Caring Bobcats

In these unprecedented times, many members of the University community are going above and beyond to solve problems and provide services to our students, employees and the greater community. We recognize and salute these Caring Bobcats!

Nominate a Caring Bobcat. Share your story or the story of someone you know who has stepped up to meet the needs of students, faculty, staff or members of the University community and beyond. 

Jennifer Brown
Student Success Coach
布朗被提名的原因是，她为学生们提供了行动起来的机会，同时也在家里提供咨询服务. “As Student Success Coaches, we're actively engaged with first-year students. In many conversations, there was a repeated pattern amongst us all – not enough movement! To address this need, I started identifying free workout resources for students. We set weekend virtual workout sessions to improve our well-being and to bring a sense of FSU community online in their homes.” (June 1, 2020)

Harry Fike
Office of Information Technology
Fike worked tirelessly to set students up with loaner laptops and wifi connections. “He has literally chased down UPS drivers to get the computers delivered to our students as quickly as possible! He is helpful, generous with his time and very knowledgeable while communicating with students,” says his nominator. Fike says he and his team have managed to set up, pick up and deliver more than 120 laptops for faculty, staff and students “for the FSU community to continue to work, teach, and learn remotely. It can be difficult to diagnose and fix computer problems remotely, but it is a challenge my team has stepped up to with great success. Outside of FSU, 在政府关闭的第一周内，我让我的教会切换到在线服务，并建议其他许多人在这段时间如何使用技术来保持联系.” (June 1, 2020)


Sarina Gant
Admissions Counselor
甘特在与未来的学生联系方面做得非常好，她经常把自己的日程安排调整到晚上和周末，以便能够与学生的父母交谈，帮助他们缓解对大学申请过程的焦虑. Since working from home, Gant has found it easier to find time to build relationships with incoming students from around the state. “Knowing that we are making life-changing decisions for students makes it all worth it!” she said. (June 1, 2020)


Sara K. Hughes
Graduate Student, Education
Hughes was nominated for her service on the front lines as a local EMT while balancing being a graduate student. “I feel honored to be recognized for my part in helping to keep our community safe and healthy,” she said. “I am a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician through George's Creek Ambulance Service in Lonaconing, Maryland … I hope to work as a wilderness EMT/educator with the National Park Service.” (June 1, 2020)


Shawn Jones
Student Support Services
A student nominated Jones for going above and beyond to help at a moment’s notice. “Although these have been trying times, a student's success is still a top priority,” he said.  “All things normal has been thrown out the windows, and I've been meeting students where they are. This comes with 9 p.m. advising appointments because it’s the only time they may have access to a computer.” (June 1, 2020)


Yolanda Moses
Senior psychology major
Early in the semester, Moses started a business, Soul Food Sunday, and donated half of her profits to charity groups such as Actions Against Hunger, which provides food for people in third-world countries. Once the COVID crisis hit, she as donated “donated tons of masks and homemade remedy tea to friends whose families have been directly affected,” she said. She was nominated by one of those family members of a COVID patient. (June 1, 2020)

Dr. Evan Offstein
Department of Management
A student recognized Offstein for personally reaching out to students by calling to just check in. “This simple act of caring shows a lot of compassion during these stressful times,” commented the student. Evan said he made it his priority to call three students a week, not to talk about work or school, but to see how they're holding up. (June 1, 2020)

Kasey Taylor
First-year theatre major
Taylor wanted to connect with her community in Frederick, Md., during this COVID crisis, so every Friday she volunteers for Blessings in a Backpack, distributing meals to community kids. Taylor, who is participating in the program through the AmeriCorps program sponsored by FSU, said, “It’s a great way to give to the community and help others in need. Even behind a mask, I have a huge smile on my face when I see how happy the children are. We are still giving even through these hard times!”  (June 1, 2020)

Dr. Sunshine Brosi
Associate Professor/Department of Biology
Sunshine Brosi has sewn and distributed face masks, 其中150多个被捐赠给温室工人和拉科塔(南达科塔)、因纽皮特和尤皮克(阿拉斯加)部落的长老，他们与阳光一起工作. Donations from Western Maryland recipients, as well as personal funds, help to make these free offerings possible. (May 18, 2020)

