University staff honored with Excellence Award

Two deserving staff members were honored with this year's Staff Excellence Awards at the Staff Appreciation Day on Thursday, Aug. 12.

Paul Cotter has managed the computer helpdesk in the library since 2003.  His job includes supporting all the workstations in the library as well as at the service desks.

"I want to make the college experience as easy as possible," said Cotter. "Students have more important things to worry about than getting Microsoft Word to print."

Cotter said working with students is the most rewarding part of his job. Students are active learners and genuinely interested in learning a better way to do things.

"IT is typically a thankless job. I don't know how I'd do in a corporate setting," he said. "Students are excited and more empowered when they learn something new."

The challenges of the helpdesk include keeping up with the speed of changing technology. Cotter must be aware of the ins and outs of all the systems as well as be able to assist patrons with any questions or problems.

Cotter attended SSU and graduated in 1996 with a degree in kinesiology, hoping to apply it to his work as a gymnastics coach. He returned in 2000 to work on a master's degree in the same subject and a position opened up at the library shortly after.

"It's nice to be told I'm doing a good job," said Cotter.

Cotter was nominated jointly by Brandon Dudley, the director of library technology, and Mike Kiraly, the director of library operations. According to Dudley, Cotter has been an essential member of the staff and deserving of the award for several years.

"It had been too long," said Dudley. "His name had been put forward before, but it came down to timing."

When Cotter's name was announced as a winner, Dudley said he looked pleasantly surprised.

"It's one thing to know you're deserving, but against a dozen other staff people?" said Dudley.

Dudley added that Cotter's positive impact spreads to the entire campus, not just the library and his peers.