Technical Support Award
The Outstanding Staff awards are chosen by nominations received by the Awards Committee from all faculty, staff, and students at VIMS. They are awarded in the categories of Facilities/Safety/Trades, Technical Support, and Administrative Support.
The winner of the 2021 Outstanding Employee for Technical Support is Wendy Lowery.
Wendy leads technical support for the Juvenile Fish and Blue Crab Trawl Surveys and the American Eel Monitoring Program. Her colleagues describe her as an expert in her field and one of the most patient, understanding, and knowledgeable of mentors.
Wendy’s dedication, expertise, and approachable manner make her the go-to person for staff and students when questions arise about collecting juvenile fishes. Everyone finds her helpful in teaching them any aspect of the work they do. She doesn’t mind when someone asks “too many questions,” and will take the time needed to provide a helpful and empathetic answer. If someone makes a mistake, she shows them how to fix it and empowers them to avoid it in the future.
Wendy will come in early or stay late, even after a long day in the field, to help with unexpected tasks or reply to external data requests. Her thoughtful and timely attention ensures that all the surveys she leads go smoothly and that, ultimately, the data-users are happy.
When not leading the long-term surveys, you will likely find Wendy helping faculty, students, and staff to arrange sample collection for their classes or research, as she is always happy to help.
Wendy’s extensive experience coupled with a sense of humor makes her a pleasure to work with and a highly deserving recipient of this award.
Congratulations, Wendy!