It’s not often that a staff member has a surprise party of appreciation thrown by graduate students, but Ed Hiss has received that rare honor.
That, in part, goes to show how highly regarded the administrative officer in the Department of Chemistry in Arts & Sciences is.
And apparently graduate students aren’t the only ones who appreciate Hiss. He was awarded the Gloria W. White Distinguished Service Award in a May 22 ceremony at Edison Theatre, as part of the annual Staff Day activities.
Hiss plays a critical role in the department by serving as a resource for information about all aspects of the University — from student advising, to setting up research labs, to finding contacts on campus for nearly any activity. He ensures that the department runs smoothly, and his efforts impact both teaching and research.
He has also taken on responsibilities outside of his department and serves on University committees that include the Academic Integrity Committee, the Advisory Management Group for Center for Scientific Parallel Computing, the Advisory Council of Science Department Administrators and the Chancellor’s Fellowships Award Committee. His work extends outside of the University as well, and he serves as a liaison to external organizations for fellowships, internships and other opportunities for funding and research.
He has been described as passionate about his job and dedicated to helping students, faculty and staff. He also assists colleagues outside of chemistry on a regular basis, and there are numerous accounts of him stepping in to take care of a problem that he learned about.
“Ed’s formal job description only scratches the surface of his commitment and dedication,” wrote Joseph J.H. Ackerman, Ph.D., the William Greenleaf Eliot Professor and chair of chemistry, in his letter nominating Hiss. “His door is always open to anyone who needs his help or advice (he is constantly solving late-breaking mini-crises in chemistry and other units of Arts & Sciences).
“In this department of nearly 250 faculty, staff and students of various levels, Ed Hiss knows the names of everyone, and they come to him for assistance with every imaginable problem.
“We were lucky to recruit Ed to our department 16 years ago. At that time we were replacing Frank Williamson, Ph.D., who had held the position for over 26 years and was known throughout the University as ‘Mr. Chemistry.’ We had no real expectations that Frank could be replaced with anyone of the same caliber.
“Fortunately, we were wrong, and now, 16 years later, Ed Hiss clearly is identified as ‘Mr. Chemistry’ and is a strong ambassador for Washington University.”
Other winners
Staff Day also featured several activities for Hilltop Campus personnel, including drawings for donated goodies. Winners of a $25 Bon Appetit dining card were Joni Williams, Linda Shriver, Liz Valli, Rochelle Robinson and Lisa Gibbs.
Other winners were Marv Meinz (overnight stay at the Chase Park Plaza); Krista Hyde (Samsung phone from Cingular Wireless); Chris Mitchell, Jim Johnson and Meg Kanouse (all winning two field box tickets to a Cardinals game);
Rick Tyler (overnight stay at the Crowne Plaza); Lucinda Cobb (one pair of OVATIONS! season tickets); Susan Killenberg McGinn ($25 gift certificate and a case of root beer from Fitz’s); Scott Lorsbach (two $200 travel vouchers on American Airlines); Ann Nicholson and Pat Stern (each winning $25 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shops);
Lisa Woodson, Dave Jolley, William Hicks and Connie Turnbough (all winning a restaurant gift certificate to Knight Center); Paula Canoy (dinner for two at Alexander’s); and Jim Flynn (dinner for two at Whittemore House).
Winners of the competition trophies were, in softball, “Spin Docs” of public affairs; volleyball, George Warren Brown School of Social Work; washers, “JB and Jam” — Jason Becker and Chris Huels; co-ed golf, Joe Angeles and Terri Nappier; men’s golf, Brian Cohen and Lars Arvidson; and women’s golf, Vicki Goldman and Deborah Booker.
The Staff Day food drive resulted in 220 pounds of canned food collected.
