Volume 2, Issue 1 November/December 2013 In this issue...

A publication of GW’s Division of University Human Resources 2 Opening Letter The Potomac Society Takes EMPLOYEE Alumni Weekend by Storm APPRECIATION 3 GW Celebration of Excellence 2013 ISSUE 4 News You Can Use 6 GW In Touch Staff Spotlight Lenore D. Miller 8 The Teaching and Learning Collaborative Propels GW Into Academic Excellence 9 The GW Cancer Institute Saves Lives 10 Coaching Conversations The Impact of Employee Praise 11 Ask UHR In Memoriam Remembering Tammy Marshman

President: Executive Vice President and Treasurer: Louis Katz Vice President for University Human Resources: Sabrina Ellis Editors: Sam Collins and Lisa Goodson, Ph.D. Photographers: Sam Collins and Jessica McConnell Burt Contributors: Tanya K. Bell, Taylor Cole, Sabrina Ellis, Sharon Lincoln, Mike Manetti, Emma Sutter, and Joe Wilson Design: GW Marketing & Creative Services

GW In Touch is published by The Division of University Human Resources The George Washington University Left to Right: Jason Lifton, Executive Associate to the Senior Associate 2121 Eye Street, Suite 101 Dean for Military and Veterans Initiatives; Grace Henry, Director of Washington, DC 20052 Diversity, School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Carlton Jones, Master Patrol Officer, GW Police Department; and Timothy Kane, Associate The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/ Director of Inclusion Initiatives, Multicultural Student Services Center affirmative action institution. Opinions expressed here are those of the The Georgeindividuals Washington and do not necessarily University reflect official | 1 positions of the university. Sarah Jo Lawrence , Opening Letter Academic Support Assistant in the Smith Center Carbonell Academic Center (CCAS BA ‘08, GWSB MTA ‘10), and Toby Davidow, Coordinator of Planning and Outreach in the Division of Student Affairs (GSEHD MA ‘00) counted among dozens of alumni at the Presidential Administrative Fellows (PAF) brunch during Alumni Weekend. / Photo Courtesy of the Office of Jessica McConnell Burt Jessica McConnell Alumni Relations

Dear GW Faculty and Staff, LOOKING BACK

We recently honored five employees and departments The Potomac Society Takes for their invaluable service to the university at the 2013 Alumni Weekend by Storm Celebration of Excellence. As one of the four annual university-sponsored employee appreciation events for GW is one of the largest employers in Washington, D.C., boasting approximately the year, the awards ceremony and workshops provide 11,000 full-time and part-time faculty and staff. Within this workforce is a special employees with an opportunity to recommit to the GW group of employees who were first introduced to GW as students and stayed values and further their professional development. We long after they completed their studies while continuing to serve the GW proudly feature these employee accomplishments in community. Together, they represent the Potomac Society, an alumni group this special issue of GW In Touch, which is dedicated to comprised of GW graduates who now serve in roles as university faculty and employee appreciation. staff.

Additionally, this issue provides timely information that “Your whole goal during college is to get a job. GW prepared me for that and is of great benefit to our readers including the new paid I am glad that I am working here because it is a great place to work,” said Joe parental leave benefit, expectations of employees and Bondi (B.A. ’01, M.A. ’03), Executive Director of Development in the New York supervisors post-annual performance reviews, and tips Region and a founding member of the Potomac Society. “Many members of the for emergency preparedness. We also highlight the Potomac Society were undergraduates who then worked at GW while pursuing Teaching and Learning Collaborative (TLC), a space for master’s degrees, and never left. There’s something rewarding about working faculty and staff to exchange educational methods and for your alma mater.” philosophies. During Alumni Weekend, which started on Thursday, September 26th and

This issue also highlights the GW Cancer Institute lasted until Sunday, September 29th, members of the Potomac Society reconnected with former classmates and reflected on the value of their GW (GWCI) and its efforts to close the widening experience throughout the weekend. socioeconomic gap in cancer treatment. Lastly, the GW

In Touch Faculty Spotlight takes readers on a journey The GW Potomac Society was founded in 2003 by a committee of GW with Lenore D. Miller, Director of the University Art employees including Bondi, Dr. Peter Konwerski (B.A. ’91, M.A. ‘93, Ed.D ’97), Galleries, as we celebrate her 40 years of service at the Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs, and Scott Mory, former assistant university. vice-president for Alumni Relations. Today, its more than 1,600 faculty and staff members continue to serve the GW community as well as take time to celebrate We hope you will enjoy the highlights of the Celebration their dual affinity as both alumni and staff of GW. of Excellence event. “Our love for GW is what brought us together. There is a sense of community Best, that people like,” said Dr. Konwerski. “As the Potomac Society membership continues to grow, we still enjoy interacting with new students each academic year who are enthusiastic about service and justice.”

