Rhyann Morris, director of admissions processing at the University of Illinois Springfield, has been selected as the Employee of the Month for August 2024.

Morris, who joined UIS in 2014, manages the admission application and evaluation processes for the university. She is recognized for her efforts to streamline these processes, ensuring that prospective students are admitted efficiently. Colleagues note her ability to handle challenging situations professionally and her willingness to assist in various capacities.

Her nominator highlighted her leadership qualities and her role in fostering a positive work environment.

“Rhyann, through her words and actions, consistently demonstrates great leadership in higher education,” her nominator said. “She is an empathetic listener to her team, the students and her colleagues across departments and the U of I System.”

Morris’ supervisor, Brian Clevenger, emphasized her positive attitude and productivity. He noted that she frequently receives favorable feedback from students, faculty and staff.

“Rhyann is reliable and dependable,” Clevenger said. “She accomplishes a great deal during her day. Since starting in her current position, she has implemented a number of procedures to make her job more efficient. She can always be relied on to ‘think outside of the box’ and come up with new ways of completing tasks.”

In addition to her professional duties, Morris participates in campus committees and is involved with external organizations, including the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH).

The UIS Employee of the Month award recognizes staff members who have made significant contributions to the university.