COLLEGE STATION – Carla Smith, administrative services officer for Texas A&M University’s department of entomology at College Station, has been presented a Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence in the business and operational staff category.
The Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence is the highest employee award given by Texas A&M AgriLife. Established in 1980, the awards program recognizes the commitment and outstanding contributions of faculty and staff across the Texas A&M AgriLife agencies.
Smith received the award Jan. 9 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Centennial Conference held on the Texas A&M campus in College Station.
“Carla is the ‘go to’ senior staff member who keeps the departmental enterprise moving forward,” wrote Dr. David Ragsdale, entomology department head, in his letter of nomination for Smith. “Without her leadership, the bits and pieces of the department would not work in unison and the wheels would fall off the bus.”
Smith works diligently with regard to all facets of the department and her expertise spans all roles within administration, Ragsdale noted.
“She is readily accessible to the faculty, staff and students and strives to make sure that everyone has the resources necessary to complete their jobs,” he wrote. “Her thoroughness is impeccable and I don’t think individuals within the department truly understand the lengths she goes ‘behind the scenes’ to ensure their success – either faculty with the grant submissions, HR matters or staff with any number of projects and tasks where her insight and assistance is crucial.”
Smith has served the department in her current capacity since 2007. Before her entomology appointment, she served from 1993-2007 as administrative coordinator for the Texas Institute for Advancement of Chemical Technology at Texas A&M.
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