Managhan and Shail earn Staff Awards
As an institution with a reputation for providing an exceptional and personalized student experience, its little wonder that the two recipients of the Staff Award would cite working with students as one of the most important and rewarding parts of their respective jobs.
Sandra Managhan, admissions and enrolment services clerk; and Margarida Shail, office administrator for the dean of applied and professional studies; were recently announced as the recipients of the 2016 Staff Awards for Exceptional Performance and/or Service Awards. Together, the two contribute more than 35 years of experience, and a variety of roles to their current positions.
Managhan began her career at Nipissing in the General Office, the precursor to what is now Faculty and Administrative Support Services. Other roles she has held include participating in fundraising campaigns, the Employee Relations Committee, Social Committee Chair, OPSEU bargaining, Job Evaluation Committee, hiring committees, and as a non-academic representative on the Board of Governors.
“I feel we all have a role in the recruitment and retention of our students,” Managhan said. “We have great dedicated faculty and staff at Nipissing that will go above and beyond to help students out. Personally, that has always been my approach in helping students and supporting their needs.”
Managhan was on staff when Nipissing received its charter and became an independent university in 1992.
“I was fortunate to have experienced the celebration of receiving our Charter on December 10, 1992. This was a very exciting time. I recall so many staff had been placed all over the city holding banners reading Canada's Newest University and the entire city celebrated with us,” she recalls.
Shail started her Nipissing career in 2005, working in Residence. Since then, she has worked as the Arts and Science Receptionist, an Administrative Assistant to the Vice-President of Finance and Administration, and an Administrator, in the Faculty of Education. She has provided service to the university as a non-academic representative on the Board of Governors and through the following committees: Job Review, New Student Orientation and the Common Book.
“I think a positive attitude is definitely a key to how I approach my role at Nipissing,” said Shail. I try to take things one-day-at-a-time and treat everyone with respect, sometimes students, or faculty or staff find themselves in difficult situations and it’s important to me to help them find a solution.”
“Nipissing has grown a lot over the past decade, and I’m happy that it has retained its commitment to people. There are lots of opportunities for professional development and for interactions with students, staff and faculty, which provides a great sense of community.”
The Staff Awards recognize the importance of exceptional performance and/or service to the university by non-faculty employees. They highlight the key role that employees play and serve to encourage employees to provide high quality service on a consistent basis.