Thompson receives 2018 staff award

August 31, 2018

Chris Thompson

The Betty-Ware Wray staff award is given annually to a College of Education (COE) staff member who has excelled in his or her job performance as well as University service. During the College’s annual meeting on Aug. 8, COE’s Student Success Center (SSC) Director, Christina Thompson, was named the 2018-2019 award recipient.

A member of the College for 18 years, Thompson serves as the liaison to the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) Certification Division and handles all certification processes for the COE’s initial educator preparation candidates in undergraduate and graduate programs. She also oversees the advising staff for undergraduate students in the College.

Staff members are nominated for the Betty-Ware Wray Award by COE faculty, staff and students, and the nominations are reviewed by the College’s Staff Advisory Council. The nomination letter for Thompson included comments about her leadership and exemplary work performance for the College.

The writer indicated that, “Chris is the type of person who adjusts to changes easily and accepts challenges as a part of the job.”

“Her positive nature and her own willingness to take on extra work inspires her staff to rise to the occasion and go above and beyond to carry on the good work of the SSC,” the writer continued.

The Betty-Ware Wray staff award honors the memory of former COE Student Services staff member Betty-Ware Wray. Wray’s in-laws established the award to honor Wray and her legacy as a beloved member of the College family.

“I was very honored and humbled to be chosen for this award,” Thompson said. “This award means a lot to me, as Betty-Ware hired me, and she was a mentor and a friend. She loved the COE and worked very hard. I am one piece of this larger ‘machine,’ and we all have to be working hard in order to keep the COE running.”