Elon recognizes student supervisors at annual appreciation dinner

On March 11, Elon University students, staff and faculty gathered for the annual Supervisor Appreciation Dinner. This Elon tradition was created by Rene Jackson over a decade ago to celebrate student supervisors across campus who consistently play important roles in mentoring student employees and developing their professional skills.

Hosted by Kameryn Taylor, assistant director of Career Services for student employment, the event was kicked off by Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence, who spoke about his formative experience with a supervisor during his undergraduate years. His supervisor became a mentor, and through her, Vice President Williams learned to communicate professionally with faculty, manage his time effectively, and accomplish goals, even when others didn’t believe in him.

Throughout the event, senior student employees reflected on their experiences with their supervisors and had the opportunity to share the influence these mentors had on their time at Elon. Some students invited multiple supervisors, explaining how each helped them better understand their personal goals for life and work after graduation. One student shared her appreciation for the ways her supervisors supported her post-graduate plans by writing recommendation letters for law school and celebrating with her when she was accepted.

Additionally, many supervisors were nominated for the Excellence in Student Supervision Award, given to faculty or staff recognized as outstanding mentors and leaders. This year’s recipients of the Excellence in Student Supervision Award included Dan Reis, assistant director of Creative Learning Technologies, Julie Prouty, lead for Technology Checkout Operations and Dallas Smith, Event Support Specialist. Student nominators shared numerous comments about the positive impact of their supervisors, highlighting their community-building skills and their willingness to support student ambitions.

Whether formally recognized or not, each supervisor has undoubtedly impacted their students’ lives, providing a constant and steadfast support system.