To inquire about leadership opportunities or to get involved with the Potomac Sabrina Ellis Society, please email Mark Forrest, Associate Director of Clubs and Groups at Vice President for University Human Resources the Alumni House, at [email protected].

2 | LOOKING BACK GW Celebration of Award Recipients Excellence 2013 FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARD Tara Radin More than 600 faculty and staff reaffirmed their Strategic Management & Public commitment to the GW values of learning, Policy, School of Business communication, teamwork, and excellence, and celebrated their service to their communities at the Celebration of Excellence between Monday, STAFF EXCELLENCE AWARD November 4 and Thursday, November 7, 2013. Patti Lieblich The annual campus-wide gathering, formerly Office of the Vice President known as the Service Excellence Celebration, for Research included a professional development conference and awards ceremony for faculty, staff, and students who have demonstrated excellence in STUDENT-STAFF EXCELLENCE the GW community. AWARD The Organizational Development & Effectiveness Matthew Wilson (ODE) unit of UHR hosted sessions on Center for Student Engagement professional development that focused on the workplace experience, relationship building with influential leaders, conflict management, DEPARTMENTAL EXCELLENCE changes in the workplace, and utilization of the AWARD latest technology. Sessions took place on the Facilities Operations Reuse Team and Virginia Science & Technology campuses, as well as in webinars. COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP AWARD This year, nearly 400 faculty and staff members Committee on International and more than 80 departments and cross- Student Success departmental teams were nominated for awards.

ON THE COVER

Four notable university employees grace the cover of this special issue of GW In Touch. Each has served the university in various capacities and has gained as much from it as they have given. They are as follows: Jason Lifton, GW alumnus and former Student Association president, continued his service to the university upon his graduation in 2011 as coordinator for strategic initiatives in the Division of Student Affairs and now as executive associate to the associate dean for military and veterans initiatives. Grace Henry has worked at GW for more than 15 years, serving numerous roles in student life including multicultural counselor, assistant director of the Center for Student Engagement, then known as the Student Activities Center, director of the second year experience, and now director of diversity and inclusion in the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, all while earning a doctorate in higher education administration from the university. Carlton Jones has patrolled university residence halls and administrative buildings since 2007. He is perhaps one of the GW Police Department’s most notable officers, often offering a helping hand and gems of knowledge to faculty, staff, and students. As director of the Office of Community Service, Timothy Kane led the successful year-long service campaign to collect 100,000 hours of volunteer time in exchange for First Lady Michelle Obama speaking at the university’s commencement in May 2010. Today he upholds GW’s commitment to recognize, celebrate, and support diversity and inclusion regarding sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and religious communities as associate director of inclusion initiatives at the Multicultural Student Services Center.

CORRECTION

The ‘Dr.Forssell’s LGBT Health Graduate Certificate Program,’ article (GW In Touch: Healthy Campus Issue) did not mention that the program was housed with the Professional Psychology program. This is where one of the program’s core faculty, Dr. Richard Ruth is an associate professor and where the LGBT Graduate Health Certificate Program has its official home.

The George Washington University | 3 News You Can Use

Performance Reviews Are Done, Now What?

