Robert Weis has been named the University of Illinois Springfield Employee of the Month for October 2022. He is the coordinator and advisor for Engaged Learning and Partner Initiatives in the UIS Office of Engaged Learning (OEL).

Weis’ nominator calls him “an amazing collaborator” who is able to work across campus and in the Springfield community to support the professional development of UIS students through internships and other employment opportunities.

“Rob stands out as an engaged leader, collaborator and advocate for student success and positive forward movement for the University Community and Springfield community as a whole,” said his nominator.

His supervisor, Tammy Craig, said he has been a key staff member in developing new experiential opportunity partnerships. Examples include partnering with Innovate Springfield for OEL to offer a course credit option for their CO.STARTERS experience, partnering with Student Employment so that Leadership lived Experience student positions qualify for an academic internship and taking the lead in the areas of employer outreach/student advising for the Illinois Cooperative Work Study grant-funded internship experience.

“Rob has a gift for using his interpersonal skills to build relationships,” Craig said. “He identifies common areas for collaboration which has proven to be very beneficial for OEL.”

Craig said Weis has gone “above and beyond” by taking a leadership role in launching new opportunities to expand OEL experiences paired with credit-bearing courses and created a more efficient way to provide student advising by developing an advising pre-advising Canvas course.

“He has been successful in advancing initiatives and partnerships, is student-centered and I can depend on Rob to embrace change, be adaptable and open to new ideas, initiatives and processes for continuous improvement,” Craig said.

Weis is very active in both the UIS and Springfield communities. Examples of his outreach include serving on the UIS Coalition Builders team, an affiliate of the National Coalition Building Institute. He is also active in Rising Stars and serves on the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service Advisory Board, in addition to serving on nonprofit community boards.

“I can’t think of a more deserving person to receive the honor of being named employee of the month,” Craig added.