Tracy Horth and Carol Smith – two secretaries who collectively account for over three decades of service and three promotions – have received prestigious awards through endowments established with the Fredonia College Foundation.
Ms. Horth, Secretary II in the Dean’s office in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was the recipient of the Poummit Secretarial Award in Memory of Janet Marks, named in honor of the former secretary to the Fredonia president. Ms. Smith, Secretary I in the Department of Communication, received the Barbara Saletta Meritorious Service Award, which recognizes a secretarial or clerical employee for an outstanding service attitude.
Both awards were formally presented at 2017 Fall Secretarial/Clerical Conference held recently at Fredonia’s College Lodge.
Horth, who previously worked for the Western New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office, was appointed Secretary I in Student Affairs in 1999 and promoted to her current position in 2003. She also chairs the Secretarial/Clerical Professional Development Committee that organizes all secretarial conferences. Horth has more than 30 years of combined service with the state.
A colleague described Horth in her nomination letter as the “glue” that holds the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the largest unit in Academic Affairs, together. In her position, Horth helps manage 15 academic departments comprised of 15 department chairs and 13 department secretaries, along with the dean and associate dean.
Jack Croxton, founding director of the Office of Student Creative Activity and Research (OSCSAR), praised Horth for assisting him in establishing the OSCAR program. “I am happy to report that the office continues to do an effective job in promoting and supporting student research, and this is in no small part due to Tracy’s going well above the call of duty to make this a successful endeavor,” Dr. Croxton stated in his support letter.
Carmen Rivera, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, considers the most impressive aspect of Horth’s work ethic to be her enduring support of all secretaries to make sure they all do their job to the best of their ability. She is well-respected by colleagues, faculty and administrators, Dr. Rivera added. People across the campus seek her help and advice and know they can fully depend on her.
Ms. Smith, who previously worked at the Gowanda Correctional Facility, was hired as a Keyboard Specialist I in the Native American Consortium. She transferred to the dean’s office in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and then successive promotions, to Clerk II in Reed Library and Secretary I in the Department of Communication, followed.
Upon her appointment at Fredonia, Smith routinely volunteers to help out on extra projects, a colleague wrote in her nomination letter. Smith quickly immersed herself in the OSCAR committee, handling student travel paperwork, website management and supervision of the year-end student expo.
Not only did Smith willingly take on an enormous amount of work, but she is an absolute joy to work with, a colleague said. She is energetic, enthusiastic and truly enjoys working with students. Moreover, Smith is the key person behind the scenes that is involved in making the campus expo the success that it is today. She also helped out with the first-ever SUNY-wide Student Undergraduate Research Conference held last year at Fredonia.
It was noted that Smith continues the Saletta tradition of making everyone feel comfortable and welcomed, and is never seen without a smile and a warm greeting. It is said to be particularly evident when new faculty are hired; she is ready to help get them settled and ensures that they have everything they need to be successful.
Smith has also given tours to prospective students, met with parents and their students and always answers their questions and makes them feel very comfortable in McEwen Hall, even during recent construction work.