Tracy Edwards
Lecturer/Department of Geography
Edwards continuously checks in with her students since transitioning online. She began with a quiz asking each student how they felt, about their experiences with online learning, and how they could continue to work on projects and assignments remotely. She leaves detailed comments on each assignment, making sure to continue discussions as in the classroom setting. “She genuinely cares about each of her students and has tried to make the transition process as smooth as possible, while taking into consideration that this might not be easy for all of us,” her nomination read. Mask in photo made by Sunshine Brosi (see above). (May 18, 2020)

Dr. Travis English
Associate Professor/Department of Visual Arts
English provides constant support to the Art Department with exceptional communication, including providing input into the logistics of graduating seniors, who are missing a physical senior exhibition. “I'm honored to be nominated, but more to work with colleagues who have adapted so readily to our unforeseen circumstances,” English said. “I’m particularly proud of our students in the Visual Arts Department, who have completed the semester with remarkable and inspiration aplomb, continuing to explore themselves and their art with creativity and vitality. They have kept me going through all of this.” Photo is a work-in-progress quarantine painting. (May 18, 2020)

Jessica Rothe
Graduate Student, Recreation, Parks & Sport Management program
Rothe aspires to earn a doctorate and become a professor in the area of outdoor recreation, parks and tourism. 由于COVID-19，她目前在一家药店长时间工作，除了完成硕士学位的最后一个项目外，她还志愿担任EMT. “I started working in the pharmacy my freshmen year of undergraduate as a way to get through school … with COVID-19, it has been crazy! ... I am a nationally registered advanced EMT and volunteer as much I can to try and lower the burden a bit!” (May 18, 2020)

Caitlin Rund
Senior, Music Major
As a Student Success Mentor, Rund is always making sure the first-year students in the Music Department are OK, emailing and texting students even after her mentor duties have finished. Rund says that she is learning as much from her student mentees about being a “successful musician, a complete human, and a supportive friend. … I thought about what I would want and need to hear. … I told them that it was okay to feel what they were feeling, to be sad and to miss their friends, but I reminded them that this wasn't the end, nor should it stop them from staying connected.” (May 18, 2020)

Dr. Amit Shah
Professor/Department of Management
Shah has made even more of a sacrifice to be present, to invest in his students’ growth, and to rise to the occasion. “With the new pass/fail option, it would have been easy for Dr. Shah to see student apathy toward class as a signal to do less. Instead, he has chosen the more challenging path by doing more — investing over 100% when little appreciation is returned. ... He provides, cares, and adapts so that the FSU family lives on.” Shah praised his students for adapting and doing well despite the circumstances. “This was a learning experience for me as well.” (May 18, 2020)

Katie Weir
Assistant Director/Residence Life
Weir holds regular Residence Hall Associations via Microsoft Teams to keep the organization moving forward, making sure the members are adjusting to work in quarantine and offering a helping head. “Katie is a wonderful advisor that offers a caring smile that makes our organization more enjoyable.” She has also worked with the Residence Life Office staff to make sure resident students are taken care of. “We realize how difficult it must be for our students who are unable to go home right now, so the least we can do is make sure they have the supplies and support that they need to be comfortable and successful,” Weir said. (May 18, 2020)

Keegan Wolf
Junior/Pre-engineering program
Wolf, President of Phi Mu Delta, uses the online chapter meeting time as an opportunity for members to talk about their challenges and successes. He started a virtual study hall session to provide academic and motivational support. He’s hosted chat rooms and game nights to build camaraderie. “During this time, I felt like one of the most important things is staying connected to others. … I wanted [my fraternity] brothers to know that they have a space readily available to them whenever they needed anything,” Wolf said. (May 18, 2020)

Aunya Brown
Hall Director/Residence Life Office
Brown has remained on-duty for our residential students, and she has worked incredibly hard to ensure they are thriving personally and academically. She has also been a great mentor for our remaining RAs; she makes sure they feel supported and connected during this difficult time. She has been a crucial part of the transition to Edgewood Commons. “Making sure the students are comfortable to ensure they are able to complete this semester successfully is our top priority,” Brown said. (May 11, 2020)

