1999 - Gretchen Link
This year's recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence is Gretchen Link from Counseling Services. The award is given to a member of the professional support staff for outstanding service to the university. As a personal counselor, Link provides a variety of counseling services to students. She works with issues regarding self-esteem, roommate and family problems, as well as depression and anxiety. She is experienced in a variety of areas, including personal issues, academic concerns, and career matters.
Link joined the UW-River Falls professional staff in 1981. She says she came to the university to find new ways to challenge herself. She accomplished that, according to her nominators, who included students, faculty an staff. One nominator noted, "She is an excellent team player, organized and has outstanding interpersonal skills."
Link also is involved with many areas on campus, providing services to faculty and staff. She coordinates the employee assistance program, participates on the Faculty Academic Development Board, coordinates the National Testing Program for ACTs, and helps with GED testing.
She also provides training and consultation services to residence hall managers and resident assistants who coordinate daily life for the nearly 2,000 students who live on campus. She is available to them for emergency situations that may arise outside of her normal office hours.
Link said she was surprised to learn that she had been selected to receive the award. She felt very honored that people would take the time to nominate her during such a busy time of the year.
One nominator sums up the reason Link received this award: "Her commitment to this university campus and its students becomes readily apparent to anyone working with her."
Link was recognized at the university's faculty and staff meeting that traditionally starts the school year in August. She also will receive an honorarium from the UWRF Foundation and will be the campus nominee for the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents professional excellence award.
