctorate at Arizona State.

Dr. Watson is genuinly concerned about her students learning, said Cashen Ponds, a former student of Watsons who submitted a nomination. She is always excited and upbeat about her job. If we have questions about anything, class-related or not, she is willing to answer questions or help us figure out who to talk to to get answers.

An active performer, Watson was principal clarinet for the Arizona Opera Orchestra in Phoenix for 10 years and has played for the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, the Tulsa Ballet and the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus. Since 2005 she has been a recording artist with the Carl Fischer Music Co.

I am fortunate to be able to work every day with such inspiring and talented colleagues and students here at NSU, she said. "Receiving this award is an honor and came as a complete, albeit wonderful, surprise."

In her capacity, Catron coordinates oversight of the universitys finances. The responsibilities of the business affairs office include accounting, accounts payable and receivable and payroll.

Sue possesses a tireless dedication to our students, staff and faculty, said Parrish Vidal, administrative assistant with business affairs. She does it all with a humble and generous heart while maintaining her personal integrity and an observance of high professional standards and reasonable fairness. She is here long before the rest of us and always stays late.

Catron also is investing extra hours during NSUs transition to Banner, a campus infrastructure program which will move enrollment, finances and other institutional data and transactions online. She is overseeing implementation in business affairs.

I work with some people who have been working very hard on this Banner project and every one of them should have this award, too, Catron said. I like working for Northeastern because we impact peoples lives. Higher education made a huge difference for me and I want to help other people get into college.

Stocks has worked for NSU instructional support services since its creation. As the department has evolved he has taken on greater responsibility, but he is most appreciated on campus for his ability to assist with technical issues.

The help-desk process that is so important to solving computer problems for students and faculty benefited from his input and guidance, said NSU history professor Billy Joe Davis. Jamie has become the person faculty can contact for technology answers. In the rare instance when he has no immediate answer, Jamie always does the research or consults with someone.

Another facet of Stocks work involves assistance for instructors wishing to incorporate technology into their lesson plans. Faculty appreciate the simplicity of his explanations and sometimes refer to him as a one-man tech research team.

Technology is just a tool, Stocks said. If it isn't used, it does nothing its worthless. I understand that not everyone on campus is tech savvy, so I just try to help people use technology where it will most benefit them and explain it plainly. I am a service person, and the favorite part of my job is seeing someones eyes light up when they get it.

Each Model the Way recipient award received $1,000 and a commemorative wall plaque.