Gabe Fernandes
Hall Director/Residence Life Office
Fernandes has really stepped up to support our remaining residential students during this challenging time. He has checked in on students who are struggling to adjust to online classes and the new living arrangement, and he offers support and resources. Fernandes always listens to student concerns and helps them find solutions. He is the first to volunteer to help with a project, and his work ethic is unmatched. He has been a crucial part of the transition to Edgewood Commons. (May 11, 2020)

Benjamin Forrest
Senior Political Science Major/ VP of SGA and President, USM Student Council
福雷斯特正在与校园领导和系统领导会面，制定应急计划，并展示学生对各种不同问题的意见. 他说，他继续做他平时会做的事情——“这样学生在校园和系统层面上就有了发言权.” As President of USM Student Council, Ben is serving on the Return to Campus Advisory Group under the Chancellor’s Office, providing student input on recommendations for re-opening of the USM system campuses. (May 11, 2020)

Dr. Kristine McGee
Associate Professor, Educational Professions/USMH
McGee a colleague at another school started a webinar series for student teacher interns on educational technology tools. 她的接触给了学生们一种使命感和舒适感，即使他们不能与导师和学生在一起，他们仍然可以作为教师发挥作用,” shares her nominator. “Students were hungry for anything that they could do to help their mentors, and we polled them weekly to find out what they wanted to learn,” McGee said. 网络研讨会为参与者提供了一个支持网络，以克服当时每个人都遇到的教学挑战. (May 11, 2020)

Briona Stauffer
Sophomore Health Science Major
Stauffer is managing multiple roles to help others. A full-time student with two jobs, she is a math and science tutor and has continued tutoring virtually, and she works 32 hours a week as a certified nursing assistant for a home health agency taking care of elderly patients. She is proud of her part in keeping patients out of nursing homes, where they are at higher risk for COVID-19. She also was a Relay for Life captain, representing the pre-professional medical society, during this spring’s virtual event. (May 11, 2020)

Duane Miller (senior academic lab manager); Kevin Fearon (research machinist); Nick Harris (junior mechanical engineering major); and Jake Nowaczyk and Maureen Lavan (President Nowaczyk’s family) 

Two 3-D printers in the Additive Engineering Lab have been churning out adjustable headband parts for face shields, thanks to the efforts of Miller and Fearon, who have been operating the printers; Harris, the student lab manager who provided technical assistance remotely; and Lavan and Jake Nowaczyk, who are fitting them with transparent face shields. 该小组是为COVID-19大流行一线工作人员提供防护装备的团队的一部分. Over the course of the first few days they produced more than 40 headbands, and they have since produced over 200 shields. The completed face shields are being delivered to local nursing homes, physicians, social service organizations and the hospital as well as FSU Police. They’re now working on supplying Frostburg City Police. “Their efforts certainly helped to fill a critical need during this health emergency as the supply of PPE is critically short,” their nomination read. (May 11, 2020)

Brenna Bohn
Senior Health Science Major
Bohn is an emergency room scribe at UPMC-Western Maryland. Being ready for any and all emergencies is what she deals with every day at her job, and the COVID-19 crisis has reinforced that. While performing this important role for our community, Bohn is maintaining a full load of courses at FSU.” (May 4, 2020)

Robert Branham
Graduate Student/Recreation, Parks, and Sport Management
Bob is the deputy director for Calvert County Parks and Recreation, where he serves with the Emergency Operations Center. Bob has been working long hours taking on multiple roles. 他带头将娱乐部门的工作人员命名为必不可少的人员，以便在县的一些娱乐设施中为急救人员/医务人员提供儿童护理.”  (May 4, 2020)

Christina Durham
Lecturer and Clinical Faculty/Department of Educational Professions
Christina hosts weekly video conferences with her students to go over expectations, checking in with all to find out how they’re coping. “She goes above just assigning work and grading it by checking our mental health and if we have access to necessary resources,” said one student. “I am present throughout the day so that there is some normalcy for my students to encourage them, to provide words of affirmation that they are on the right track, and to provide feedback so they can be successful,” Durham said, “ (May 4, 2020)

