Tuesday, Apr 19, 2016
Nancy Schmitz named 2016 Outstanding Administrative Professional
For 22 years, the Oakland University community has focused much effort and care in recognizing the finest qualities to be found in its administrative professional employees.
The recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Administrative Professional award has demonstrated many such qualities in her work of more than 30 years at OU.
Colleagues describe Nancy Schmitz, assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students, as highly professional, selflessly dedicated to OU and its mission, kind, caring, supportive, collaborative, knowledgeable, versatile, motivated, and positive, as well as an exceptional mentor to colleagues.
“Her dedication to OU and the success of the students she interacts with is abundantly clear to anyone who has observed her in action,” said David Schwartz, director of the OU Counseling Center. “Furthermore, her professional and calm leadership style has had a positive impact on the various departments that she oversees.”
After starting her career with Oakland in 1983 as coordinator for student organizations, Schmitz moved steadily through positions of increasing responsibility including, assistant dean of students, director of the health and counseling centers, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students.
She currently oversees the First Year Advising Center, Disability Support Services, Counseling Center, Graham Health Center and the Tutoring Center.
Schmitz also:
“Nancy has been through many changes in leadership at Oakland over the years, and she has adapted to several changes in roles,” said former Outstanding AP award honoree David E. Herman, who is now vice president for Student Affairs at Fredonia University in New York.
“With each new challenge, Nancy has maintained the highest standards of excellence, remained loyal and dedicated to the campus, and continued to support her staff in their respective endeavors,”
Schmitz played an instrumental role in creating the highly successful First Year Advising Center, and championed physical and mental health services for students through Graham Health Center and the OU Counseling Center.
“Because she cared so much about student welfare, she worked hard to move the counseling and health centers from near-collapse to thriving operations,” said former OU Vice President for Student Affairs Mary Beth Snyder, who worked with Schmitz for roughly two decades.
Outside of her assigned responsibilities, Schmitz has also served as president of the Oakland University Administrative Professional Assembly, co-chairperson of the Oakland University United Way Fund Drive and coordinator of the University’s Crisis Volunteer Corps.
“She serves as a great role model for the up and coming Administrative Professional staff,” said Michael Wadsworth, assistant dean of students. “She is an example of what we should all strive to be.”
Schmitz will be formally honored as this year’s award recipient at the Exemplary Employee Award Recognition and Celebration, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14, in the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms.
The recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Administrative Professional award has demonstrated many such qualities in her work of more than 30 years at OU.
Colleagues describe Nancy Schmitz, assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students, as highly professional, selflessly dedicated to OU and its mission, kind, caring, supportive, collaborative, knowledgeable, versatile, motivated, and positive, as well as an exceptional mentor to colleagues.
“Her dedication to OU and the success of the students she interacts with is abundantly clear to anyone who has observed her in action,” said David Schwartz, director of the OU Counseling Center. “Furthermore, her professional and calm leadership style has had a positive impact on the various departments that she oversees.”
After starting her career with Oakland in 1983 as coordinator for student organizations, Schmitz moved steadily through positions of increasing responsibility including, assistant dean of students, director of the health and counseling centers, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students.
She currently oversees the First Year Advising Center, Disability Support Services, Counseling Center, Graham Health Center and the Tutoring Center.
Schmitz also:
- administers the University conduct systems
- serves as the University's primary ombudsperson to resolve student, faculty and staff issues, including major crises;
- serves on an array of university-wide committees and task forces related to student retention and student success;
- serves as the FERPA Officer for the campus, and;
- leads the Division of Student Affairs in assessment initiatives.
“Nancy has been through many changes in leadership at Oakland over the years, and she has adapted to several changes in roles,” said former Outstanding AP award honoree David E. Herman, who is now vice president for Student Affairs at Fredonia University in New York.
“With each new challenge, Nancy has maintained the highest standards of excellence, remained loyal and dedicated to the campus, and continued to support her staff in their respective endeavors,”
Schmitz played an instrumental role in creating the highly successful First Year Advising Center, and championed physical and mental health services for students through Graham Health Center and the OU Counseling Center.
“Because she cared so much about student welfare, she worked hard to move the counseling and health centers from near-collapse to thriving operations,” said former OU Vice President for Student Affairs Mary Beth Snyder, who worked with Schmitz for roughly two decades.
Outside of her assigned responsibilities, Schmitz has also served as president of the Oakland University Administrative Professional Assembly, co-chairperson of the Oakland University United Way Fund Drive and coordinator of the University’s Crisis Volunteer Corps.
“She serves as a great role model for the up and coming Administrative Professional staff,” said Michael Wadsworth, assistant dean of students. “She is an example of what we should all strive to be.”
Schmitz will be formally honored as this year’s award recipient at the Exemplary Employee Award Recognition and Celebration, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14, in the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms.