August 4, 2022
By: Ashley Ritchie

Staff members in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering were recognized with awards at the College of Engineering’s Staff Appreciation Day, held August 4 in Georgia Tech’s Exhibition Hall.

Michelle Graham, a faculty support coordinator in the Woodruff School, received the Soaring Jacket Award. The award recognizes staff members who display true exceptionalism through the following traits and behaviors:

• Goes above and beyond in the execution of responsibilities 
• A go-getter with a consistently positive attitude
• Exhibits a high level of professionalism
• Team player that inspires others
• Displays genuine concern and care for colleagues
• Consistently produces an exceptional quality of work
• Effective problem-solver

In his nomination letter for Graham, Alper Erturk, Ring Family Chair, stated:

“All members of my research group are regularly fascinated by the punctual and diligent work Michelle delivers. She has set the bar so high that I honestly do not know what I would do without her supporting us. While supporting so many of my colleagues, I find it incredible how she manages things so fast and with such excellence.” 

Graham, who has spent 24 years at Georgia Tech, assists many labs and researchers within the School in addition to supporting student groups such as GT Motorsports and EcoCar.

The Woodruff School's S.H.O.E. (Staff Happiness and Organizational Effectiveness) Cabinet, consisting of staff members Lula Baker, Melody Foster, and Ann Lamb, received the Staff Innovation and Process Improvement Award. The award recognizes a staff member or team of staff members that has utilized creative thinking to develop and implement a process, plan, or solution benefitting the School, College, or Institute in one of the manners below:

• Cost-savings
• Time-savings
• Work Productivity
• Compliance or Risk Management
• Safety
• Program Success

In his nomination letter for the S.H.O.E. Cabinet, Devesh Ranjan, Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair, said:

“Their commitment to continue to serve as a conduit to help improve the environment and professional development of staff is something that will make a lasting change in the Woodruff School. Moreover, it provides a pathway to help nurture new leaders in the Woodruff School as new staff members will be able to step into a role on the S.H.O.E. Cabinet and feel empowered to help improve the conditions for their colleagues.”

Among many things, the cabinet reached out to all mechanical engineering staff members, meeting with 80% of them in small groups to hear first-hand about their experiences and what they felt would make the School better. From this, a staff retreat is being planned to focus on professional development, the formation of affinity groups within the school to help staff build stronger ties across employment areas, and several activities that will be implemented to improve the relationship between staff and faculty.