Staff Take the Spotlight
Grinnell College is proud to recognize the hard work and expertise of its staff and their many contributions to the College and its students. At the Annual Staff Recognition Brunch hosted by human resources on January 9, 2025, President Anne F. Harris presented awards to two deserving staff members on behalf of the Staff Council.
The Star Staff Award
What goes into a Star Staffer? Besides a consistently excellent performance of regular job duties, the Star Staff Award recognizes quality work, professionalism, and pride in their position. Recipients exhibit the core values of the College by supporting the success of students, a diverse community, and social responsibility. In addition, they work collaboratively with others and are reliable, dependable, and studious.
This year’s Star Staff Award recipient, Director of Campus Safety James Shropshire, brings more than 20 years of experience in public safety to Grinnell College. According to his nominator, he is forward thinking and always working to build a more efficient, professional, and skilled team to serve the campus community.
Shropshire has improved many aspects of Campus Safety, including implementing a new records management software, professionalizing the dispatch center, and building strong relationships across campus to enhance awareness to the work of Campus Safety.
“James breaks down traditional stigma and perceptions of public safety and strives to connect and collaborate with all sectors at Grinnell College,” writes his nominator. “He has built his own community engagement program that is designed to build relationships with students in a casual setting, which helps break down traditional stigma and allow for opportunities to build relationships outside of times of crisis.”
The Star Staff Award recognizes Shropshire’s outstanding dedication and commitment to the well-being of all at Grinnell College.
The Leading Leader Award
The Leading Leader Award recognizes a supervisor who demonstrates work-life sensitivity and support for the professional and personal needs of their employees. This supervisor empowers employees to do their best work while offering development opportunities for future growth. They demonstrate fairness and consistency in all actions; they communicate goals and expectations clearly and hold staff accountable while also providing tools for achievement. This supervisor removes unnecessary barriers to accomplishment and assists with problem-solving.
This year’s Leading Leader Award recipient, Dean for Health and Wellness Terry Mason, worked with his staff to create a fair and equitable professional development system. “The fact that he included them in the creation of this is huge,” writes his nominator. “It would have been easy to just create a system.” Instead, Mason asked his staff for input throughout the process, empowering them to contribute at every step along the way.
In difficult situations, Mason makes it a point to listen to all sides and get all the facts. “His psychology skills definitely help with this,” writes his nominator. “He helps staff process the situation and how they are feeling about it.”
Mason instituted a meeting of all the supervisors in Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) to discuss issues, allowing him to understand the opinions of all. “The diversity of ideas and the safe place to share them have led to productive discussions and great ideas.”
Mason is transparent and provides excellent communication on deadlines and expectations, with opportunities for input and questions along the way. “Many leaders say this, but he actually practices it,” writes the nominator. He consults with many leaders across campus, giving guidance and support. His insights and experience have benefited the entire College.
Congratulations to both of these outstanding staff members!