Performance reviews are just one which can be found at http://ode.hr.gwu. component of your professional edu/giving-and-receiving-feedback. Also, development. However, the performance use the GW Recognition Toolkit to provide management (PM) process is ongoing formal and informal recognition. For more and continues to add value to your career information about the toolkit, please visit related goals well beyond the completion http://hr.gwu.edu/recognition-toolkit. of annual performance reviews. You can make this critical part of your job and career Performance Checkpoints success a priority by taking advantage Performance checkpoints are your formal of effective coaching, feedback, and opportunity to update your job-related William Atkins recognition, and performance checkpoint goals, ensure you are on track with your strategies that are part of the PM process. GW Safety Expo professional development plan, and clarify performance expectations. Proactively More than 2,000 students, faculty, and Coaching schedule at least one formal performance staff extinguished fires, built emergency Work with your supervisor to clarify and checkpoint with your supervisor, preferably preparedness kits, practiced self-defense manage expectations for how work should halfway through the performance period. techniques, and learned how to prepare for get done by visiting http://ode.hr.gwu. emergencies during the university’s ninth More information about performance edu/coaching and downloading the annual Safety Expo on the Foggy Bottom’s checkpoints can be found at http://ode. Clarifying Expectations document. University Yard on Wednesday, September hr.gwu.edu/performance-checkpoints. 18th. The event continued on September Keep open lines of communication Managing your performance throughout 25th at the Virginia Science & Technology throughout the year for continuous the year is a continuous and collaborative Campus with more than 250 attendees. development of your coaching relationships. process. For more information about the Not all of us want or need the same level of The expo is part of National Preparedness performance management (PM) process, coaching, just as not all supervisors deliver it Month, sponsored by the Federal please visit http://ode.hr.gwu.edu/ with the same frequency. If you want or need Emergency Management Agency and its performance-management-process. Also more coaching, please ask your supervisor. Ready Campaign. GW’s expo is the D.C. visit http://ode.hr.gwu.edu for additional metro area’s largest collegiate-based tools and resources to assist with your Feedback and Recognition National Preparedness Month activity, professional development and performance. Please use ODE’s guide for strategies on and this year’s event was the university’s how to best give and receive feedback, largest yet.

Thirty-five local, federal, and nonprofit Repeat Performance agencies as well as campus departments took part in the expo, presented by GW’s The Weight Watchers at Work program is available to all GW employees and community Office of Emergency Management (OEM). It members. Two membership options provide more flexibility at a discounted rate and allow was a record turnout for the event in terms the use of an interactive website that helps track eating habits and includes a trove of over of both attendees and community partners. 1,500 healthy recipes—all at affordable monthly rates. For more information about OEM, please Meetings are every Tuesday from 1pm to 2pm in the Marvin Center. Rooms are subject to visit http://CampusAdvisories.gwu.edu/ change. Specific information can be found on the monitors throughout the building. About-Office-Emergency-Management. For more information about the program, please visit http://hr.gwu.edu/weight-watchers- The GW Emergency Response Handbook is work or attend the Weight Watchers Open House on December 19th at 1pm in Marvin also available at http://CampusAdvisories. Center Rooms 402 and 404. Liz Anderson, a GW staff member in the Office of the Provost, is gwu.edu/handbook. also accepting inquires at (202) 994–3233 or [email protected].

4 | Featuring news and updates relevant to your work and work-life.

Preparing for Emergencies Finally, understand how to stay Open Enrollment Updates and informed should an emergency occur. Reminders Emergencies can occur anywhere at any CampusAdvisories.gwu.edu is the The 2014 Open Enrollment season kicked time. Prepare by making an emergency university’s primary website used for plan, building a kit with essential personal off on October 1st and lasted the entire communicating emergency preparedness month. This year, health premiums rose by items, and know how to stay informed and incident-related information to the GW approximately 12 percent due in part to during incidents. Individual preparedness community. In addition, individuals can call increased costs and an anticipated increase is the foundation in helping to protect you the GW Information Line at 202–994–5050, in enrollment in the university plan. and your loved ones. In addition, when check GW’s Facebook page and Twitter The following are updates and reminders employees are personally prepared, the GW account, and monitor local media, such as about benefits available to benefits-eligible community can continue to promote a safe 103.5FM or WTOP.com. employees of the university. and resilient campus for all students, faculty, and staff. Additional Tips Updates

