Staff Accolades
Employee of the Month (EOM)
Katie Townsend
July 2026
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Katie Townsend serves as the Strategic Relationship Manager with Information Technology Services (ITS), Katie serves as a liaison between ITS and the Division of Student Affairs, helping align technology solutions with divisional needs and priorities. She leads and supports technology initiatives, coordinates with campus stakeholders and vendors, facilitates communication among project teams and helps ensure successful implementation of systems and services that support students, staff and university operations.
In the words of her five nominators, "Katie has been an amazing leader for our FSUHQ Implementation process. This process has combined the vision and needs of the Career Center, Student Organizations and Involvement, and FSU Panama City Campus to identify a central platform for student engagement."
"What stands out most to me is Katie’s genuine commitment to helping people. She takes the time to listen, understand concerns and work toward solutions. Rather than simply managing a project, she has worked to ensure that those affected by the transition feel supported throughout the process."
Thank you Katie, for the "leadership, collaboration, reliability and commitment to service have been instrumental to the successful implementation of FSU HQ"!
DSA Team, we want to celebrate your success!
Presentations and Conferences
Emma Massaglia
Emma Massaglia (DSA Marketing and Communications) presented “Our Website is a Mess! Preparing for and Leading a Major University Website Redesign” at the 2026 EduWeb Summit Marketing and Web Conference in Orlandol in July.
Justin Hultman
Justin Hultman, Ph.D. (Career Center) and Serena Bujtor (doctoral student) presented a workshop using the CSI-Clarity Scale to create career decision-making models that explore resiliency and career choice at the National Career Development Association Conference held in Minneapolis in July.
Michon Ashmore
Michon Ashmore (Career Center) presented "Building Bridges: Collaboration Between Career Services and Pre-Health Advising" at the 2026 National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions National Conference in June, highlighting FSU's collaborative model between the Career Center and the Office of Pre-Health Advising.
Megan Crowe
Megan Crowe (Career Center) co-presented the session “Catching the Wave of Prelaw Societies from a Centralized Advising Center” with pre-law advisors from Vanderbilt University and Auburn University at the 2026 Southern Association of Pre-Law Advisor Regional Conference.
Honors and Awards
Justin Hultman
Justin Hultman, Ed.D. (Career Center) obtained the National Career Counselor certification awarded by the National Board for Certified Counselors.
Joi N Phillips
Joi Phillips, Ph.D. (Center for Leadership and Service) received the Kris Knab Service Award from United Partners for Human Services for her leadership, courage, compassion and commitment to the community.
Alexandra Clayton
Alexandra Clayton won the Favorite Lead Actress in a Mainstage Musical award for her portrayal of Velma Kelly in the Spring 2026 production of Chicago.
Service
Michon Ashmore
Michon Ashmore (Career Center) accepted an invitation to serve on the Pre-Health Abroad Advisory Committee of CEA CAPA Education Abroad, an international internship provider whose pre-health programs offer students opportunities abroad to shadow physicians and gain clinical exposure.
Tracey Dowling
Tracey Dowling (Career Center) was elected to serve as president of the Cooperative Education & Internship Association for 2026-2027. Her term began in April.
Dr. Zduy Chu
Zduy Chu, Ed.D. (Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs) was appointed to the Vice President of Student Affairs and Associate Vice Presidents Colleague Conversations Planning Committee for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Dr. Zduy Chu
Zduy Chu, Ed.D. (Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs) facilitated the discussion “Charting Senior Leader Learning Needs and Pathways” with vice presidents and associate vice presidents of Student Affairs for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Other Accolades
Christy Mantzanas
Christy Mantzanas (Career Center) was one of 50 professionals who attended a week-long immersive leadership experience at the National Association of Colleges & Employers Management Leadership Institute in July.
