Staff Accolades

Brittany Thorn

Employee of the Month

March 2025

Brittany Thorn

Counseling and Psychological Services

 

Brittany Thorn is a Mental Health Specialist with the Counseling and Psychological Services. Brittany provides therapeutic intervention to FSU students experiencing distress or crisis situations. She also leads the Monday Clinician-On-Duty Team and supervision of trainees. Brittany has been described by staff as having "a unique blend of compassion, straightforwardness, and empathy [that] has made her a passionate advocate for students, helping them feel supported and confident in her capable hands. Brittany is also an excellent mentor to new staff, always available for consultations, and a beacon of positivity with her great sense of humor and, let’s be honest, the best office ambiance at CAPS!" Other staff have described her in the following way: "Brittany has truly shined in her new role as COD leader. Her fearless leadership during Urgent Care Week and her willingness to step in while Sarah was out have demonstrated her dedication to both our team and the students we serve. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure our students receive the care and support they need."

Florida State University’s Division of Student Affairs recognizes and celebrates your hard work and dedication to your staff. Thank you for all you do!

Employee of the Month Archive


DSA Team, we want to celebrate your success!

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Honors and Awards

Katie Redd

Katie Redd

Student Union, Campus Event Services

Katie Redd was honored by the Young Actors Theatre Board of Directors at the Tallahassee Leading Ladies Breakfast in March for her contributions to the performing arts.

Amy Magnuson

Amy Magnuson, Ph.D., RD, LD/N

University Health Services

Amy Magnuson, Ph.D., RD, LD/N received the Charles F. Bohmann Award from the Southern College Health Association in March for her dedication to college health and service to SCHA.

Rachel Blakesley

Rachel Blakesley

University Housing and Childcare

Rachel Blakesley received an Outstanding Contributions to Research Award by the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers in March for contributing to the advancement of knowledge of the housing profession.

Bridgid P. Shannon, MFA

Bridgid P. Shannon, MFA

Center for Leadership and Service

Bridgid Shannon was selected into the 2025 Cohort of the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement Practitioner-Scholar Community. She also joined the Bonner Foundation's Teaching Social Action Initiative that is rooted in fostering students' experiential leadership for institutional policy change for public purpose.

Service Scholars Photo

Dr. Joi Phillips, Dr. Erin Sylvester Philpot, Bridgid Shannon, Gen Ramirez, Rebecca Sardina

Center for Leadership and Service

Dr. Joi Phillips, Dr. Erin Sylvester Philpot, Bridgid Shannon, Gen Ramirez and Rebecca Sardina received the FSU Service Scholars Program Bronze level recognition for the National NASPA Excellence Award for Service Learning Program of Distinction.

Owen Weekley Photo

Owen Weekley

University Housing

Owen Weekley was awarded the Inter Residence Hall Council Advisor of the Fall for his work with Salley Hall Council.


Bylines and Publications


Presentations and Conferences

Suzan Kurdak

Suzan Kurdak

DSA Marketing and Communications Office

Suzan Kurdak was a panelist presenter on "Memoir Writing: Processes and Pitfalls" at the Tallahassee Writers Association general meeting in March.

naspa hello

Alycia Malicz, Alice Maxwell, Allison Peters and Dave Peters

DSA Marketing and Communications Office, Division of Undergraduate Studies and Campus Recreation

Alycia Malicz and Alice Maxwell (Division of Student Affairs Marketing and Communications), Allison B. Peters, Ph.D. (Division of Undergraduate Studies), and David Peters (Campus Recreation) presented “Cutting Through the Noise: Collaborative Approaches to Student Communication, Engagement, and Retention” at the 2025 NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Annual Conference in New Orleans.

Trinity Davis

Trinity Davis

New Student and Family Programs

Trinity Davis presented at the Region VI NODA conference on “OL 2 HE: Starting Your Journey to Graduate School” and “Supporting Our Families of First-Generation Students” in March in New Orleans.

Sara Butler

Sara Butler

Housing

Sara Butler was a panelist at the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers regional conference in February on "Empowered Leadership".

