Mott, Stanley named UMaine 2024 Outstanding Classified Employees
Administrative Specialist Emily Mott and Community Education Assistant Elizabeth Stanley have been named the 2024 Outstanding Classified Employees at the University of Maine by the Classified Employees Advisory Council (CEAC). Mott and Stanley both work with University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
The award recognizes classified employees’ exceptional service and dedication to UMaine, increasing the campus community’s awareness of the indispensable contributions that represented and nonrepresented classified employees make to the quality, diversity and overall mission of the university. This year’s award winners each received $750 in recognition of their contributions.
Mott joined the UMaine community in 2019 as a 4-H community education assistant, eventually transitioning to the role of administrative specialist with
UMaine Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in September 2022.
Faculty and staff who wrote Mott’s letters of support cited her relentless pursuit of personal and professional growth, as well as her strong communication skills and her ability to streamline processes and enhance efficiencies for the betterment of her team.
“Beyond her technical skills, Emily possesses outstanding communication abilities that enable her to effectively collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels. She articulates ideas clearly and concisely, ensuring that everyone involved is on the same page and working towards shared goals. Furthermore, Emily’s encouraging demeanor and positive attitude make her a joy to work with, fostering a supportive team environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to perform at their best,” said UMaine Instructional Designer Mari Glatter. “What truly sets Emily apart, however, is her relentless pursuit of personal and professional growth. Despite her already impressive skill set, she continually seeks out opportunities for learning and development, actively engaging in training programs and self-study initiatives to expand her knowledge and expertise. This commitment to ongoing improvement not only benefits Emily in her own role but also contributes to the overall success of her department and the university as a whole.”
Stanley joined the UMaine community in 2003 to assist with the Knox, Lincoln and Waldo counties Master Gardener Volunteer (MGV) program. Since that time, she has organized and taught a MGV course for 18 of the 20 years she has worked at UMaine, training over 400 volunteers in the process. She has expanded UMaine Extension’s horticulture programming to include children’s gardening with various collaborators in Knox, Lincoln and Waldo counties and is part of the statewide Home Horticulture Team, providing client support for other areas of the state and input to the MGV program.
The multiple faculty and staff who wrote letters of support for Stanley’s award nomination cited her good humor, strong work ethic and outstanding expertise in her area of focus. She was lauded for her deep horticultural knowledge as well as her insight and compassion for volunteers.
“Liz’s excellence extends to her role coordinating and supporting Master Gardener Volunteers in the midcoast region. It is evident that Liz has a deep connection with the volunteer community she serves, demonstrating genuine care for volunteers by working alongside them, getting to know them as individuals, and fostering deep bonds during community-building moments outside the garden, such as seed swaps and snack times,” Extension Horticulturist Kate Garland wrote in her nomination letter for Stanley. “As a highly talented (and, once again, humble) visual and culinary artist, Liz regularly treats her colleagues and volunteers to delicious dishes and gorgeous artwork, contributing to a positive work environment. Many of us consider Extension a lifestyle rather than just a job, and Liz certainly embodies this ethos, viewing the community she serves as an extension of her personal community, reciprocated by a mutual respect from the community.”