Award winner enjoys family environment
Anna Altwies
Originally published 01:14 p.m., October 25, 2007
Updated 01:14 p.m., October 25, 2007
Ginger Tabares likes feeling like she is part of a family.
The family she likes feeling a part of, though, is not the typical family; it is her family at work. Tabares, administrative specialist in the departments of physical sciences, describes the environment that she works in as having “a real ‘family’ atmosphere.”
Tabares is one of September’s You Make a Difference Award recipients. During the 14 years that she has been at ESU, she certainly has made a difference in her professional “family.”
Being in charge of basic office management tasks means she deals with a lot of different people within the department. “I’ve been fortunate to work with wonderful faculty in two different academic departments on campus,” she said. “I’ve seen faculty spend numerous hours working with students to help them whether it is for advising, extra help with assignments or reinforcing class concepts.”
In the physical sciences department, Tabares works with DeWayne Backhus, chair of the department. “I feel like I work for the best department on campus,” she said. “Dr. Backhus works hard to encourage each of us. Everyone is so supportive and considerate of my time.”
She also feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with several outstanding student workers. “In the past few years, I’ve been blessed to have some really talented student employees working in the office for me,” Tabares said. “I also get to know most of the students majoring in the physical sciences and really enjoy seeing them progress through their program.”
One of the strongest ways Tabares felt the influence of the ESU family came during a faculty member’s battle with cancer. “Most recently what was really inspiring to me was the ‘family’ feeling between colleagues that I witnessed by the overwhelming response by ESU personnel across the academic disciplines to assist with the care of Dr. Ron Keith during his final days,” she said. “Dr. Keith was a member of our faculty. That is true friendship and was very heartwarming.”
“One of the things I feel is important is to go that extra mile. Many times we are the first impression someone off-campus gets of the university and that is so crucial,” Tabares said. “Try to make sure everyone that walks through your door or calls on the phone feels like they were listened to and their needs are getting addressed whether that person is a students, prospective student, colleague or working in another office on campus. Everyone deserves our respect.”