Joel Hoover
Production Services Coordinator/Cultural Events Series
Hoover’s partner, Rommel Gonzaga, CEO of Gonzaga Health, 带回家一个口罩，并建议他利用自己的创意才能，为冈萨加医疗办公室的工作人员设计自制的口罩和面罩, who desperately needed them. 胡佛随后看到了其他有需要的团体，并收到了FSU的PAWS食品储藏室志愿者和该地区几家较小的当地企业的请求. To date, Joes has sewn over 200 masks and constructed 40 face shields. (May 4, 2020)

Tammy Ringler
Administrative Assistant II/Residence Life Office
Ringler花了很多晚上和周末的时间，在她8岁的孙子的帮助下，为贝克曼药房等当地企业缝制数百个口罩, American Woodmark and Mario’s. 她给在科罗拉多州和新泽西州服役的军人送去了口罩，并为宿舍生活办公室的工作人员准备了口罩. Ringler用她的烘焙技术为困在家里的孩子们送上个性化的生日蛋糕，帮助他们庆祝生日, and she dressed up and delivered an Easter cake to a special needs child.  (May 4, 2020)

Gwendolin Schemm
Senior Communication Studies/Psychology Major
Schemm emailed all of the students in the ORIE class she mentored last fall. 她对这些学生表示了极大的同情，她对他们在大学一年级遭遇这种干扰感到非常抱歉，并提醒他们，如果有人需要倾听，她随时可以与他们交谈,” her nomination read. “In times like these, I figured it was just important to let them know there were people and resources out there able to help,” Schemm said. (May 4, 2020)

Danyel Schmidt
Sophomore Health Science Major
Schmidt signed up for training courses to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA). She balances classes during the day, working at the nursing home, and completing her coursework at night while maintaining a full-time load of science courses. “With the current world situation, the local nursing home needs more people to help take care of their residents,” she said. While maintaining a full-time load of science courses.” (May 4, 2020)

Faith Tacey
Sophomore Elementary/Middle School Education Major
Tacey grocery shops for neighbors who are ill or elderly and must remain in isolation. She also provides daycare for essential workers. “My favorite thing that I did was dress up as the Easter bunny and visit kids in their own homes, all while practicing social distancing, of course! It was nice to see all the children get excited and smile as a small shred of normalcy brightened up their day!Tacey还在The Bottom Line上写了一篇文章，帮助FSU学生表达他们对在线课程的感受和担忧, to ensure their voices were heard. (May 4, 2020)

FSU PAWS Pantry Team
Patrick O’Brien, Ashley Daniels, Michael Tartt and Allison Williams
来自学生和社区参与的奥布莱恩和丹尼尔斯已经工作了无数个小时，以确保FSU的PAWS食品储藏室保持开放, active and safe. Frontline workers at the pantry, Tartt, an AmeriCorps member and FSU alum, and Williams, a junior wildlife and fisheries major, have been hired to help with the pantry during open hours on Mondays and Thursdays by appointment. The team helped manage and distribute 3,000 pounds of the total 6,他们从西马里兰食物银行带来了1000磅的食物，并与食物银行和卫生部密切合作，遵循指导方针. Since Spring Break, the pantry has adjusted for social distancing and removed limits on the amount of food students receive. They have prepared pre-packed bags to help with distribution to students. The pantry is serving over 100 students, mostly living off-campus, on a regular basis. The team also put together a plan to accommodate any student who may be ill and require food delivery. Chartwells, another pantry partner, donated food for food kits as part of the Million Acts of Good Program, while additional food has been ordered with money from donors to keep things running. (May 4, 2020)

FSU Student Veterans of America
Danielle Dabrowski, director of Veterans Services
Dabrowski started sewing the masks with her FSU-graduate son, Chet, FSU美国学生退伍军人分会的成员(图为美国学生退伍军人协会成员梅根·哈茨和主席阿里克·哈茨)很快也加入了进来. So far, they have sewn more than 670 masks, providing them to the FSU campus community, including FSU Police; veterans and their families; nursing homes; assisted living centers; hospice care agencies; and other nonprofit human service agencies, such as Friends Aware and the Charlotte Hall Home for Veterans; and for UPMC-Western Maryland to give to discharged patients. As new needs became apparent, “It has taken on a life of its own,” Dabrowski said. (May 4, 2020)

