College of Engineering Dean Recognizes Two Staff Members for Outstanding Service

College of Engineering Dean Sanjay Raman recognized Kelley Ives, senior director for administration and finance, and Julia Hoke, director of advising and student success, with the Dean’s Staff Awards for 2023 at the end-of-year gathering for faculty and staff on Wednesday.

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Ives received the 2023 Dean’s Outstanding Service Award, which recognizes outstanding service by a staff member to a department or to the College of Engineering. Prior to her recent appointment to this role, Ives served as the college’s director of human resources since 2019. She assists faculty and administrative staff in all five departments in the college and in the dean’s office on a wide range of personnel matters and has played a critical role in helping faculty and staff navigate COVID-era work rules and providing guidance on hiring and faculty promotion.

Raman noted that Ives is passionate about what she does and eager to solve problems, and that her efforts often go well above and beyond the call of duty.

Her nominators for the award stressed her sense of humor, broad expertise, knowledge and work ethic as strengths, with one saying, “Kelley has a way of just being able to communicate with everyone (from the dean, to faculty, staff and students) and knows how to get the job done.”

Hoke is the recipient of the 2023 Dean’s Outstanding Student Support Award, which recognizes a staff member for significant contributions that enrich the student experience and/or have a positive impact on student development in the College of Engineering.

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She has been the college’s director of advising and student success, leading the Office of Student Affairs, since 2021. Last year she reorganized the college’s New Student Orientation to enhance opportunities for first-time, first-year students to position them for success in engineering. She also developed programming to assist transfer students in getting adjusted to the university.

Her nominators mentioned the genuine caring she shows to students, especially those in personal or academic crises, and by guiding students in course and program selection, including serving as a liaison for engineering student registration in other colleges.

One student nominator wrote, “Julia has always gone above and beyond to set me up for success, whether that was speaking on my behalf with other advisors and departments or helping me find resources that are crucial for me to stay in engineering.”

Last year, Hoke reorganized New Student Orientation to great effect, enhancing opportunities for incoming first time, first year students to get off to the best start possible in engineering.