Paula Edging, left, administrative secretary in the University of the Houston-Victoria School of Arts & Sciences, stands for a photo with UHV President Vic Morgan after Tuesday’s Faculty & Staff Recognition Luncheon. Edging was named the 2016 UHV Employee of the Year.

Paula Edging, an administrative secretary in the University of Houston-Victoria School of Arts & Sciences, was named the 2016 Employee of the Year on Tuesday at the university’s Faculty & Staff Recognition Luncheon.

The luncheon is held annually to recognize faculty and staff members celebrating employment anniversaries and to name the Employee of the Year.

Edging has worked at UHV since 2011.

Jeffrey Di Leo

“Paula is dependable, efficient and always willing to do whatever is necessary to get the job done,” said Jeffrey Di Leo, dean of the UHV School of Arts & Sciences. “She is often the go-to person when questions arise about reimbursement, procurement and office procedures. She is an integral part of the School of Arts & Sciences team and is always willing to take on new tasks.”

Edging works closely with Di Leo on a number of School of Arts & Sciences projects. She also oversees two other secretaries, provides training and makes sure various school events and activities run smoothly.

“My favorite part of the job is getting to work with my colleagues and assisting students who come into the office,” she said.

UHV staff members cast votes on an email ballot listing each 2016 UHV Employee of the Month.

“I didn’t expect to win an Employee of the Month award to begin with,” Edging said. “And now being chosen as the Employee of the Year is icing on the cake.”

In addition to Edging, others listed on the ballot were:

• Devon Dueser, senior budget analyst
• Halbert Harris, systems support analyst
• Rose Brett, administrative secretary
• Nathan Crider, custodian
• Oscar Torres, recruitment coordinator
• Yvonne Garcia, international students coordinator
• Megan Perez, computer labs supervisor
• Kyle Motal, maintenance technician
• Erika Vermillion, senior administrative assistant
• Angela Green, academic advisor
• Cheryl Shumbera, PeopleSoft functional analyst

Edging received a $500 check, a UHV T-shirt and a plaque. Her name also will be engraved on an Employee of the Year plaque displayed in UHV University West.

A reception for faculty and staff based at the UHV Katy Campus will take place on March 29.

Employees who have worked at the university for five, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years also were recognized on Tuesday. Each employee’s name, title and department are listed below.

Five Years

• Mai Abo Shakra – lecturer in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Casey Akins – lecturer in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Roselia Alaniz, assistant professor in the School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development
• John “Reese” Alexander – student recruitment coordinator in the School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development
• Linda Autry – assistant professor in the School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development
• Katherine Bacon – assistant professor in the School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development
• Justin Bell – assistant professor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Jeff Blodgett – professor in the School of Business Administration
• Jeffrey Cass – professor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Philip Castille – professor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Armando Chavez-Rivera – assistant professor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Yolando Delgado – senior accounting analysist in Finance
• Xiaoba Dong, assistant professor in the School of Business Administration
• Sara Duran – Help Desk technician in Academic & Student Technology Services
• Paula Edging – administrative secretary in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Hashimul Ehsan – assistant professor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Keri Farnsworth – assistant editor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Vikki Fitzpatrick – senior administrative secretary in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Madison Guerrero – LEAD student recruitment coordinator in Student Recruiting
• Hongyu Guo – associate professor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Shengsheng “Charlie” Huang – assistant professor in the School of Business Administration
• Rachana Kalelkar – assistant professor in the School of Business Administration
• Yingxu Kuang – assistant professor in the School of Business Administration
• Kendra Matthews – senior administrative assistant in Student Affairs
• Tim Michalski – director of Business Services
• Amjad Nusayr – assistant professor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Jennifer Opiela – web projects manager in Academic & Student Technology Services
• Jang Woo Park – assistant professor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Dana Pence – academic advisor in the School of Business Administration
• Kimberly Pickens – residence life business operations manager for Residential Housing
• Thomas Pribyl – head athletic trainer for Athletics
• Yan Qin – assistant professor in the School of Business Administration
• Jeffrey Sartain – assistant professor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Barjinder Singh – assistant professor in the School of Business Administration
• Debbie Thurmond – transfer credit specialist in Registrar & Student Records
• Oscar Torres – student recruitment coordinator in LEAD & Student Recruitment
• Lindsay Young – senior business advisor in the Small Business Development Center
• Farnaz Zand – visiting lecturer in the School of Arts & Sciences

10 Years

• Andrew Baerg – associate professor in the School of Arts & Sciences
• Eric Chacon – web developer in Academic & Student Technology Services
• Eden Gonzalez – library associate in the VC/UHV Library
• Amy Hatmaker – career services manager
• Joe Humphreys – director of the Small Business Development Center
• Daren Keesee – instructional technology specialist for the School of Arts & Sciences
• Terry Puhl – head baseball coach in Athletics
• David Reyes – functional analyst in Student Affairs
• Stephanie Solansky – associate professor in the School of Business Administration
• Ziyun Yang – assistant professor in the School of Business Administration

15 Years

• Vera Adamchik, associate professor in the School of Business Administration
• Linda Bagwell, senior payroll assistant in Human Resources
• Harry Bashaw, multimedia specialist in the School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development
• Dyana Cochrum, administrative assistant in the School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development
• Elizabeth Corte, IT business operations manager in Academic & Student Technology Services
• Mary Densman, senior administrative secretary in the School of Business Administration
• Jianjun “Jonathan” Du, associate professor in the School of Business Administration
• Ida Flores, custodial supervisor in Facilities Services
• Angela Hartmann, grants and contracts direct in the Provost’s office.
• Kristy Hennessey, academic advisor in the School of Business Administration
• Beverley “Bev” Hoerig, instructional designer in the Provost’s office.
• Yong Gyo Lee, associate professor in the School of Business Administration
• Sandy Mendez, senior secretary in the School of Business Administration
• Tracey Moore-Sweeney, grant facilitator in University Advancement
• Karen Pantel, benefits and HRMS manager in Human Resources
• Nagarajan Ramamoorthy, professor in the School of Business Administration

20 Years

• Joseph Ben-Ur, professor in the School of Business Administration
• Michael Guion, library media technician in the Victoria College/UHV Library
• Catherine Perz, associate professor in the School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development

25 Years

• Massoud Metghalchi, professor in the School of Business Administration
• Estella De Los Santos, professor in the School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development
• Barba Patton, professor in the School of Education, Health Professions & Human Development
• Kathy Walton, executive administrative assistant in the President’s office

30 Years

• Horace “Bud” Fairlamb, professor in the School of Arts & Sciences