More than 230 faculty and staff members at MTSU have been honored for their years of working with and for students at the university’s annual Service Award Luncheon.

MTSU professor George Vernardakis of Murfreesboro, a member of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, poses with a plaque recognizing his 50 years of service to the university. Vernardakis, who also coordinates the political science department’s graduate programs, was among more than 230 faculty and staff members at MTSU recognized for their years of service at the university’s annual Service Award Luncheon, held Dec. 5 in the James Union Building. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

The university honors employees with a decade or more of service at a special lunch and recognition ceremony each year, where they receive pins and/or plaques saluting their work with MTSU and the state of Tennessee.

This year’s honorees at the event, held Dec. 5 in the James Union Building, totaled 233.

The longest-served MTSU employee for 2019 is Dr. George Vernardakis of Murfreesboro, a professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations who joined the university in 1969. He also coordinates the political science department’s graduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts.

Dr. Jim Huffman, also of Murfreesboro, was saluted for his 45 years of service to MTSU’s College of Education. Now chair of the Womack Department of Educational Leadership, Huffman joined the university faculty in 1974.

Those who’ve worked with MTSU 25 years or more also gathered for special group photos at the event. Those 2019 honorees and their departments include:

MTSU professor James O. “Jim” Huffman of Murfreesboro, chair of the Womack Department of Educational Leadership in the university’s College of Education, poses with a plaque recognizing his 45 years of service to the university. Huffman, who joined the university faculty in 1974, was among more than 230 faculty and staff members at MTSU recognized for their years of service at the university’s annual Service Award Luncheon, held Dec. 5 in the James Union Building. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

25 years of service:

• Sue Alexander of Woodbury, Tennessee, Telecommunications Services Department.
• Earl Bogle of Woodbury, Construction Administration Department.
• Janine Brink of Bradyville, Tennessee, Office of the Vice President for Business and Finance.
• Norman Buck of Bradyville, Energy Services Department.
• David Carleton of Franklin, Tennessee, Department of Political Science and International Relations.
• Teri Davis of Murfreesboro, Department of Psychology.
• Margaret Fontanesi-Seime of Antioch, Tennessee, Department of Social Work.
• Dana Fuller of Murfreesboro, Department of Psychology.
• Jette Halladay of Murfreesboro, Department of Theatre and Dance.
• Jana Hinz of Murfreesboro, University College.
• Kathy Kano of Murfreesboro, Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs.
• Paul Kline of Murfreesboro, Department of Chemistry.
• Lisa Jones of Woodbury, Human Resource Services.
• Preston MacDougall of Murfreesboro, Department of Chemistry.
• Les Mayberry of Murfreesboro, Energy Services Department.
• Irma Melton of Woodbury, Department of Media Arts.
• Barbara Money of Murfreesboro, University Housing and Residential Life.
• Melodie Phillips of Lascassas, Tennessee, Department of Marketing.
• Jim Piekarski of Murfreesboro, Department of Recording Industry.
• Angie Price of Murfreesboro, Office of the University Provost.
• Lori Pugh of Christiana, Tennessee, Facilities Services Department.
• Joan Raines of Murfreesboro, Department of University Studies.
• Rick Rishaw of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Department of Art and Design.
• John Schmidt of Christiana, Information Technology Division.
• Melbra Simmons of Murfreesboro, Education Resource Channel/Center for Educational Media.
• Bill Whitehill of Murfreesboro, Department of Health and Human Performance.
• Betsy Williams of Murfreesboro, Office of Development and Advancement Services.

MTSU employees honored for 25 years of service to the university pose with pins and certificates recognizing their work at the university’s annual Service Award Luncheon, held Dec. 5 in the James Union Building. More than 230 faculty and staff members were saluted at the 2019 event for their years of service. Seated on the front row are, from left, Jim Piekarski, Department of Recording Industry; Jana Hinz, University College; Sue Alexander, Telecommunications Services Department; Melbra Simmon, Education Resource Channel/Center for Educational Media; Rick Rishaw, Department of Art and Design; Jette Halladay, Department of Theatre and Dance; Margaret Fontanesi-Seime, Department of Social Work; Irma Melton, Department of Media Arts; Dana Fuller, Department of Psychology; and Kathy Kano, Office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs. Standing on the middle row are, from left, Melodie Phillips, Department of Marketing; Paul Kline, Department of Chemistry; Betsy Williams, Office of Development and Advancement Services; Joan Raines, Department of University Studies; Angie Price, Office of the University Provost; Lori Pugh, Facilities Services Department; Janine Brink, Office of the Vice President for Business and Finance; Lisa Jones, Human Resource Services; Teri Davis, Department of Psychology; and Barbara Money, University Housing and Residential Life. Standing on the back row, from left, are Norman Buck, Energy Services Department; Earl Bogle, Construction Administration Department; John Schmidt, Information Technology Division; David Carleton, Department of Political Science and International Relations; Bill Whitehill, Department of Health and Human Performance; Preston MacDougall, Department of Chemistry; and Les Mayberry, Energy Services Department. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

