Fall 2011 Golden Griffin Recipients

Congratulations to all of our Fall 2011 Golden Griffin Recipients!

Jess Raymond

Department: Residence Life
Core Value: Student Centeredness - Received Golden Griffin: August 2011

Last year Williamsburg sold out of air conditioning units, causing our students and their parents to go into a state of panic. To avoid that confusion and stress this year, Jess contacted Ace Hardware and had extensive conversations with their store manager. Because of Jess’ efforts, the store manager agreed to order extra units for our students and we were able to direct our students to a location close to campus.  Ace even instituted a delivery service to campus for those students without transportation. Jess went above and beyond, as she always does, to make sure our students were taken care of.

Casey VanVeen

Department: Sadler & Campus Centers
Core Value: Collaboration - Received Golden Griffin: August 2011

 There are so many awesome things that I can say about Casey, but the bottom line is that she has pulled the Sadler Centers Staff together recently in preparation for the new year. She has rejuvenated everybody with her enthusiasm and professionalism. Essentially she has challenged both the student staff and professional staff to new levels!  Casey continues to be a breath of fresh air to the Sadler Centers, the university and the community. She is truly an amazing young professional that has a very bright future ahead herself and I am a better professional because she instills and inspires people to push themselves.

Shylan Scott

Department: Residence Life
Core Value: Student Centeredness - Received Golden Griffin: September 2011

 Shylan is always mindful and ensures that what she is doing is going to be beneficial for the students in her area.  With students and colleagues she has gained respect as someone we can turn to for any ideas, thoughts or advice.  She has been a huge advocate for Greek Letter Organizations even as she has challenged them in ways that get them thinking about consequences and benefits of their actions. Shylan deserves to be recognized for her tremendous efforts within our division, but mostly for her commitment to students and their personal growth.

Kathryn Compton

Department: Cohen Career Center
Core Value: Professional Excellence - Received Golden Griffin: October 2011

 Kathryn joined W&M less than 3 months ago and has hit the ground running at the busiest time of year. She has learned a new system, new process, and carries herself with professionalism each and every day. She has met the challenges with poise and competence. She managed her first Career Fair successfully and is now managing on-campus recruiting. Just a couple of months into her new position, she has already been making her mark on the program, and she's become a full-fledged and highly-valued member of the Cohen team. Not only has she survived, she is flourishing!

Robin Desantis

Department: Sadler & Campus Centers
Core Value: Inclusion - Received Golden Griffin: October 2011

Robin DeSantis assists so many throughout campus, and she does it cheerfully, respectfully, and professionally.  Her nominator says “I am across campus from the busy happenings of the Sadler Center, yet Robin keeps the Campus Center in the loop with AV & guidance essential to me for performing my duties here.”  There is no doubt that Robin treats all faculty, staff, and students on campus with the same degree of attention and pride.    Student Affairs is lucky to have her!

Margie Cook

Department: Center for Student Diversity
Core Value: Student Centeredness - Received Golden Griffin: November 2011

Since coming onto the campus of William & Mary, Margie has clearly made her mark here. Margie has come with a passion for students of ALL backgrounds and has brought a fresh perspective on things we as a division and as an institution can do for our students.  Margie is not just an advocate for our students, she is a fan of them. She can be seen at almost every student event held by our organizations.  Her vision to get to know students beyond academics, ensure they feel safe, and make them feel part of the W&M community is just a glimpse of how Margie continues to embody "Student Centeredness"

 Nancy Everson

Department: Dean of Students
Core Value: Professional Excellence - Received Golden Griffin: November 2011

 I am pleased to recognize Nancy for the “Professional Excellence” she has displayed in steering the incredible launch of the Tribe TutorZone.  She has produced a highly successful TutorZone by collaborating with the Writing Center, the Library, and faculty to identify space.  She then ensured the space was staffed with highly qualified student tutors. She has developed a working system that not only is meeting student tutoring needs, but has given an involvement opportunity to an underutilized segment of our campus -- the academic tutors. The end product is a student centered program serving students in nearly every academic department!