2026 Deans' Unsung Hero awardees
Dean Emeritus Louis Castenell created the Deans’ Unsung Hero Award to honor those who do crucial work behind the scenes that often goes unnoticed and underappreciated. Precisely because this work is behind the scenes, Dean Spangler asked the College community for stories of unsung heroes, and you submitted 23 responses!
This year, we recognized five staff members and one faculty member as Unsung Heroes. Each awardee will receive $300 and a crystal award. Please congratulate the awardees:
Caroline Calhoun-King
Graduate program administrator, Department of Educational Psychology
Caroline is an exceptional graduate program administrator whose dedication, positivity, and commitment to service make a lasting impact on our department and College community. Caroline consistently goes above and beyond to support students and faculty, responding to questions and concerns with remarkable professionalism, efficiency, and genuine care.
What truly sets Caroline apart is the ability to foster an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environment for all graduate students, both domestic and international. Caroline is always seeking new ways to enhance the student experience and ensure that everyone feels valued and connected.
Beyond the many day-to-day responsibilities that often go unnoticed, Caroline brings generosity, creativity, and enthusiasm to everything. Whether helping solve complex challenges, offering encouragement, or transforming departmental spaces with thoughtful decorations for special events and celebrations, Caroline contributes in countless ways that enrich our community.
Jennifer Graff
Associate professor and director of graduate studies, Department of Language and Literacy Education
Jennifer Graff is an absolute force in the Department of Language and Literacy Education. She works in countless visible and invisible ways to ensure the success of our students, colleagues, programs, and College—sometimes at great personal sacrifice. She is one of the most supportive colleagues I have ever had, and I am not the only one in LLED who is deeply grateful for all that she does for us on personal and professional levels.
Additionally, she is an absolutely stellar mentor to all students, especially those at the doctoral level, and the award-winning scholars she has trained are a testament to her many strengths as an educator and as a facilitator of excellence. Without her, our department and those of us affiliated with it in some capacity would not exist as we do. Dr. Jenn Graff is creating quite a legacy for our University.
Anna Hiers
Lead clinical placement and COST coordinator, Office of Academic Programs
Anna Hiers is the person our entire office quietly depends on every single day and is indispensable, asking for no recognition and even shying away from acknowledgement when it is hard-earned.
Anna has single-handedly built and led the Mary Frances Early College of Education’s COST student teaching program, an initiative that now sends teacher candidates to student-teach in places as wide-ranging as Italy and Ghana. She doesn’t just manage this program; she is the program. She guides candidates from their first interest in teaching abroad, through placement, travel, weeks of practice in their host country context, and the return home. Along the way, she coaches faculty on how to support students’ learning across radically different educational and cultural contexts, a task that requires equal parts logistical precision and cross-cultural fluency.
Anna is the institutional memory and technical backbone of our office. She creates and maintains the systems and tools that every one of our teacher certification programs depends on. She understands this infrastructure deeply and is continually refining our processes. What makes Anna extraordinary isn’t just what she has built; it’s how she shows up. She is the colleague everyone turns to when a problem seems unsolvable, because she will drop what she’s doing to brainstorm a solution.
Awards like this one exist for exactly this kind of person: someone whose work is foundational but rarely visible, whose title doesn’t capture her impact, and whose dedication shapes the experience of every student and colleague who passes through our office. Anna Hiers has spent years being the lynchpin holding our programs together, quietly, expertly, and with genuine care for the people she serves.
Ansuya Jogi
Office manager, Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy
Ansuya “Su” Jogi demonstrates dedication, collaborative spirit, and commitment to operational excellence. She is always willing to support fellow administrative staff, often being the first to step in, share her expertise, and help others navigate challenges.
Su takes a proactive approach to improving daily operations, regularly offering thoughtful, practical suggestions that enhance efficiency. She is eager to effect positive change and does so without complaint, consistently focusing on solutions and using her knowledge and resources to move work forward in a meaningful way.
While much of her impact happens behind the scenes, it is both significant and lasting. Su is a dependable colleague, a trusted resource, and she truly embodies what it means to be an Unsung Hero.
Zu Reuter
Administrative lead/facilities and safety coordinator, Office of Faculty and Staff Services
Zu’s unwavering commitment to service, attention to detail, and genuine willingness to support others make her an invaluable asset to the College. Her contributions significantly enhance the effectiveness of our community.
Zu is deeply intentional about cultivating a strong sense of community, ensuring every employee—whether staff or faculty, regular or temporary—feels seen, welcomed, and valued. While it’s easy to get caught up in daily tasks, she consistently makes an effort to engage with employees and ensure they have the resources they need to succeed. Her support and insight have been instrumental to staff success, and her steady, people-centered approach truly embodies the spirit of an Unsung Hero.
Zu is an outstanding colleague whose professionalism, reliability, and commitment make a tremendous impact on our College. She is exceptionally organized and ensures that tasks, communications, and administrative processes remain on track and well-coordinated. Beyond her organizational strengths, Zu is highly responsive and always willing to assist others. She consistently answers questions promptly and goes above and beyond to help resolve challenges.
Jennifer Thompson-Smith
Graduate program administrator, Department of Educational Theory and Practice
Jennifer Thompson Smith is the epitome of an Unsung Hero in our College. As a graduate program administrator, she is the steady force behind countless processes that keep programs running smoothly and efficiently. Jennifer is exceptionally organized, patient, thoughtful, and hardworking, consistently managing complex responsibilities with professionalism and care.
She is a skilled problem-solver who approaches challenges with grace under pressure and an unwavering commitment to supporting faculty, staff, and students. Her communication is prompt, clear, and reliable, ensuring that questions are answered and issues are resolved quickly.
Beyond her remarkable competence, Jennifer is always a welcoming and smiling presence in the office, bringing positivity and kindness to every interaction. Her dedication, dependability, and behind-the-scenes contributions have an immeasurable impact on the success of our College.
Additionally, all Deans’ Unsung Hero nominees will receive a certificate. Please congratulate the following nominees:
- Heather Bailey, IT systems professional, Office of Information Technology
- Melanie Bemis, fiscal affairs manager, Business Office
- Bob Capuozzo, clinical associate professor, Department of Educational Theory and Practice
- Jessica Crook, administrative specialist I, Department of Educational Psychology
- Hannah Rogers Davis, recruitment and visit coordinator, Office of Academic Programs
- Laurie Dollner, administrative specialist I, Department of Educational Theory and Practice
- Andy Garber, assistant dean of finance and senior director of finance and administration, Business Office
- Maggie Harper, business manager I, Department of Kinesiology
- Nicole Hines, clinical supervisor, Speech and Hearing Clinic
- Sara Kajder, clinical professor and director of clinical practice, Department of Language and Literacy Education
- Katrina Neidlinger, graduate program administrator, Department of Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Education
- Tonia Ray, business manager, Department of Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Education
- Sekita Stroud, business manager I, Department of Educational Psychology
- Michael Wisenbaker, IT senior manager, Office of Information Technology