30 years of service:

• Denise Cathey of Rockvale, Tennessee, School of Journalism and Strategic Media.
• Kevin Donovan of Murfreesboro, Department of English.
• Greg Hunt of Manchester, Tennessee, WMOT Radio.
• Linda Jordan of Murfreesboro, Facilities Services Department.
• Jwa Kim of Murfreesboro, Literacy Studies Ph.D. Program.
• Phyllis Kitzler of Murfreesboro, Information Technology Division.
• David Loucky of Murfreesboro, School of Music.
• Ron Malone of Murfreesboro, Events and Transportation Services Department.
• Gale McLean of Murfreesboro, James E. Walker Library.
• Joyce Reed of Murfreesboro, Facilities Services Department.
• Greg Schmidt of Murfreesboro, Department of Psychology.
• Donna Victory of Murfreesboro, Registrar’s Office.
• John Vile of Murfreesboro, University Honors College.
• Bill Yelverton of Murfreesboro, School of Music.
• Cornelia Wills of Nashville, Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success.
• Maureen Young of Murfreesboro, Office of International Affairs.

MTSU employees honored for 30 years of service to the university pose with plaques recognizing their work at the university’s annual Service Award Luncheon, held Dec. 5 in the James Union Building. Seated on the front row are, from left, Maureen Young, Office of International Affairs; Denise Cathey, School of Journalism and Strategic Media; John Vile, University Honors College; Bill Yelverton, School of Music; Gale McLean, James E. Walker Library; Donna Victory, Registrar’s Office; and Cornelia Wills, Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success. Standing from left are Ron Malone, Events and Transportation Services Department; Kevin Donovan, Department of English; Greg Hunt, WMOT Radio; David Loucky, School of Music; Joyce Reed, Facilities Services Department; Phyllis Kitzler, Information Technology Division; Linda Jordan, Facilities Services; Jwa Kim, Literacy Studies Ph.D. Program; and Greg Schmidt, Department of Psychology. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

35 years of service:

• Connie Huddleston of Murfreesboro, College of Liberal Arts.
• Sharon Parente of Christiana, James E. Walker Library.
• Bob Petersen of Murfreesboro, Department of English.
• LeAnn Sensing of Murfreesboro, Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
• Paula Thomas of Murfreesboro, Department of Accounting.

MTSU employees honored for 35 years of service to the university pose with plaques recognizing their work at the university’s annual Service Award Luncheon, held Dec. 5 in the James Union Building. From left are Bob Petersen, Department of English; LeAnn Sensing, Financial Aid and Scholarships Office; Sharon Parente, James E. Walker Library; Paula Thomas, Department of Accounting; and Connie Huddleston, College of Liberal Arts. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

40 years of service:

• Jack Ross of Estill Springs, Tennessee, Division of Marketing and Communications.
• Lance Selva of Murfreesboro, Department of Criminal Justice Administration.
• Gail Sneed of Murfreesboro, Department of Media Arts.
• Martin Stewart of Murfreesboro, Department of Chemistry.

MTSU employees honored for 40 years of service to the university pose with plaques recognizing their work at the university’s annual Service Award Luncheon, held Dec. 5 in the James Union Building. From left are Jack Ross, Division of Marketing and Communications; Martin Stewart, Department of Chemistry; Lance Selva, Department of Criminal Justice Administration; and Gail Sneed, Department of Media Arts. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

MTSU, which employs more than 2,500 faculty and staff members campuswide, honors its employees regularly with opportunities that include the MTSU Employee Recognition Program for administrators, classified and technical/service personnel and the MTSU Foundation Awards and Faculty Recognition presentations for faculty.

For more information about MTSU employee recognition programs, visit the university’s Human Resource Services website at www.mtsu.edu/hrs.

— Gina E. Fann (gina.fann@mtsu.edu)