The English Department congratulates Leandra Cain, Courtney Borack, and Cheryl Robinson, recipients of Staff COVID-19 Response Awards and Aimee LaBrie, recipient of a 2020 Staff Excellence Award.
INDIVIDUAL RECIPIENT OF THE STAFF COVID-19 RESPONSE AWARDS
Leandra Cain, Department of English
With the hiring freeze leaving the department unable to replace a staff member who left just as the pandemic hit, Leandra took up the slack in order to keep the administrative operations humming. The transition to remote learning in English, as for everyone, involved a great deal of administrative juggling – but the sheer number of courses that had to be reimagined for remote instruction was daunting. Leandra managed to coordinate the transition for well over eighty classes with fifty different instructors. Quietly, meticulously, compassionately – all while doing the work of two people -- she has simply made undergraduate instruction during COVID possible in the department.
TEAM RECIPIENTS OF THE STAFF COVID-19 RESPONSE AWARDS
English Department Graduate Program Support Team: Courtney Borack and Cheryl Robinson
Often described as being in many ways “the heart of the graduate program,” Courtney and Cheryl proved that without a doubt when the pandemic hit us in March. From facilitating the graduate program’s transition to remote instruction, to compiling a “virtual tour” of the campus for prospective graduate students, and keeping everyone informed of the safety protocols, this duo has provided key operational and social support in this time of crisis and maintained a vital sense of community despite our physical separation.
INDIVIDUAL RECIPIENT OF THE 2020 STAFF EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Aimee LaBrie, Department of English
Aimee is recognized for the ways in which she collaborates brilliantly with the Literature Faculty, Creative Writing Instructors, PTLs, and other staff within and beyond the department. Aimee’s kindness, attention to detail and extraordinary work ethic are credited with having made the Creative Writing Program at Rutgers a place where students from all different majors and varied levels of experience can try their hand at composing poems, crafting fiction, and exploring their creative sides in a safe space characterized by encouragement and constructive feedback.
The full list of recipients, individuals, and teams, for the 2020 Staff Excellence Awards can be found here.
The full list of recipients, individuals, and teams of the Staff COVID-19 Response Awards can be found here.
