Department of Human Resources
Office of Student Employment

UMD "Student Employee of the Year" 2007

First Runner Up

CARLY MORITZ

Carly Moritz has been completely reliable since the first day she began working for the Department of Composition nearly three years ago. She simply does not miss work (unless she is truly very ill). Once Carly’s schedule has been established each semester, we know we can count on her to be here during her assigned hours and to arrive on time. In addition, although Carly’s studies always come first, she willingly offers to work extra hours when the Department is overly busy or when we need help with special projects or events. Even more valuable than her reliability in terms of hours worked, however, is the fact that we can depend on Carly to complete every task as requested and when requested. Whatever she does, she does right—the first time. Actually, there are few others, including faculty, I more readily relay yon than Carly to be here as promised, to do her work, to do it right, and to do it on time.

The old adage that “if you want anything done right you better do it yourself” has no application whatsoever to Carly because her work is second to none. Everything she does is of the highest quality, the way we would do it ourselves, if we had the time. She consistently produces work and conducts herself in a manner that the Department can be proud of. Furthermore, Carly listens carefully, so she has to be told something only once. She asks questions when she needs answers and works independently to get the job done. Even more impressive is that she remembers what to do from semester to semester. This means that rather than spending time repeatedly explaining how to do a task that needs to be done each semester, I know she will simply handle it. Another important attribute of Carly’s work is the high standards she sets, often asking more of herself than members of the department ask of her. She meets every deadline but does not compromise quality to save time. She knows what professional work is and she delivers it.

Although Carly does, indeed, possess the qualities that are sought in an excellent employee, she truly shines in the area of initiative. While careful not to overstep the boundaries of her position, Carly has taken initiative and displayed real leadership on so many occasions that is would be difficult to summarize them here, so I will offer one telling example. Until this past semester, the Department offered credit by exam for both the required freshman and upper-division composition courses. This process was unbelievably time consuming and complicated, so much so that I will not take the space to explain it here. The important point is that Carly’s determined ways to streamline, simplify, and systematize the process. I eagerly accepter her suggestions, and then she too took initiative to crate forms, three-ring binders, instruction sheets—whatever was needed to do the job more effectively and more efficiently. While some work study students may “surf the net,” email their friends, or just daydream while they are supposed to be working, Carly is conscientious about doing the work she is being paid to do every minute she is on the job. On the rare occasion that her in-basket should become empty, she independently finds something constructive to do with her time. Frankly, she is able to think of many more things to do to benefit the department that I can think of for her. From organizing complex systems to dusting shelves, she seeks out what needs to be done and does it without complaint or question. This type of initiative and leadership will continue to benefit the Department long after Carly has graduated.

In the paragraphs above, I have already used many words that speak to Carly’s level of professionalism: reliable, dependable, independent, impressive, uncompromising, excellent, understanding, conscientious, a leader, uncomplaining, efficient. While the list could go on, I think the most telling thing I can say about Carly’s level of professionalism is that, had it been possible, I would have happily and confidently hired her for the opening we had for and Executive Administrative Assistant (see item 5, below). In fact, many workers who have far more experience, education, and years on the job than Carly has would be unable to handle this job, yet I would not have hesitated to give her the position. Employees can be taught financial systems, computer programs and policies. Far more difficult is the task of finding an employee with common sense, impeccable manners, intelligence, integrity, confident, stability, a healthy work ethic, and a sense of humor—in other words, a professional. Needless to say, it is rare to find these qualities in one as young as Carly, but that’s what makes her so special.

As noted above, what is most unique about the contribution Carly Moritz has made to the Department of Composition is that we have had the privilege of employing a student who works, acts, thinks, and relates to others as would an experienced professional. This was no more evident that during the 2005-06 academic year. Although the explanation is a bit lengthy, the situation needs to be fully described in order to do justice to Carly’s contribution.

Just a couple weeks before classes started that year, our Department’s Executive Administrative Assistant, Carly’s direct supervisor, accepted a position in another department. At the same time, I was beginning my first full year as Department Head, after assuming the role mid-way through the previous year when our Department Head unexpectedly went on medical leave. As fate would have it, our first duty that year, in addition to searching for a new secretary, was to undertake searchers for three tenure-track professors. Anyone who has been involved in the search process knows that adding even on search to the regular duties and responsibilities of any office at UMD strains that office’s resources. Although we were given assistance form the Dean’s staff, the task of conducting four searches without an experienced full-time employee at the front desk seemed nearly impossible.

To compound the difficulties we were experiencing, once we did secure a new executive administrative assistant, she resigned the position after just two months on the job to more out of state, This left us starting spring semester as we had fall semester r, with no one at the front desk and still searching for the right person for the job. Fortunately, we found that person by mid-March, but we had gone through three-fourths of the academic year with a revolving door of temporary employees or no employee at all to staff our front desk during this busy time. Thanks goodness we did have the dependable, knowledgeable help of Carly Moritz.

In retrospect, it is difficult to express how grateful I am that Carly was working in the office at this time. Making a “unique contribution” does not seem like a strong enough way to describe what she did for us. First, with the help of our other highly competent work study student (who is currently on a study abroad program), Carly used her excellent communication skills to handle the many students who come to the office or called with questions and concerns It is important to not that our Department serves literally all 10,00 UMD students due to the fact that we teach courses they are all required to take, so the traffic in and out of our office is considerably higher than that of most other offices on campus. Nevertheless, Carly handled it with maturity, empathy, good humor, compassion, or authority. Second, Carly often trained the many temporary workers who sat at the front desk, helping them learn to use the phone, computer, copier, etc. At the same time, she kept up with the work that faculty members left in her bo on a daily basis as well as kept the risograph and the copier running and stocked with needed products. In short, she did whatever it took to keep the office viable during this difficult time of transition.

Having said that, I think what I most appreciated during that time of uncertainty was the stability Carly provided the office and the support she offered me. She not only took whatever tasks and responsibilities she could off my desk but also seemed to have an understanding of the situation and what was needed to manage it, an understanding that went far beyond her years, In the end, I have to say it’s her extraordinary level of maturity, complemented by her genuine goodness, which sets Carly apart from other students.

I am well aware that we have many wonderful students at UMD, and over the twenty years I have been here, I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of the in the classroom, on committees, and in the office. But when it comes to identifying those who should be distinguished for excellence, Carly is at the top of the list; simply put, she is exceptional. You could choose no more deserving person for the honor of Student Employee of the Year than Carly Moritz.