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Wendy Butler

With a background in customer service and campus excellence as well as military training, Wendy Butler has quite a repertoire of skills to draw from as she works hard each day at her job in the OASIS Center for Advising and First Year Programs. As senior secretary, the Ohio native, who loves to solve cryptograms, is responsible for graduate and student assistant supervision, OASIS faculty and staff support, and daily administrative affairs, including budget, payroll, travel and work schedules. Although not explicitly designated in her job description, she goes out of her way to make a positive impact on students and other departmental members.

“One encouraging word spoken can carry another through a lifetime,” she said.

With such a positive attitude and so much to offer, it is no wonder that Butler was chosen as the Council on Staff Affairs Spring 2008 Employee of the Year. Nominated for her superb organizational skills, cooperative personality and inspirational leadership, Butler is considered “the glue that binds her department together,” by OASIS Director Pat Burns and fellow staff members. This is a powerful statement considering the department serves 1,400 students.

Butler said her favorite part of the job is hearing success stories from students whose lives have been positively affected. While she is sad to see the students leave, she feels pride as they move on to bigger and better opportunities. OASIS Assistant Director Shirley McClain said she has witnessed Butler’s genuine commitment to her responsibilities and her concern for professional growth and development. These qualities, along with many others, have propelled her toward excellence.

Happily married for 17 years, Butler has three daughters and loves music, yard work and traveling. She credits her success to “the Lord - her enabler” and the amazing team leaders that surround her with support and encouragement.

Years with VSU: Almost two years full time
Division/department: OASIS, Center for Advising &Freshman Year Experience
Position: Senior Secretary
City of residence: North Lowndes Valdosta, Georgia
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
College/degree: Working toward Bachelor of Science in Education in American Sign Language/Interpreting.

Career highlights: I joined the United States Air Force and served as an Air Passenger Specialist. My main responsibility was to provide space available travel for active military members and their families, civilian and retirees traveling various places in the world. Various duties to include; dispatching, ticketing, border clearance, cargo processing, retrograde, record keeping and the best customer service ever!! I loved interacting with the passengers.

I worked as a dedicated aid at Mildenhall Elementary School in England. I worked with the most precious autistic student named Barak. My main responsibility was to assess his needs and providing assistance from that. I monitored his behavior, encouraged social skills, initiated creative ideas for learning, distributed medications, and frequently met with parents on student’s progress according to their Individual Education Plan.

Career goals: Right now, I want to continue to grow where I am as the senior secretary for the OASIS, Center for Advising, and complete my bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language/Interpreting.

Community or university involvement: I enjoy going to the employee training classes, I serve as an evaluator for the Community In Schools projects. I serve on the worship team at church and various others areas that might need assistance.

I chose to work at VSU because: I love my job and those I work with. I love the interaction with the students. Working at VSU gives me an opportunity to be a positive influence upon those who I come in contact with.

If I could describe myself in three words, I would use…. Encouraging, patient, and loyal

My favorite project is… working on the OASIS budget! I really like the challenge of working with numbers and money.

My favorite things to do on campus are… to visit the planetarium. I like to view the stars and planets on the observation deck. I really enjoy going to the theatre performances.

When I have free time, I… like to work in my yard, traveling, working on crafts and sewing.

The most exciting/interesting thing I’ve done is… tobogganing. It was the most daring thing that I have ever done.

If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with… my mom who past away a couple of months ago to cancer.

If I knew I could not fail, I would… open my own business.

My future plans… are really just to ENJOY LIFE!!!

The one VSU experience I will always remember is… having someone take the time to nurture my dream of completing my degree along with building other skills that would help me on the path. I remember coming to the university for the very first time and meeting this funny man who had a big heart. He loves people, walks in integrity and is willing to carry others to the top with him. He’s been an encouragement to me since I started here at VSU. He has taken me under his wing not just once, but twice. I worked as a student assistant in his office from 2000-2003 and came back to work for him in 2006. He pushes me to be the leader he knows that is in me. He is infectious to everyone he meets. He says that nothing is impossible to a willing heart. His awesome leadership has helped shape my growth as a leader and as a continuing student. I would like to thank Dr. Burns for leaving me with the special tools of leadership and the powerful words of “SEE YOU AT THE TOP” which would carry me through a lifetime.