Delaney Sills and Sara Butler

Delaney Sills and Sara Butler

Housing

Delaney Sills presented at the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers regional conference in February on "Commitment to Curriculum: Generating Buy In".

Delaney Sills

Delaney Sills

Housing

Delaney Sills presented at the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers regional conference in February on “From Boring to Board Games: Enhancing Student Staff Activities through Gamification”.

Marrese Whitsett

Marrese Whitsett Jr.

Housing

Marrese Whitsett Jr. presented at the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers regional conference in February on “Fusing the Future: Successful Strategies for Thriving in a Multigenerational Housing Department".

Stephanie Tillman

Stephanie Tillman and Danielle Porter

Housing

Stephanie Tillman and Danielle Porter presented at the First-Year Experience conference in New Orleans on "Innovating First-Year Experience Courses Through Connection and Collaborative Partnership" in Februrary.

Erin Sylvester Philpot

Erin Sylvester Philpot

Career Center

Erin Sylvester Philpot, Ed.D., was the opening speaker for the statewide senior leaders and managers meeting of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Presenting "The Leadership Toolkit", Erin shared lessons on managing, leading, and navigating organizational change and periods of transition.

Justin Hultman

Dr. Justin Hultman

Career Center

Dr. Justin Hultman presented a workshop on the complexities of undergraduate career decision-making at the 2024 International Association for Educational and Vocational Conference held in Finland.

Alice Maxwell

Alice Maxwell

DSA Marketing and Communications Office

Alice Maxwell presented at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) ToGather online workshop for "Meet the Best of CASE District 3 Grand Gold Winners." She shared FSU's student success campaign, Hello FSU!, that earned the prestigious Grand Gold CASE International Circle of Excellence Award for Student Engagement Marketing. In 2024, of the 4,223 nominations submitted to CASE from around the world, only 32 entries won Grand Gold Awards. The FSU Division of Student Affairs' campaign was one of four grand gold winners in the Southeast district.

Bay Bennett

Bay Bennett

Campus Recreation

Bay Bennett presented to the Florida Leadership Outdoor Recreation Association about different rock-climbing, anchor-building methodologies covering correct materials to use and various terrains.

Rob Liddell Presentation

Rob Liddell, Ph.D.

Career Center

Rob Liddell, Ph.D. was one of the speakers at the January Florida Chamber of Commerce's Future of Work: Workforce Wednesday Webinar Series, "Enhancing Business and Career Center Connections."

Hale Butler Presentation

Abbey Hale, M.S. & Jamie Butler, M.S.W

Career Center

Abbey Hale and Jamie Butler presented the roundtable discussion "Collaborating with Employers on Real-World Challenges to Prepare Students for the Workplace" at the 2024 Southern Association of Colleges & Employers Annual Conference in December in Orlando, FL.

Ford Pon Presentation

Anissa Ford & Li P. Pon

Career Center

Anissa Ford and Li Pon presented "Unlock Transformative Experiential Learning with FSUshadow and InternFSU" at the 2024 Southern Association of Colleges & Employers Annual Conference in December in Orlando, FL.


Service

Dr.Rachel Blakesley

Dr. Rachel Blakesley

University Housing

Dr. Rachel Blakesley has been selected to serve as the committee chair-select for the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers region's Career Support Services committee.

Rob Liddell

Rob Liddell, Ph.D.

Career Center

Rob Liddell, Ph.D. was selected to serve as a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Pathways Profession Task Force.

Dr. Liddell is also serving the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) on their Expert Advisory Group to help review their Internship Program Standard.

Tracey Dowling

Tracey Dowling

Career Center

Tracey Dowling was invited to serve on the inaugural Career Development Advisory Committee for CEA CAPA, a third-party provider for international experiential learning and study abroad opportunities.

Dr. Dowling was also elected to serve as the Executive Vice President/President Elect for 2025-26 for the Cooperative Education & Internship Association (CEIA). Dowling has served on the CEIA Board since 2015, most recently as Vice President for Professional Development.


Accolades Archive

2024 DSA Awards