• Always carry your • Program GWPD and • Paid Parental Leave Benefit – Beginning First, make a plan. Your personal emergency GWorld ID card. personal I.C.E. (in January 2014, full-time staff members with case of emergency) plan addresses actions you will take during at least two consecutive years of benefits- • Keep GW Alert numbers into your an emergency. Develop plans for locations contact information mobile device. eligible service will be able to receive six you spend most of your time. Consider how up-to-date. weeks paid leave following the birth or • Report unusual/ adoption of a child. you would proceed with the following: • Know your location suspicious activities and exits, and or items to GWPD. • Wellbeing Hotline – Colonial Community 1. Evacuate from an unsafe location or situation. the placement of first aid kits, now offers the Wellbeing Hotline, a vital 2. Shelter-in-place when an area around you is automated external resource in addressing personal issues, unsafe. defibrillators and fire planning for life events, and managing extinguishers. 3. Communicate with family, friends, and co- daily life. Services provided through workers if you happen to be in an unsafe the hotline include referral to child and situation. Special Considerations for Designated elder care, moving and relocation, major and Essential Employees purchases, college planning, pet care People with access and functional needs and home repair from qualified work-life should include family, friends, and co- Designated and essential employees help specialists. In addition, trained masters workers in their plan by helping others fulfill specific critical functions and still and doctoral candidates can provide counseling at no cost and employees can understand their needs during an perform certain jobs during a university emergency. speak by phone with an attorney, Certified closure or emergency. In order to fulfill Public Account, or Certified Financial those responsibilities, designated and Next, assemble kits with emergency items Planner on a wide range of financial and essential employees should ensure they are legal issues. For more information or to for work, home, automobiles, and other well prepared to work outside of normal register online, please visit http://hr.gwu. important locations. Kits should sustain you edu/wellbeing-hotline. hours and conditions. This includes having for at least three days and can contain the a plan at home, maintaining an emergency following items: Reminders kit at work, and reviewing actions and • Water (one gallon • Cash & some expectations when emergencies occur with • The university offers Health Advocate, per person per day) change an independent healthcare assistance their supervisor. • Non-perishable • Important service that can answer healthcare-related food documents questions and help employees find • Flashlight & extra • Filter mask or cotton Please visit http://CampusAdvisories. physicians and medical institutions. batteries t-shirt gwu.edu for safety, preparedness and • First aid kit • Moist towelettes, emergency communications information, • Please note that any changes to your garbage bags & medical and welfare plan after the end • Radio & extra including the latest GW Emergency batteries plastic ties of the enrollment period would require a Response Handbook. For additional • Medications & items • Plastic sheeting & Qualified Life Event (QLE) such as changes for unique needs duct tape information, contact the Office of in marital status, birth, spouse’s work • Clothes & • Whistle Emergency Management at (202) 994- status, or coverage. You can enroll in or comfortable shoes • Mobile device GWEM (4936) or [email protected]. change your retirement benefits at any charger time.

The George Washington University | 5 Staff Spotlight

Jessica McConnell Burt

Lenore D. Miller, chief University Art Galleries. The GW Permanent curator and director of the University Art Collection contains more than 3,600 works Galleries, started of art, which Ms. Miller oversees with her service at GW in 1973 as an assistant Assistant Director Olivia Kohler-Maga. curator in the Dimock Gallery, then located Each piece of work that Ms. Miller collected in . Since then, she has has helped her meet her goal of raising curated more than GW’s profile as a credible small-scale hub 400 exhibits that feature the work for art conservation in Washington, D.C., many internationally among the likes of the Smithsonian Gallery recognized artists. of Art, the Renwick Gallery, and many others.

“In the past 13 years, I have helped the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery achieve recognition and status as a true gem of arts presentation in the city,” said Ms. Miller. “I am looking forward to a new appreciation for the GW Permanent Collection within the context of future arts presentations and conversation.”

Over the course of her 40-year career at the university, Ms. Miller has curated more than 400 exhibitions and exhibited the works of internationally distinguished artists including Russian-born American painter, Jules Olitski, 19th century American watercolorist Charles Demuth, Irish contemporary artist Michael Craig-Martin, and numerous others. Her work, including the development of a graduate-level fine LENORE D. MILLER arts curriculum and launch of a children’s arts literacy program, has made GW a premier institution for arts education.

LOOKS BACK AT 40 YEARS “I am always grateful for being part of a supportive community,” said Ms. Miller. “The OF SERVICE AT GW many learned and vibrant colleagues, with whom I have been fortunate to work, have In September 2013, the Luther W. Brady Art work of world renowned artists at the time made my career endlessly challenging with Gallery revealed its newest exhibit, Decenter such as Pablo Picasso. so many interesting interactions.” NY/DC: An Exhibition on the Centenary This exhibit is one of dozens that the gallery, After graduating from GW’s Masters of of the 1913 Armory Show. It included housed on the second floor of the Media Fine Arts program in 1973, Ms. Miller transformative works of 27 contemporary and Public Affairs building located on became an assistant to Donald Kline, artists and commemorated the original the corner of 21st and H streets, NW, has curator of the Dimock Gallery, then housed Armory Show held at the 69th Regiment hosted under the leadership of Lenore D. in Lisner Auditorium. She assumed the Armory in New York City that featured the Miller, chief curator and director of the GW curator position when Kline retired in 1975

