At a college Governing Board meeting, Dr. J.D. Rottweiler recognized five Cochise College employees for excellence in the workplace.
This year, the college honored the 2020 and 2021 staff members who received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) award, which supports excellence in teaching and leadership. As recipients, they are invited to NISOD’s annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, to be held virtually April 28 to 30. The recipients were nominated for their service to students, their department, the college and their communities. The 2020 recipients are Doug Schlarbaum, building construction trade residential instructor, and Jennifer Wantz, community relations director and Phi Theta Kappa – Alpha Mu Zeta Chapter advisor. The 2021 award winners are Karen Dale, academic support assistant dean; Margarita Fate, business instructor and chairperson; and Ella Melito, English and reading instructor and chairperson.
“I truly feel blessed,” Schlarbuam said. “It is my privilege to pass on three generations of construction knowledge to students who are willing to learn and work with their hands to build a home that could possibly outlast their own lives.”
Melito, a Cochise College alumna, said, “I feel humbled and immensely grateful to be a NISOD award recipient. I am thankful for all of my colleagues. I wish I could share the award with each of them.”
Wantz added, “Service to my institution, students, and community is a passion for which I find tremendous joy. Each day brings a new opportunity to grow and learn from others.”
Dale has been working at the college for about six years said, “The foundational framework for academic excellence is a continuous improvement opportunity that I am passionate about. The coming together of faculty and staff this past year to meet new challenges has been an experience that I am proud to have been a part of.”
Fate has over 20 years of teaching experience. For 15 years, she has worked at Cochise. “I personally try to teach not only the curriculum but also what will make a student successful in their career and personal endeavors.”
Melito shared, “Watching students overcome adversity, exceed their own expectations, and make a positive difference in their families and communities inspires me. It is a gift to be a part of the synergy that arises out of teaching and learning from and serving students. Collaborating with sincere, dedicated, and supportive faculty and staff motivates me.”
For more information about Cochise College, please visit www.cochise.edu or call 1-800-966-7943.