Today@Sam Article
Presenting The 2024 Staff Excellence Award Recipients
Aug. 7, 2024
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd
Four Sam Houston State University employees who have demonstrated excellence in service, proven commitment, commendable performance and a high level of motivation have been selected as recipients of the 2024 Staff Excellence Award. They are Jandy Kelley, administrative associate III for the College of Health Sciences; Keith Ahee, director of enrollment services for the College of Osteopathic Medicine; Heather Caudle, assistant director of Student Success and Coaching for the Academic Success Center and Shelly Bellis, SIMS/Skills lab coordinator for the School of Nursing.
Staff members are selected based on nominations by their peers, supervisors and members of the SHSU faculty. In addition to a plaque of recognition, each recipient will be awarded a $2,000 bonus.
Each year, the university invites the Bearkat community to nominate staff members who have consistently demonstrated excellence. The nomination period begins in February and ends in April.
Jandy Kelley has worked at the university for over 12 years and currently serves as the administrative coordinator for the College of Health Sciences. She has previously worked for the Registrar’s Office before moving to the college.
How would you describe your own job?
My job covers several areas but mostly student services. I work with our students from registration all the way through graduation. I assist with any issues or questions that they may have. I provide support and cheer them on in their academic journey. I work with our suspended students to make sure they know what support services they have available and where they can locate that support.
I also support our departments and programs with curriculum, catalog and student issues/situations and retention. I enjoy working as a liaison for our college with various other departments across campus.
What do you love about your job?
I love being able to work with students. I have a great team (college, departments, faculty and staff) that I work with to make sure our students have the best opportunity to be successful.
What do you love about SHSU?
SHSU gives everyone the opportunity to succeed and grow. This campus is welcoming and there are many support systems in place to help anyone achieve their goal.
Comments supporting her nomination include:
“COHS leadership’s trust in Jandy is exceptionally high and her work performance is one of her best strengths. She is just that good. Additionally, COHS faculty, staff and students can always count on Jandy to be both reliable and dependable. Plainly stated, she is a “rock” for the COHA, which helps demonstrate her commitment to doing her best job possible.”
“Jandy gives 100% to the COHS students every single day. Even if she can’t directly assist them, she will refer them to who can. She takes the time to understand where they’re coming from. The SAM Center COHS advising team would be lost without her!”
Keith Ahee Jr. is the director of enrollment services for the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and a lifelong Bearkat. He was drawn to join the COM as the new college got its start in 2018 by its mission to meet the need for primary care physicians across rural Texas.
How would you describe your own job?
I oversee prospective students' recruitment, admissions and enrollment processes. My role involves collaborating with various departments and stakeholders to ensure a seamless experience for applicants, from their initial inquiry to their first day on campus. I also work closely with our team to develop and implement strategies that promote our programs and support student success.
What do you love about your job?
I love the opportunity to connect with prospective students and help them navigate the often complex journey of medical school admissions.
Seeing students grow and succeed from the application stage to becoming future healthcare professionals is incredibly rewarding. Working with a passionate and dedicated team makes the experience even more fulfilling.
What do you love about SHSU?
SHSU has a unique blend of a welcoming community and a commitment to excellence. The university's focus on student success, professional development and community engagement creates a supportive and enriching environment for students and staff. I appreciate the opportunities for growth and collaboration across departments, and I'm proud to be part of the Bearkat family.
Comments supporting his nomination include:
“Keith’s extensive tenure in admissions spans over a decade, where he has excelled in recruiting and retaining students across all levels of the COM. His impact is felt deeply through the nurturing environment he cultivated within admissions, fostering a sense of joy and fulfillment among staff and prospective students.”
“Keith always has a positive attitude. He comes in each day happy to be here and sets a tone for productivity and teamwork. This attitude is what motivates our team to problem-solve and ensure our work is done to the highest standards.”
Heather Caudle is the assistant director of the Academic Success Center and has dedicated herself to student success for the past six years. She and her peers at the center work diligently to ensure all students can succeed in college, whether they are a first-year freshman, transfer or graduate students.
How would you describe your own job?
As the assistant director in the Academic Outreach & Recovery unit of the Academic Success Center, I would describe my job as a liaison to learning. This unique position allows me to shape how students approach their studies and develop effective learning strategies. By leading a dedicated team of peer educators, known as learning coaches, I continuously seek to improve the student experience through innovative, strengths-based solutions to address academic success.
What do you love about your job?
I love developing students into their full potential. My favorite part of my job is watching a student transform with the knowledge they have gained from academic support services.
What do you love about SHSU?
The community! I took a leap when I began as a staff member at SHSU. My initial plan was to gain experience and reevaluate to the next career move. Yet, my plan changed as I have come to know our campus. At SHSU, our community is enriched by students, faculty, staff and supporters who want to see each other succeed. I love being a part of a university that values its people.
Comments supporting her nomination include:
“Heather possesses an array of outstanding abilities that are both infinite and impactful, leaving a vast impression on those fortunate enough to work alongside her. She embodies compassion and empathy in her roles as a leader, supervisor and peer. It is her unwavering commitment to unconditional compassion and empathy that sets her apart from her peers.”
“At the heart of Heather’s work is an unwavering commitment to student success. Her genuine care and concern for the well-being and achievement of every student she encounters is evident in both her words and actions. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that students have the support, resources and guidance they need to thrive academically and personally. Heather is, in every sense, a true champion for student success, and her contributions have had a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals within the university community.”
Shelly Bellis is the senior coordinator for nursing simulation and lab learning for the School of Nursing, which she has served for 10 years. Bellis uses her previous experience at Huntsville Memorial Hospital to create realistic simulations of patient care, allowing SHSU students to fully prepare themselves for the scenarios they will face in the doctor’s offices, clinics and hospitals they will serve in the future.
How would you describe your own job?
I coordinate and prepare student simulation and skills lab learning activities in the School of Nursing.
What do you love about your job?
Helping nursing students develop their critical thinking skills through the innovation of nursing simulation is deeply rewarding for me and it is wonderful to work with leadership that supports and promotes the value that simulation adds to nursing education. Contributing to the growth and development of future nurses using state-of-the-art technology and equipment in a safe learning environment that allows students to learn from their mistakes is an enjoyable part of my day.
It’s very gratifying to observe our learners reach those light bulb, “I’ve got it” moments! I am grateful to work with an outstanding team at the School of Nursing and we are greatly supported by our College of Health Sciences. I genuinely enjoy working every day and using my nursing background to do something I love.
What do you love about SHSU?
I love that SHSU offers great benefits and support for students and employees to learn, grow and achieve while fostering a community environment in which everyone belongs. I have worked for Sam for 10 years and am proud to be an alumnus working on my second degree. I am thankful for all the ways that SHSU has supported and encouraged my professional and academic growth and I am proud to be a Bearkat and the mother of a Bearkat!
Comments supporting her nomination include:
“Shelly is the essence of the School of Nursing’s values: caring, collaboration, professionalism, integrity, humanity, innovation and excellence. She displays caring and compassion in all of her interactions and treats everyone as if they’re the most important person with the most important issue, concern or idea at that moment.”
“Ms. Bellis is a very beneficial simulation and lab coordinator. She has the ability to present information in a format consistent with what students need to be successful. She is innovative and uses multiple methods of content delivery in simulation. Her work ethic is impeccable. She always completes any task she was given in a timely fashion.”
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