College Recognizes Exemplary Staff

Secrist’s 26 years in SOAN coming to close, Privee continues the marathon with CHNM

by B.J. Koubaroulis

Karen Secrist and Jack Censer

Karen Secrist’s three-decade career working for George Mason University started just off Route 50 in Fairfax at what is now known as Paul VI Catholic High School.

“There’s only a few of us left that remember those days,” said Dean Jack Censer during a Dec. 2 celebration that honored Secrist as one of the 2009 Mary Roper award-winners.

Secrist and Andy Privee, a grants administrator for the Center for History and New Media (CHNM), were each presented with the Mary Roper award, which is an award that has been given out since 2001 and whose namesake worked in the department of biology and in the college dean’s office for a total of 14 years.  Roper was in attendance at the Dec. 2 ceremony, which took place at the Center for the Arts and honored those that have consistently demonstrated excellent performance, commitment, and dedication to the college.

“Both Karen and Andy continually embody the qualities of the Mary Roper award,” said Censer.

Secrist, who has spent 26 years working in an administrative role in the Sociology and Anthropology Department, will retire in January.

Secrist has worked for six different chairs during her time working at SOAN.

“Chairs have regularly sent new staff members to Karen to learn,” said Censer. “She is the soul of SOAN and its heart.”

Privee joined CHNM in 2006, bringing with him 30 years of experience in working in similar administrative and operations roles in the Peace Corps and Environmental Protection Agency.

An avid marathon runner, who has finished 13 different races around the east coast, Privee’s work at CHNM requires similar stamina.

“He has become essential to the stability of CHNM,” said Censer.

Both Privee and Secrist were presented with an engraved glass award and gifts.

Karen Secrist“Usually, success is not the result of an individual but of teamwork,” said Privee.

Secrist and Privee were honored, as were four others with administrative awards: Frah Abdi (Outstanding HR and Finance), Dana Vogel (Outstanding Administrative Support), Mary Jackson (Outstanding Graduate Program Support) and Carrie Grabo (Outstanding Undergraduate Program Support).

Abdi, Vogel, Jackson and Grabo were each presented with certificates.

“We in the dean’s office recognize the hard work of our staff members who help us to continually reach our goal of educating students,” said senior associate dean Dee Holisky.