Each year, the Bill Nunnelley Award is presented to the staff member whose work regularly and consistently exceeds expectations and reflects a high level of service, trustworthiness and respect.
In 2022, Samford announced the expansion of the annual award, with the quarterly recognition of staff members who embody these values. During the academic year, the Samford community will be invited to nominate staff through quarterly nomination cycles. Selected nominees will be announced to the Samford community and will be automatically considered as a nominee for the annual Bill Nunnelley Award.
The Staff Advisory Council is pleased to announce its first round of quarterly honorees:
Sue Collins
Administrative Assistant, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics
Collins is the welcoming voice for the School of Public Health, providing administrative assistance to all four of the departments within the school. After the retirement of an administrative assistant within another department, Collins recognized the void and offered assistance in any way possible. She strives to fulfill the mission of Samford and the School of Public Health through her initiative, thoughtfulness, relationship with others and compassion. Collins effectively manages the workflow related to the maintenance of hundreds of pieces of equipment in the food production and research labs, manages and administers teaching evaluation reports every semester for all courses in the school, and assists with accreditation needs for various programs in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Janet Goodwin
Assistant Director of Payroll, Human Resources
Goodwin has served Samford for 27 years as a staff member and as a student employee during her college days. Processing payroll is an important job that impacts the majority of the campus community, and Goodwin manages it effortlessly every time. She leads with humility and a Christ-like spirit that embodies the mission, vision and values of Samford. Goodwin is not only instrumental in ensuring the daily operations of the University, she is someone who exhibits her Christian character and work ethic in every action and communication.
Jennifer Fitzpatrick
Project Manager, Faculty Success Center
Fitzpatrick’s role in the faculty success center reaches beyond serving faculty members. She is dedicated to the concept of service to all people at Samford by coordinating opportunities to partner with other operational units on campus including financial affairs and accounting, technology services and others within academic affairs. While seeking opportunities within the Samford community, Fitzpatrick also extends the reach of Samford to the local community and other university stakeholders. Her impeccable attention to detail, proactiveness and work ethic personifies her sense of responsibility and stewardship to the university community.
Tami Zenker
Director, Law Student Records, Cumberland School of Law
In creating a teaching environment that gives Cumberland Law students the best chance to succeed, Zenker nurtures students by encouraging and empowering them through difficult decisions and processes. She fosters their academic competency and is always positive to others. Her colleagues also benefit from her encouragement and optimism that radiates throughout the law school. Zenker’s grace and dedication to her office, students, and colleagues is vibrant, and she is always willing to own the things she is responsible for while training and encouraging others.
These honorees will automatically be considered as a nominee for the Bill Nunnelley Award, which will be presented during the 2023 Opening Convocation.