Dr. Shoshana Brassfield
Associate Professor of Philosophy/Director, Center for Teaching Excellence
Brassfield has led in supporting faculty in the transition to remote instruction, offering resources through Canvas ranging from general advice to specific strategies for each discipline. During spring break, she created a discussion board focused on the transition. “我特别希望教师们了解在疫情期间免费提供资源的许多教科书和内容提供商. I wanted to make sure that faculty have a place where they can find, share advice, and read about some different approaches to the various challenges of remote teaching,” she said. (April 27, 2020)

Dr. Thomas Cadenazzi
Lecturer/College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Cadenazzi received several nominations from students who commend him for his commitment to online teaching. “This professor is doing a great job during this challenging situation to help us continue to learn.” Cadenazzi is “putting forth his best effort in teaching classes,” providing a discussion board where he will answer questions “at an insanely fast rate,” and he “hasn't missed a beat.” He’s produced video lectures and has been very fair in grading while keeping to the original syllabus. One student remarked, “It’s very helpful to have an understanding professor like him.” (April 27, 2020)

Pam Detrick
Director of Dining Services/Chartwells
Detrick, a Caring Bobcat partner with Chartwells, has worked on developing food options for our staff and students. “Pam was very flexible and ready to change operations as the challenges changed [daily] with COVID-19.” She came up with reasonable, equitable, 为留在校园的学生提供健康的食物选择，并为适应埃奇伍德社区新生活环境的学生安排了送餐服务. Pam always makes sure that food is available for those without. (April 27, 2020)

Emily Harden
Junior Biology Major
Harden balances her coursework at FSU with her job as the emergency unit secretary at UPMC Western Maryland. “She oversees all patients that come in and out of the ER and makes sure that all tests, labs and other exams as well as test results are back in a timely manner. She's the central hub for everything that happens in the department whether it be good, bad, or ugly.” (April 27, 2020)

Madison Hutter
Sophomore Art & Design Major
Hutter is an AmeriCorps student who works with FSU’s PAWS Pantry. She is working to keep things going in support of students who are still living on campus or in Frostburg. Madison is making a difference by supporting basic nutritional needs for students. “She's not self-promoting, just doing her job.” (April 27, 2020)

Missy Martz
Graphic Artist and Social Media Coordinator/Student and Community Involvement Office
Martz has teamed up with her cousin, Susan Geis, to sew over 265 face masks which were donated to healthcare professionals at regional hospitals, nursing homes, the trucking industry, grocery stores and for the immuno-compromised such as asthmatics, cancer patients and Garrett County Hospice. “Missy never stops caring for her FSU and local community.” She said, “It's a small thing we can do during this uncertain time to help keep our community, friends, and family safer.” (April 27, 2020)

Katherine “Katie” McKeever
Senior Nursing Major
McKeever is a full-time nurse on the ortho/neuro/trauma floor at Meritus Health System in Hagerstown. In addition to working the night shift and completing her BSN degree through FSU, she volunteers with Blessings in a Backpack, a national organization that sends backpacks filled with food home with school-age children who mainly rely on school meals. 在学校停课期间，她在当地的pop- pop小摊做志愿者，为弗雷德里克地区的学生分发午餐和零食，这些学生在2019冠状病毒病危机期间依靠“背包里的祝福”(Blessings in a Backpack)领取餐食. (April 27, 2020)

Lee Ann Nightingale
Manager, Benefits & Wellness Program/Office of Human Resources
After sewing masks for her husband’s co-workers at Martin’s in Keyser, Nightingale kept going, making and giving away more than 150 reversible, machine-washable for dispatchers, University Police and detectives at C3I. “在晚上和周末缝纫帮助我保持积极，因为我在这段困难时期专注于做些事情来帮助别人,” she said. “I will continue working on this project as long as there is a need. The only thing I have asked when someone tries to give me money is please find a way to pay it forward.” (April 27, 2020)

Rita Thomas
Manager/Instructional Design and Technology
While watching the news, Thomas felt a call to rev up plans for online support just prior to the shut-down. She has been available on weekends and evenings in support of the FSU community transitioning to online instruction, going above and beyond to help faculty and staff. 收到的一些评论支持托马斯被提名为关怀山猫:“丽塔·托马斯一直是帮助我和其他人从课堂教学过渡到在线教学的主要力量”和“她的决定性品质……是积极的。... for any question, situation, or person she encounters.” (April 27, 2020)