Kudos Program

December 16, 2021

Dear UM Employees, 

With the close of each semester brings the opportunity for each of us to reflect upon our gratitude for our UM colleagues. I am honored to work alongside so many talented and dedicated professionals, and know that our collective success is determined by your contributions.

While we publicly celebrate large accomplishments – the launching of programs, securing of grants, increases in enrollment and retention, opening of buildings, etc. – the small and seemingly unnoticed efforts of individual employees are what make these big steps forward possible. With this in mind, I’m proud to share that we will launch a revamped Kudos program to recognize the outstanding work of UM employees and highlight simple acts with meaningful outcomes.

Guiding the new Kudos program will be the "permission to play” values: respect, integrity, care for others and accountability. These values were established as a part of our Priority for Action 3: Mission First, People Always efforts and reflect the engagement of many across campus.

Kudos recipients will be recognized with a spotlight in UM Today and listing in the Kudos archive. Their supervisors also will also be contacted about this honor, and honorees will be featured on the "Monthly Spotlight" website with a description and environmental portrait.

The inaugural group of Monthly Spotlight recipients are:

  • Alicia Houghtaling, Provost’s Office, budget analyst.
  • Julia Jackman-Brink, Mansfield Library, circulation reserve materials supervisor.
  • Rita Garland, Human Resource Services, benefits specialist. 
  • Laurie Yung, professor of natural resource social science, Department of Society and Conservation chair.

Please join me in congratulating these four outstanding employees for their exemplary efforts and consider nominating colleagues for this honor. To learn more about this program and how to nominate UM, Missoula College and Bitterroot College employees, visit the Kudos webpage.

Seth