NEWS from Central Connecticut State University Honored as a "Leadership Institution" by the Association of American Colleges & Universities Media contact: Bart Fisher, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications (860) 832-1624; Fisherb@ccsu.edu Ms. Maria Alvarez, Dr. Timothy Rickard Honored with CCSU’s 2007 Distinguished Service Award
NEW BRITAIN (September 4, 2007) - Central Connecticut State University has announced two recipients of its prestigious Distinguished Service Award (DSA) for 2007. They are Maria Alvarez, who has fulfilled multi-faceted roles in the Office of the Registrar with extraordinary dedication under stressful conditions, and Dr. Timothy Rickard, a geography professor who has made significant contributions as an administrator, especially through the international studies/exchange programs. Presented by CCSU President Jack Miller, the DSA recognizes outstanding contributions to
the University, to its students, to academic achievement and to the community. Members of the Distinguished Service Award Committee of 2006-07 were Carl Lovitt, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Paulette Lemma, associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of Graduate Studies; Nick Pettinico, Jr., associate vice president, Institutional Advancement; Paul Altieri, assistant to the dean of Arts & Sciences; Elizabeth Hicks, associate director, Advising Center; Mary Horan, staff counselor, Arts & Sciences; and Michelle Ficaro, CCSU student.

Ms. Maria Alvarez
From a secretarial position to Assistant Registrar, Associate Registrar, and University Scheduling and Degree Audit, Alvarez, a faculty administrative member for some 25 years, has undertaken increasingly complex professional responsibilities—and she managed to earn three degrees (associate, bachelor’s and masters) while raising three daughters.

Alvarez’s previous job demanded that she complete evaluations for a significant number of potential graduates in time for commencement target dates. Currently, she must efficiently schedule classes in rooms, campus wide. Colleague Drina Lynch, assistant dean, Graduate Studies, said the Scheduler’s position “serves the entire population of students and faculty with crushing accountability and serious outcomes if the slightest mistake is made. The Scheduler must have a handle on every building, classroom, and square inch of the campus.” During the last two years, Alvarez has had to deal with software issues, programming compatibility, Banner system idiosyncrasies, and constricted classroom space.

Dr. Carl Lovitt lauded Alvarez’ performance at the beginning of the spring 2007 semester when she coped with a computer system problem due to software glitches. 

Declaring her an “unsung heroine,” Lovitt stated, “Maria spent the entire week reworking the complete classroom assignment schedule by hand, responding courteously and patiently to every complaint she received, and eventually solving problems brought to her attention. CCSU owes Maria Alvarez an immense debt of gratitude for her steadfast professionalism, her meticulous and patient problem solving, and her calm under intense fire.”

Registrar Susan Petrosino stated, “Maria is focused on the needs of the students and exercises excellent judgment coupled with a sincere concern for their requirements when guiding students through the advising, registration and/or graduation evaluation process.”

Dr. Lilian Uribe, professor and chair of the Modern Languages Department, who was Alvarez’ Spanish professor, praised her as a member of the Latin American Association. Uribe said, “Maria’s extraordinary energy, organizational skill, true enthusiasm, cultural sensitivity and her fine practical intelligence enhanced every Latin American Association meeting and event.” She praised Alvarez’s “versatility and multi-perspective lens of analysis” as a student in her Latin American Women Writers course.

Awilda Reasco, director, Pre-Collegiate and Access Services, declared, “Maria’s advisory skills have helped improve students’ self-esteem. Students find that she is one of a kind.”

 

Dr. Timothy Rickard
Dr. Timothy Rickard served as Director of the International Affairs Center from 1991-95 and Interim Director of the Center for International Education from 1996-98, spent 11 years as chair of the Geography department and was even “drafted” for a stint as chair of the History Department.

Well-regarded internationally and extensively published on topics as diverse as “Jamaica’s Response to Marginalization in the Global Economy” and “The Preservation of Peri-urban Agricultural Open Space in Connecticut,” he is nevertheless best known for the generosity of spirit he has constantly shown to students here and abroad, during his 35 years as a CCSU faculty member. 

The extensive help Dr. Rickard has provided Jamaican students involved in the CCSU-Sam Sharpe Teacher’s College program, for example, has included extensive transcript reviews and mentoring independent studies, virtually all on his own time.  His work on behalf of students at the Aligarh Muslim University in India is also indicative of his continuing passion for his discipline and his on-going commitment to cultural diversity and lifetime learning. 

Nationally, he is a regional representative to the Council of the Association of American Geographers, the platform from which he also serves as an unofficial, but highly effective ambassador for CCSU. The President of the AAG recently called him “the voice of reason.”

Closer to home he has served as the primary advisor for the CCSU Master’s program in International Studies and has unhesitatingly volunteered for service positions throughout his tenure, including serving several terms in the faculty senate and on various curriculum committees.

Dr. Charles E. Button, assistant professor of geography, describes his colleague as an exceptional teacher and researcher, calling him nothing less than “the perfect model of an academic.”

Rita J. Brann, associate director of continuing education concurs.  Dr. Rickard, she says, “works tirelessly…on behalf of students to facilitate their success.”

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