The President’s Award of Distinction was created as a recognition program to reward staff members who have demonstrated outstanding achievements, service, leadership, and dedication to Kent State in advancing the university’s strategic priorities and core values. Nominees for the award must have demonstrated exceptional performance in living the university’s core values and/or advancing the priorities of the Strategic Roadmap to a Distinctive Kent State. Award recipients were selected by President Todd Diacon.
The Division of Student Affairs had two staff members -- Director of the Student Multicultural Center (SMC) Mike Daniels, along with Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Director of University Health Services (UHS) Julie Volcheck -- receive the 2020 President’s Award of Distinction. They were amongst 23 Kent State staff members selected across all campuses.
Mike Daniels
In addition to mentoring individuals, Mike Daniels, who has been at Kent State for 5 years, facilitates programs and initiatives that are important in supporting a sense of belong for underrepresented (Black, African American, Latinx, and Native American) students at Kent State such as Kupita Transiciones (K/T), Karamu, Soup & Substance, Male Empowerment Network and Sister Circle to name a few. Because of the pandemic, Mike had to pivot to alter the manner in which many of these initiatives operate. Last year, he created the first ever virtual Karamu and this year he launched a hybrid (in-person and digital) K/T.
Both efforts took immense creativity, planning, organization, and collaboration to successfully pull off. He also started using social media in creative ways to engage students and boost their voices when our traditional avenues for that are currently unavailable. Daniels accomplishes all of this with limited personnel in the SMC, during a global pandemic and a time where there is heightened visibility of anti-black racism in the United States.
Daniels’ caring nature is not reserved solely for students. He stresses the importance of family. Anyone who has the opportunity to talk, work, or engage with Mike can feel that. He helps make Kent State a home.
“I am extremely honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Daniels. “Working in the Student Multicultural Center, putting it lightly, has been a blessing like no other; I am blessed to be able to do this work within an institution alongside people I believe truly value the students’ success.”
Nominating Daniels was Dean of Students, Dr. Taléa Drummer-Ferrell.
“Mike has managed the Multicultural Center during very turbulent times and transition, and all without a full staff,” said Drummer-Ferrell. “I could not have been more honored to nominate Mike for this award because he is truly deserving of this honor.”
Julie Volcheck
Julie Volcheck, now in her 8th year at Kent State, showed tremendous leadership at the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2019, she began to research the origins and containment strategies regarding the COVID-19 virus and kept track of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dashboard. Volcheck has worked 16-hour days, served on numerous pandemic planning committees, spearheaded testing strategies and hired additional health center staff. Volcheck even updates the UHS website when needed. When offering Volcheck additional resources, she said, "I know how to update the site and it's just faster if I do it". Take away the pandemic and Volcheck still wears multiple hats as Assistant Vice President and Director of UHS, as well as chief budget/personnel officer.
Nominating Volchek was Assistant to an Executive Officer, Kendra Wilson.
“Through it all Julie is thoughtful, strategic, innovative, and compassionate with students, faculty, and staff,” said Wilson. “Julie has been referred to affectionately as ‘the people whisper’ because she loves people and people love her.”
Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Lamar Hylton was over the moon with excitement when he recognized the award winners during a recent division leadership meeting.
“I know these two individuals very well and work very closely with both of them and I could not think of two better people to be recognized this way, and at this time, than Julie and Mike,” he said. “They have been at the forefront of critical efforts related to our response to the COVID-19 and the racial unrest that we are experiencing; when I got the phone call from President Diacon, I was just so excited and thrilled that these were the two who would represent Student Affairs in this batch of President’s Award winners.”
In addition to this tremendous recognition, Mike and Julie will both receive a $1,500 award.
Previous recipients of the President’s Award of Distinction from the Division of Student Affairs include:
- Lisa Ferrell, Houskeeping Supervisor – Residence Services (2009)
- David Herpy, Recreation Program Coordinator - Recreational Services (2009)
- Tony Licata, Head Locksmith – Residence Services (2010)
- Donna Carlton, Assistant Director – Center for Student Involvement (2011)
- Mollie Miller, Adaptive Technology Coordinator – Student Accessibility Services (2011)
- Thomas Farmer, Maintenance Repair Worker – Kent Student Center (2012)
- Anissa Strickland, Associate Director – Student Financial Aid (2012)
- Barbara Boltz, Project Director for Enrollment Data and Systems Support – Office of VP, EMSA (2014)
- Scott Manzo, Building Maintenance Supervisor – Recreational Services (2014)
- Carrie Berta, Psy. D, Psychologist – University Health Services (2015)
- Ken Ditlevson, Director - LGBTQ Student Center (2018)
- Eron Memaj, Director - International Student Affairs (2018)
- Melissa Sink, Housekeeping Manager – Kent Student Center (2019)
Note: The Division of Student Affairs was part of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs until 2018. The President’s Award of Distinction was formerly known as the President’s Excellence Award until 2018.
For more information about the 2020 President’s Award of Distinction recipients, visit /president/distinction/2020-recipients
For more information on the President’s Award of Distinction, including past recipients, visit www.kent.edu/president/distinction