6 | and outlined strategies for organizing exhibitions under the Department of Art and Art History. Ms. Miller has such a wealth of knowledge, insight, and artistic direction that it seems that the natural progression was to share her intrinsic understanding of creative viewpoints as an educator. Thus, she flourished throughout her initial teaching experience when she developed and taught a graduate-level course for fine arts and museum studies students, which focused on designing floor plans and models, and creating installation design for various art exhibits. It was the first of several Burt Jessica McConnell Lenore D. Miller takes Dr. Allan Weingold (right), former vice president for medical affairs and executive dean courses that she would teach throughout of GW Medical Center, and his wife (left) on a tour of the Brady Art Gallery. her established and revered career at GW. Jean-Antoine Houdon, which was then Today, Ms. Miller writes for various arts “Teaching was a significant component displayed in the lobby,” said Ms. Miller. “I publications and presents papers at of my job when I was the curator at the told him I was the curator of the art gallery conferences for museum professional Dimock Gallery because it was a part of the and that GW had an art collection. He organizations such as the American Alliance university’s art department,” said Ms. Miller. of Museums and the International Council “I have enjoyed teaching our students about replied that he was glad to know about the of Museums, both of which she holds art within the realm of gallery and museum university’s art collection and then signed a membership. She is also a leader in the exhibition design. Being in the academic copy of our exhibition brochure.” local art community, serving as a member environment at GW is stimulating and In 1991, Ms. Miller was among dozens of of the Art Committee of the Cosmos Club, working here is dear to my heart.” museum directors and curators invited a local private social club, and organizer One memorable experience Ms. Miller to the White House for a luncheon with of one of the first charter meetings of the recalls during her time at GW was when First Lady Barbara Bush. It was there that Association of College and University President Ronald Reagan was admitted into the First Lady called for art institutions Museums and Galleries. Galleries at GW Hospital in March of 1981 for wounds to become more involved in childhood Georgetown University and the University related to an assassination attempt and literacy and education. In 1998, Ms. Miller of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. she was selected to decorate his hospital launched the America Reads: Literacy and have consulted Ms. Miller on collection suite. President Ulysses S. Grant’s watercolor Art Appreciation Program that connected management and gallery operations. painting named, “Horse and Carriage,“ GW with local school systems and hosted Those activities, however, do not distract extracted from the GW Permanent hands-on arts workshops and programs Ms. Miller from pushing the limits of what Collection, served as a temporary, yet that incorporated visual literacy and art the Brady Gallery can achieve. In her role pleasant looking fixture in President appreciation among young D.C. students. Reagan’s room while he recuperated. as curator and director of the University During the construction of the Media and Art Galleries, she has facilitated two million The president made his first public Public Affairs building in the early 2000s, dollars in endowments and patronage for appearance after the incident a couple Ms. Miller worked closely with architects to the gallery, which serves a testament to months later when attending a performance design a professional art exhibition space Ms. Miller’s impact on the university art by the Joffrey Ballet Company at Lisner on the second floor. That new space would galleries. Auditorium. It was there Ms. Miller met eventually be known as part of the Luther famed American artist, Andy Warhol while As she looks back on the completion of W. Brady Art Gallery. Staff from the Dimock surveying the lower level of the auditorium. another year at GW, Ms. Miller said that Gallery successfully transferred into the new The two talked for several minutes, during she would like to take the university’s art gallery space, and it was officially dedicated which she told Warhol about the low-profile collection to new heights by placing more by the university in March 2002. Its first Dimock Gallery. outdoor sculptures on campus. exhibit was Epic Paintings from the Luther “I noticed that someone who looked like W. Brady Collection, which included major “These kinds of works of art provide Andy Warhol with his distinctive white works by Nancy Graves, Howard Hodgkin, aesthetic stimulation to people and help to mop of hair was standing near the statue Hans Hofmann, Jules Olitski, Sean Scully, highlight and punctuate the campus while of George Washington by French sculptor and John Walker. creating its sense of identity,” said Ms. Miller.

