Smuts and Coffman Garner Presidents Outstanding Staff Awards - April 29th, 2010

College of Education staff members Patty Coffman and Regina Smuts have been selected from an array of campus-wide candidates for The University of Texas at Austin’s President’s Outstanding Staff Award.

To be selected for this prestigious University of Texas at Austin award, candidates should have exhibited, over time, an exceptional degree of dedication, competence, conscientiousness in execution of duties, skill in customer service and ingenuity.  Letters of support from work colleagues must reflect that the candidate’s job performance consistently is excellent.

Coffman is an administrative associate who provides support for several kinesiology faculty, research assistants, graduate students and visiting scholars. Among her wide array of responsibilities are processing of purchases, travel arrangements, assistance with preparation of class materials and multimedia faculty presentations, mail management, meetings arrangement, supplies ordering and preparation of grant submissions.

“I am humbled and extremely grateful to be chosen for this award,” said Coffman. “It is my great privilege to work in such a lively department with an absolutely fantastic group of folks!”

Smuts is an administrative associate who has been with educational psychology since 2003. She assists with student registration and advising as well as the internship application process, acting “as den mother for around 70 students.” Smuts also helps produce annual reports, create and manage grants, coordinate admissions for school psychology, oversee test administration for school and counseling psychology, manage the accounts for the newly created Texas Child Study Center and assist with the accreditation process.

“The best thing about my job,” said Smuts, “is the opportunity to work with such talented faculty, staff and students. They're what motivate me to do my best every day.”

Staff award winners receive a certificate and an honorarium of $1,500. This year’s awards ceremony is on May 6.

—Kay Randall, University Communications, 512-232-3910