University Libraries’ Staff Honored at Annual Recognition Ceremony

The University Libraries’ annual Staff Recognition Ceremony was held on May 4, 2022. At this ceremony two library staff were honored for years of service and two were selected for the Libraries’ annual Staff Achievement and Recognition (StAR) Award. The StAR award is a peer recognition program designed to honor excellence among library staff through individual awards. The Friends of the Libraries provide financial support for the awards.

Library Staff Years of Service Awards – 25 Years

Image of Mandy Shannon, Associate University Librarian; Beth Anderson, Information Desk Evening Supervisor
Mandy Shannon, Associate University Librarian; Beth Anderson, Information Desk Evening Supervisor

Beth has worked with the Student Technology Assistance Center (STAC) since it opened over 20 years ago, helping students with multimedia presentations and technology. She has supervised many student assistants and is the LEAP Librarian.

Image of Mandy Shannon, Associate University Librarian; Ximena Chrisagis, Nursing, Chemistry, & Modern Languages Librarian
Mandy Shannon, Associate University Librarian; Ximena Chrisagis, Nursing, Chemistry, & Modern Languages Librarian

Ximena is the librarian for the School of Nursing, and the Departments of Chemistry and Modern Languages. Over her 25 years here she has also worked with History and Special Collections and Archives.

2022 StAR Winner: Shannon Michalak, Library Operation Specialist 2

Image of Shannon Michalak, Library Operation Specialist; Matt Shreffler, Head of Resource Delivery Services
Shannon Michalak, Library Operation Specialist; Matt Shreffler, Head of Resource Delivery Services

Shannon does an outstanding job connecting the Wright State University to resources in her role supporting interlibrary loans and course reserves. She is always willing to step up to the front desk, answer the phone, or help out wherever needed. She comes to work every day with her energy, enthusiasm, and positive attitude. Staff noted Shannon’s creativity and willingness to help. Shannon is creative and innovative, looking for solutions to improve processes. If you’ve checked out a bookable room in the past year, we had a much easier time finding the key, thanks to the 3D holder and key rings Shannon and her husband made to organize them. It improved the handling of the keys, and staff are now able to see which rooms are available and which rooms are checked out in a glance. Her colleagues shared that this has made a big improvement to the whole process. Her nominator concluded, “Shannon is great at everything she touches and we are lucky to have her.”  

2022 StAR Winner: Heather Back, Student Success Librarian

Image of Karen Wilhoit, University Librarian; Heather Back, Student Success Librarian; Mandy Shannon, Associate University Librarian
Karen Wilhoit, University Librarian; Heather Back, Student Success Librarian; Mandy Shannon, Associate University Librarian

Heather brings energy and excitement, along with a smile and a positive attitude into the library as the Student Success Librarian. She channels this power into a wide variety of activities and projects from creating a Student Success Book Collection next to the Starbucks in the 1st Floor Group Study Rooms; promoting the Wright State University Libraries during Student Welcome Week; helping students during finals by coordinating DeStress for Success, and connecting Education students with the Charles and Renate Frydman Educational Resource Center, all with a focus of helping students succeed. Her colleagues noted that she plans things well in advance to keep things humming and fresh for students. She comes up with interesting projects for the student workers to help with. One colleague pointed to her attitude and interaction as building bridges between departments and across campus. The Wright State University Libraries have a special Student Success Librarian in Heather Back.  We are grateful for Heather’s fresh perspectives and students-first focus! 

Congratulations to all our award recipients and thank you to all our staff for their continued dedication and service to Wright State University and the University Libraries.