The George Washington University | 7 Program (FFP) engage faculty and doctoral students in cohort-based explorations of course design and teaching. During the TLC-sponsored Fall Teaching Day on October 4th, experts highlighted teaching approaches that better prepare students to manage current global and national challenges.

At the heart of the TLC’s mission is evidence- based teaching, an education model that allows faculty to use empirical data to make informed decisions about teaching practices and policies. The mission encompasses the efficient promotion and distribution of research and the improvement of the decision-making process. Dr. Bethany Cobb Kung, an assistant Teaching and Learning-sponsored effort that professor of Honors and Physics in the supports faculty scholarship in the academic “The level of involvement has been Physics Department, recalled the trouble community. Faculty and staff members share wonderful. We’re seeing a lot of faculty who she had gathering honest feedback educational philosophies and methods participate once and come back to develop from her students about the quality of to increase student involvement in the the programs,” said Dr. Rahul Simha, professor in the Department of Computer her courses. She said that without it, traditional and online classrooms through a Science and TLC faculty lead. “We want to enhancing the academic experience proved unique array of programming, services, and use approaches that have been subjected to challenging and discouraging. workshops. some research. This means that we can be Upon entering the Peer-Reviewed Dr. Stephen Ehrmann, Vice Provost for confident that if people use our approaches, Exploration in Teaching (PRET) Program, Teaching and Learning, says that the they will have the same impact shown in Dr. Kung developed peer-reviewed TLC can further propel GW into national research.” specific learning objectives and a holistic prominence with regard to academic Please visit, instruction plan that incorporated traditional excellence by fostering growth and visibility http://tlc.provost.gwu.edu for more classroom instruction with internships, field for undergraduate research, supporting information about the Teaching & work, research, and online sessions. Peer development of well-designed online and Learning Collaborative. instructors also shadowed sessions and hybrid courses, and implementing a new interviewed Dr. Kung’s students. strategic plan that emphasizes improving teaching and learning.” Findings have strengthened her teaching portfolio and could potentially appear in “The most basic thing to superlative future scholarship of teaching and learning. teaching is recognizing that learning could improve if the way that we teach changes,” “Since the PRET incorporated a live focus said Dr. Ehrmann. “The program does group with students, I was able to receive this by reassessing and enhancing GW’s thoughtful feedback specifically about teaching methods.” teaching exploration techniques carried out in the class,” said Dr. Kung. “PRET gave me In addition to PRET, a consultation service an outside view of what was working and and the Online Learning Initiative (OLI) both what wasn’t.” allow instructional designers and faculty collaboration in all aspects of new and PRET counts among the many initiatives online course design and development. offered by the Teaching and Learning The Faculty Learning Community for Junior Collaborative (TLC), a GW Office of Faculty (FLC, jr.) and a Future Faculty

Dr. Rahul Simha, TLC faculty lead, has credited the success of the TLC with the collaborative and inclusive nature of the faculty. He says that engagement with faculty through an advisory board has increased participation in teaching workshops.

8 | Jessica McConnell Burt The GW Cancer Institute Saves Since 2003, the GW Cancer Institute has supported quality healthcare by working in conjunction with other university departments. More than 3,500 people in 41 countries have benefitted from its resources free of Lives charge.