At Staff Day May 19, the following people were recognized for 10 years of service to the University: Nancy L. Belt, Linda Buckingham, Lisa Calmese, Margaret K. Daniel, James R. Deutschmann, Michael J. Dunlap, Phyllis A. Dunn, Richard Egenriether, Susan G. Eggemeyer, Catherine J. Freesmeier, Billy W. Fryman,
Vicky Fuehne, Larry Goddard, Paula M. Hardy-Mumm, Konstance P. Henning, William R. Hicks, Glenda B. Hogue, Dillard Holmes, Ruth A. Kienstra, Samantha J. Lacy, Mary A. Marcinkiewicz, Charles P. Marentette, Ioana-Dorina Masek, Julie A. McCarthy, Joseph A. McGarry, Timothy W. McHugh,
Alan C. Mehringer, Marvin R. Meinz, George P. Milne, John K. Murphy, Ann Nicholson, Alan D. Norman, John T. Perry, Diane E. Piwowarczyk, Linda R. Ragsdale, Jonathan Rapkin, Estelle Rochman, Kathleen J. Schasch, Kathleen A. Schneider, Sherman Shaw, M. Priscilla Stone, Mary K. Stull, Timothy Thornton, Lynnette M. Williamson and Mark S. Zykan.
The following people were recognized for 15 years of service: Brad L. Averbeck, Clinton T. Barnes, Scott A. Basden, Bernard A. Bennett, Rosemarie B. Brefeld, Frank J. Brettle III, Marilyn R. Broughton, David A. Chisholm, Wendy M. Clark, Bridget S. Coleman, Deborah A. Colletta, William J. Darte, Mary J. Farhatt, Edward R. Fickenscher,
Theresa M. Forrest, P. Hannele Haapala, Craig S. Hager, Sandra L. Hall, Wanda Y. Harris, Andrea J. Heugatter, Edwin A. Hiss, Dennis M. Huelsman, Susan D. Imhoff, David K. Jolley, Barry D. Kelley, Mark S. Kloempken, John C. Kroeger, Paul J. Landgraf, Julianne Leistner, Marc M. McGary, Carmen G. Merriweather, David D. Meyer,
Jane E. Neidhardt, Josephine P. Niebur, Lexie W. O’Brien, Lisa G. Portnoy, Linda M. Ritter, Richard A. Roloff, Judy Sawyer, Paul W. Schierbecker, Michele W. Shoresman, Martha E. Simpson, Beth A. Sparks, Thomas C. Stein, Patricia A. Steinmeyer, Sharon M. Strathman, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Norma E. Taylor, Virginia S. Taylor, Connie Turnbough, Douglas S. Twells, Patrick J. Waller, Joni E. Williams, Robin L. Williams, Iris Wright and Teresa A. Yarber.
The following people were recognized for 20 years of service: Josephine A. Achelpohl, Ronald Allen, Kathryn Atnip, Victoria Babbitt, Brian T. Bannister, Saul Becker, Terri L. Brennan, Kevin G. Brooks, Robert C. Busby, Karen D. Crawford, Larry J. Downey, Joann M. Eckrich, David L. French, Lisa S. Goessling, Barbara J. Harold,
Steve P. Hedgcorth, William S. Hester, Dorothy L. Kelly, Carolyn S. Kohring, Catherine Komotos, Ruth E. Lewis, Patricia A. Logsdon, Robert O. Marbs, Karen J. Margo, Clara P. McLeod, J. Christine Miller, Ibeabuchi U. Oteh, Daniel J. Piatchek, Addie B. Price, Rochelle R. Robinson, Robert E. Russell, Paul A. Schmidt, Steven A. Schuchardt Sr., Charmaine G. Scott, Martha Shafer, Michael J. Starkey, Kathy Steiner-Lang, Leslie J. Stroker, Jim Swiney, Christian Tiefenauer and Adele R. Tuchler.
The following people were recognized for 26 years of service: Karen A. Almstedt, Barbara L. Aromando, Elizabeth H. Bloomfield, James R. Bond, Karen L. Coburn, Ann L. Hogan, Massoud M. Hooshmand, Karen A. Klein, Elinor Nelson, Phyllis C. Noelken, Robert D. Sparks, Sheryl A. Stichling, Claretta Swift, Martha Tillman, Nada A. Vaughn, Mark J. Werner and Diane Willis.
The following people were recognized for 30 years of service: Jane N. Bettlach, Anthony M. Biondo, Vivian E. Burroughs, Dennis E. Callahan, Beverly M. Owens and Karen A. Unger.
The following people were recognized for 35 years of service: Sharon A. Balsman, Judith A. Fox, Denise R. Hirschbeck, Ouida M. Jackson, Larry J. Johnson and Linda M. Schaeffer.
Luberta Rochelle and Christine Smith were recognized for 40 years of service.