Year In Review Office of Information Technology
Auburn > OIT > Year In Review > 2021 > Supporting the Auburn Mission > Diversity, Inclusion, & IT Community

Diversity, Inclusion, & IT Community

 

In an effort to grow and strengthen the IT Community, and in keeping with one of the primary goals of OIT's Diversity Action Plan, employees took several opportunities throughout 2021 to develop diversity and inclusion practices. Several programs throughout the year brought employees together to strengthen OIT as a whole unit.

There were also several well-deserved accomplishments we want to highlight.

Employee of the Year & President's Outstanding Collaborative Units Award

Josh Henderson receiving the Employee of the Year recognition.

Joshua Henderson was recognized as the 2021 Employee of the Year. Josh is always a hard worker and a team player but his efforts with our COVID response were continually identified as going above and beyond.

Josh Henderson and Misty Carroll won the President's Outstanding Collaborative Units Award for their work on the AU COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative.

Spirit of Excellence

Every month, Auburn University recognizes as many as four employees, representing four different constituent groups, with the Spirit of Excellence award. Given the fact that Auburn has over 2000 Administrative and Professional employees, OIT was honored to have 3 of our employees recognized in 2021:

  • Kenneth Turner in January
  • Joshua Henderson in February
  • Tyler Crawford in May

We are proud of these employees and grateful for their contributions to our campus!

Other Events

2021 had a lot of different and fun events such as an Employee Appreciation Week with live music and outdoor games, a Wrapping Party for the Troops, Baby Showers for our expecting mothers, Birthday Recognitions, Christmas in July, Camp War Eagle, New Faculty Orientation, Back-to-School BBQ, Bowling Nights, Putt-Putt Outings, Holiday Shindigs, and even a Beehive Removal.

New Employees & Retirees

Every year we get to meet new faces as employees join the OIT family. It is exciting to learn about their back stories and see what skillsets and new perspectives they bring to the table. Each year we also have to say goodbye to dear friends we have known for years as they retire and start exciting new chapters in their lives.

New Employees

  • Barbara McKinnon, Project Management Office
  • Damian Zamora, Infrastructure
  • Chandreyee Mukherjee, DBA/Unix Team
  • Jill Albin-Hill, Deputy CIO / Executive Director
  • Teresa Westbrook, Administration
  • Daniel Nunes, Banner HR/Finance Development
  • Mark Wilson, Cybersecurity
  • Bryant Ray, Cybersecurity
  • Zeb Whitehead, Network Operations
  • Brian Barber, Cybersecurity
  • Deborah Heidepriem, Accounting
  • Adam Chalkley, Infrastructure
  • Ezekiel Craig, Endpoint Solutions
  • James Ellis, Cybersecurity

Several employees received promotions throughout the year. Congratulations!

Retirees

  • Richard Dale, Manager of Network Operations (24 years)
  • Michael Miller, Director of Strategic Initiatives (36 years)
  • Linda Pattillo, IT Specialist at IT Service Desk (32.5 years)
  • James Petty, IT Specialist with Telecommunications (20 years)
  • Mary Harrison, Manager of Accounting (11 years)
  • Jimmy Sanford, Operations Specialist (10 years)

Thank you all so very much for your service to Auburn University and the Office of Information Technology.

Last Updated: March 29, 2022