MIchelle Janisz Named Western Illinois University April Employee of the Month
Western Illinois University Director of Transitional Programs Michelle Janisz has been named the Al and Elaine Goldfarb Civil Service Employee of the Month for April.
Janisz began working at WIU in July 2001 as the assistant director of student activities. She left WIU in June 2005, but returned in August 2011 as director of student activities and coordinator of development. She transitioned to her current position in February 2019.
According to her nominator, Janisz has embraced a recent restructuring in her office to better serve students.
“Michelle embraced the change with open arms and a willingness to commit her skills to the development of services to enhance the student experience,” said her nominator. “With a move of some academic support initiatives, Michelle is also now directly involved with academic success workshops, tutoring and academic success coaching. When approached about the change, she did not hesitate to see the opportunity as one that would assist our students and help the greater area.”
The nominator said Janisz researched best practices and organizing plans to learn how to better serve students with academic support resources.
“Students who interact with Michelle find an individual willing to assist,” the nominator added. “Michelle is in contact with potential students through the new student orientation experience, as well as current students who are seeking to access academic support resources. She has done an outstanding job working to enhance the student experience in every aspect of her position and continues to find new, creative ways to support students.”
In August 2010, the Goldfarbs established an endowment to permanently fund the University’s Civil Service Employee of the Month award. The Goldfarb endowment is used to fund a $100 award for the recipient of the Civil Service Employee of the Month, as well as a plaque.
The WIU Foundation provides a $500 stipend for the Civil Service Employee of the Year. Western faculty, staff and administrators, as well as community members, wishing to nominate a civil service employee for the monthly recognition should contact the Civil Service Employees Council (CSEC) at csec-nominations-g@wiu.edu.