A study conducted by the American Cancer Health & Health Services, the GW School GWCI, will evaluate different care models Society in 2013 revealed that more than 1.6 of Business, the Katzen Cancer Research and determine which effectively address million people in the United States were Center, and the Law School to implement services and outcomes patients say are diagnosed with cancer in the last year and the Pro Bono Legal Project and the D.C. most critical to them. Another $2.1 million treatment costs have nearly doubled in Citywide Navigation Network, its two cooperative agreement from the Centers the last 30 years. The issue is magnified in hallmark offerings. The former provides free for Disease Control and Prevention allows marginalized communities where residents legal assistance from law students under the GWCI to provide free technical support for have little access to cancer prevention tools supervision of a licensed attorney and the U.S. states, territories, and tribes that are and treatment. latter facilitates patient care at various parts part of the National Comprehensive Cancer of the cancer continuum. To date, the Pro Control Program. Since its founding in 2003, the GW Bono Legal Project has helped 35 people Cancer Institute (GWCI) has supported “These awards are an acknowledgment and the Navigation Network eased the quality healthcare in collaboration with of the dedication GWCI has to improving diagnostic and treatment process for more the GW Hospital and GW Medical Faculty the lives of cancer patients and decreasing than 7,000 people. Associates, promoted cancer prevention, disparities in cancer treatment,” said Pratt- and trained health care professionals in an “The Pro Bono Legal Project and the Chapman. “They show the strong impact it effort to close the widening socioeconomic Citywide Patient Navigation Network are two has had and will help us broaden the reach gap in cancer treatment and improve the important initiatives that support patients,” of our programs in the years ahead.” care experience for patients. Thus far, more said Pratt-Chapman. “Our collaborative In addition to these funding awards than 3,500 people in 41 countries have programs allow tailoring to the patient’s volunteers raised more than $45,000 in benefitted from GWCI’s resources free of specific needs while improving service October when they participated in the charge. delivery and patient satisfaction.” fourth annual Marine Corps Marathon Mandi Pratt-Chapman, associate director of Providing these much needed services at no fundraising effort. These funds are crucial GWCI, says its impact reflects staff members’ cost is no small endeavor. It requires that the in helping GWCI pursue its current projects hard work and dedication. GWCI constantly solicit funds that can help which include patient navigation, post- it expand its reach while maintaining the treatment survivorship education, health “Our intelligent, capable, efficient, and quality of services. care professional training, and research that extremely hardworking staff is focused spans the cancer continuum. on providing the best outcomes for the “Generating good ideas is one of the easier patients,” said Pratt-Chapman. “Our patient parts of the job,” declared Pratt-Chapman. “GWCI is good at identifying what needs to navigators work with our clinical partners “The difficult part is gaining support through happen for cancer patients and how best to to support patients who are diagnosed and grants and donors for those good ideas and achieve its goals collaboratively to make the treated for cancer, as well as their loved then sustaining that support.” strongest impact,” said Pratt-Chapman. “That ones throughout the entire process. GWCI [in addition to] a team that is focused on In May, GWCI overcame that challenge staff also builds education programs to the best outcomes for patients, has and will when the Patient-Centered Outcomes train health care professionals and work on continue to lead to impressive achievements Research awarded a $2.1 million, three- research teams to improve patient-centered in the years to come.” year research grant to GW to evaluate care practices.” survivorship care models. This study, which Visit http://smhs.gwu.edu/gwci for GWCI has partnered with the Department is a collaborative project of the GW School more information about the GW of Exercise Science, School of Public of Public Health & Health Services and Cancer Institute.

The George Washington University | 9 Coaching Conversations The Impact of Employee Praise

For managers or supervisors who are No matter which way you slice it, praise seeking a sure fire way to maintain a good and recognition play an important role in and positive work environment, the simple building a positive and productive work phrase “thank you” may be your best tool. environment. On-the-Spot Recognition and Research conducted by performance Rewards management company Gallup shows that Engaging in Year-Round praise and recognition bolster a sense of Managers can deliver this form of Employee Recognition self-worth among individuals and teams recognition at the time of achievement. It throughout the workplace. Dopamine, the Recognition does not always have to be often comes in the form of candy, flowers, chemical that induces reward-motivated formal. Forms of informal recognition lunches, group events or outings, and movie behavior, is released in the brain upon vary by frequency and often focus tickets. the receipt of praise. Once an employee on performance achievements, goal Please visit http://taxdepartment.gwu.edu/ receives praise, the brain creates an internal accomplishments and other individual or policies-and-procedures to read the GW record that improves the learned behavior, team milestones. Managers can use the Policy on the Taxation of Gifts, Prizes, and which initially led to the praise so that they following types of recognition to reinforce Awards to Employees. receive more. Through association, this and reward positive behavior and create an means that the particular work-related atmosphere of spontaneous praise. activity that was linked with acclaim has Positive Vibes become more enjoyable for the employee. Day-to-Day Recognition Publicly thank or congratulate an employee or peer by visiting http://hr.gwu.edu/ Busy schedules and hectic day-to-day This form of recognition incurs little to no submit-positive-vibe and submitting a routines can drown the importance of cost and often helps peers and managers Positive Vibe. Recipients receive a special giving employees sincere praise, but communicate expressions of appreciation. card in the campus mail and the vibe these circumstances make the value of It establishes higher levels of employee appears on the Colonial Community praise even more essential. Praise and motivation, engagement, and retention homepage at http://hr.gwu.edu/current- recognition remind employees the part they throughout the university. Ideas include: positive-vibes. Full name and GW email play in the mission of the organization. In address is required to verify status as an giving praise, however, it is important that • Hand-written thank you cards employee. It’s recommended that the managers understand that personalities • Personalized sticky notes employee’s first and last name is included so and levels of comfort with recognition the person receives notice of their vibe. differ from employee to employee. To • Bringing in breakfast prevent feelings of resentment and envy, For more information about • Pizza party managers can recognize individual acts in recognition and resources available private and team acts in public meetings. • Take an employee to lunch and invite to managers including recognition If an individual is to be recognized for his them to bring a guest training and do’s and don’ts, please or her work in front of an entire group, an • Keeping a recognition box in your office visit http://hr.gwu.edu/recognition- objective example should follow to prevent for all employees to recognize their co- resources. accusations of favoritism. workers for a job well done

