Bea Bonner has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for September 2022. She is the Community Voices Editor/Co-Host at NPR Illinois.
She began working at UIS in 2016. According to her nominator, Bonner represents the university well as she interviews campus and community members on Community Voices.
Gary Anderson has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for August 2022. He works as a business administrative associate for UIS Online, Professional, and Engaged Learning (OPEL).
After 24 years of management in the private sector, Anderson began working for UIS in the Center for Academic Success in September 2018 before joining OPEL in August 2019. According to his nominator, he played an important role when multiple offices merged to form OPEL.
Samaryia Magee has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for July 2022. She has worked as a program/student advisor for the UIS Diversity Center since 2018.
Magee’s nominator calls her a “passionate advocate and mentor for students at UIS.” Magee coordinates a variety of programs, including those that specifically support first-generation college students.
Paul Pinneo has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for June 2022. He has worked as Web Specialist III for the UIS Office of Web Services since July 2019.
Pinneo’s nominator describes him as “a great team player, always helping the office/campus as a whole with his contributions outside of his day-to-day duties.”
Yokasty Owens has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for May 2022. She is a building service worker who has worked at UIS since 2019.
Her nominator said she always “brings a positive attitude to her job.” Her supervisor, Patty Meyer, adds she “goes above and beyond and is eager to assist when covering for others.”
Eric Kuchar has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for April 2022. He is the assistant to the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Kuchar’s nominator says he “consistently demonstrates outstanding performance” and always goes “above and beyond” the tasks for his job to help out whenever needed.
“He is the first one coming in and the last one to leave the office,” said Lan Dong, his supervisor and interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Allison Thornley has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for March 2022. She has worked for UIS Athletics since 2011 and currently serves as the associate athletic director for strategic planning and finance and the senior women's administrator.
Thomas Gebhardt has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for February 2022. He is a building service worker who has worked at UIS since 2010.
Gebhardt’s nominator praised his efforts to keep the Visual and Performing Arts Building (VPA) clean and sanitized during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling his work “truly impressive.” VPA houses the Art, Music and Theatre Department.
Executive Director of Student Support Services Bethany Bilyeu has been named the 2021 Employee of the Year at the University of Illinois Springfield. She was honored during a virtual reception on Feb. 1, 2022.
Before announcing the winner, UIS Interim Chancellor Karen Whitney thanked the eleven Employees of the Month who were nominated for the award.