Elizabeth (Bitten) Skartvedt
Honored August 21, 2020
Elizabeth (Bitten) Skartvedt’s work as the Course Reserves and Streaming Media Specialist in the Broome Library plays a significant role in promoting student equity on campus. She coordinates the library’s print reserves service which provides students with the use of textbooks on short loan, many of which some students are unable to afford and have access to otherwise. Bitten plays a hidden, yet critical role in the Open CI efforts, where she assists with utilization of library materials in some zero cost courses, furthering student equitable access to information that is integral to their learning experience.
Bitten embodies library values of free access to information, equity for all, supporting the right to learn, and encouraging lifelong learning. She is an exemplary employee who embraces the University’s mission and her commitment to student success makes a difference in the everyday lives of our students.
Ricky Medrano
Honored April 4, 2019
Ricky cares deeply for our students and the university. He is friendly, approachable, and is always willing to help with a ready smile. He’s quick to jump in and help even when requests come from faculty outside of his designated programs. He serves as an example of hard work and perseverance to all staff and students. He is consistently on top of his duties, anticipating student and faculty needs ahead of time.
The labs are clean, the equipment is well cared for, categorized, inventoried, and stored until students need them. Instructors can now concentrate on teaching and research, instead of organizing the labs and ordering the equipment. In addition to maintaining the Computer Science labs, he also takes time to tutor students between their classes. This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of how much Ricky has done for the department, which is why I am deeply grateful to have Ricky as the technician and to nominate him for this award.
Danielle Quillan
Honored March 14, 2018
As the HLI Internship Program Analyst, Quillan works with students who are looking to enhance their educational experience. She trains the students who apply to HLI’s competitive internship program on professional development skills and helps place them in a paid position with a local employer, ensuring that it aligns with the students’ career goals.
“Danielle takes her work above and beyond,” Carpenter said. “She’s always looking for new ways of doing things, and I appreciate her perspective and willingness to challenge herself and grow. She never wavers from her commitment to staying student-focused.”
Quillan counts expanding HLI as her proudest CSUCI accomplishment. When she joined the HLI team, there was funding for 20 interns per semester. In the spring, Quillan will recruit upwards of 40 students.
For her deep investment in her students’ career readiness, Quillan received the 2018 CSUCI Staff Award for Excellence. Director of Career Development & Alumni Engagement Amanda Carpenter, Ed.D., nominated Quillan for the award.
Alison Potter
Honored March 27, 2017
Alison Potter is a role model for everyone at CSUCI. Nominated numerous times by her colleagues, Alison was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Staff Award for Excellence during the Staff Awards & Faculty Commemoration.
Potter provides support for four undergraduate programs: History, Political Science, Global Studies, Chicana/o Studies and also supports University Programs. In her behind-the-scenes work of scheduling classes, processing travel forms and planning events, she ensures that her faculty have more time to devote to student interaction.
“Alison Potter is one of the reasons that make coming to work each day a pleasure: hardworking, intelligent, impressively capable, and invariably upbeat, with a ready smile and a quick laugh. I rely on Alison completely and with utter confidence. I trust implicitly that when something is asked of her, I can move on to other matters knowing that she will take care of it. Period.”
Alison’s strong reputation, respect and human interaction skills allow her to perform her job with excellence.
More information about the eligibility and nomination procedure.