10 | IN MEMORIAM

In this issue, we remember four faculty and staff members who are no longer with us and whose memory we celebrate. We honor their contributions to the university community. They are as follows:

Kristina Anstrom Center for Equity and Excellence in Education 9 years of service William Fortune (Retired) GW Medical Faculty Associates 25 years of service Dear UHR, Tammy Marshman University Human Resources QI’m not eligible for the new Paid Parental 28 years of service Leave benefit because I’ve been at GW Plamen Panchev Ask GW Police Department less than two years. What options do I 4 years of service UHR have? Remembering Dear GW Employee, Tammy Marshman

Starting January 2014, full-time staff members with at least two consecutive years of On the morning of Abenefits-eligible service can receive six weeks paid leave following the birth or adoption of September 30, 2013, a child as a part of the new Paid Parental Leave benefit. Tammy Marshman, If you are not eligible for the new Paid Parental Leave benefit, there is no need to worry. senior recruitment Full-time staff members with less than two years of service accrue between 13 and 15 days partner in the Division of annual time off and 12 days of sick time off per year. For time sheet purposes, one day of of University Human annual or sick leave equals eight hours. Resources (UHR),

Below are other examples of unpaid leave benefits that eligible employees may use: passed away after 28 years of service at the university. Family and Medical Leave - This type of unpaid leave is available to employees who have worked at the university for at least 12 months. It provides legal job protection during your Colleagues fondly remember Tammy as absence and is often related to personal and family health issues, the birth or adoption of a respectful, honest, and even-keeled a child, the military deployment of a family member, and short-term or long-term disability employee who consistently delivered high issues. Birth mothers with less than 12 months of service at the university may quality for caliber work, provided great insight on unpaid leave under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). institutional practices, and mentored new Personal Leave – In addition to annual and sick time off, employees may request personal UHR employees. leave after the completion of the 180-day introductory review period. All applicable accrued paid time off must be exhausted before a request for personal leave is approved. Tammy often bridged the information gap Employees may request personal leave for situations that do not fall within the provisions of between UHR and university employees by other university leave categories, such as Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), ADA, etc. addressing inquires and settling disputes. She also maintained long-term business If possible, you should notify your supervisor 30 days before the date of your absence, relationships with the Washington Post and especially if you will be absent for consecutive days, weeks, or months. For questions or issues about your paid leave that cannot be resolved with your direct supervisor, please the D.C. Department of Employee Services, contact the HR Client Partner assigned to your department or another HR representative. boosting the university’s reputation as a You may contact Payroll Services at 703–726–4277 for issues directly related to payroll. For quality employer. additional inquiries, please contact the HR Faculty & Staff Services Center, located on the Tammy is survived by her mother, step- first floor of Rice Hall, 2121 Eye Street, NW, at 202–994–8500. father, step-mother, two daughters, a son, Do you have an HR-related question you have struggled to answer? E-mail four grandchildren, three sisters, a brother, [email protected] and your question could be featured in a future issue of GW In Touch. and host of other relatives and lifelong friends.

The George Washington University | 11 Join Colonial Community on the third floor of the Marvin Center on December 19th from 2pm to 4pm for the 2013 GW Holiday Party, a celebration of the past year’s accomplishments. Every year, GW faculty and staff enjoy a delicious holiday meal and listen to live music in the Grand and Continental Ballrooms. President Knapp also announces the winner of the door decorating contest.

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