In This Issue:

• Public Affairs Spotlight
• Senator Spotlight – Terry Plank

The Offices of Public Affairs Support and Citizenship and Service Learning are excited to announce the implementation of the “Public Affairs Spotlight”.  The purpose of the Public Affairs Spotlight is to put a face on the university’s public affairs mission. The Public Affairs Spotlight recognizes students, faculty, and staff who are living the Public Affairs Mission in their day to day lives.  It is intended to recognize those individuals who embody one or more of the three pillars of the mission:  ethical leadership, community engagement, and cultural competency.   Spotlight recipients are selected by a committee of students, faculty and staff who review nominations received from our campus community.  The October 2010 Public Affairs Spotlight recipients can be found on the Public Affairs homepage.  Nominations for future Public Affairs Spotlight recipients can be made by clicking on link “nomination form” on this webpage.  All faculty, staff and students are encouraged to submit nominations for Spotlight recognition.  For more information, visit the website or e-mail Mary Ann Wood, Director of Public Affairs Support.

I am a single mother of a beautiful five-year-old little girl and named Aidan, who can also be found working in the office from time to time (shredding paper is her specialty). I love to run at the Nature Center, enjoy helping my daughter in all her activities, read whatever I can get my hands on, and am obsessed with the Investigation Discovery Channel.

I have worked for Missouri State University for seven years, beginning in the Counseling and Testing Center, and now as an Administrative Assistant II in the Office of Student Conduct. I love working at the University mostly because of the community-within-the-community feel. I love that I can come to work, run to fill a prescription, get my morning latte, mail something at the post office, and say hello to friends on my way.  It’s a very relaxed and beautiful work environment, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else now.

The most rewarding part of my job so far has been being a part of the Staff Senate committee that helped implement the Tobacco Free policy. I’m so proud of the work we did in helping to make the University a healthier place to be.