CofC Employees Uphold 'The Cistern Standard'

College of Charleston faculty and staff sure do appreciate one another! And – by the looks of the submissions recognizing CofC employees through The Cistern Standard over the past three months – they’re happy to let their respect for each other be known!

Launched in the fall of 2022, The Cistern Standard is the College’s employee-driven program that allows faculty and staff to use a simple Employee Recognition Form to acknowledge and spotlight their colleagues from across campus who embody and demonstrate the College’s core values: integrity, academic excellence, liberal arts education, respect for the individual, student centeredness, innovation and public mission.

“It’s a way to give employees the power to promote the positive in one another,” says Ed Pope, vice president of the Office of Human Resources. “It just goes to show how much our faculty and staff really do appreciate one another and want to show that appreciation.”

Congratulations to all the faculty and staff members listed below (according to core value), who’ve been recognized this quarter (since September). Keep on living up to The Cistern Standard!

Academic Excellence

We show commitment to a dynamic intellectual community, high academic standards, strong academic programs and exceptional teacher-scholars. We exhibit behavior that engages students and promotes lifelong learning.

• Rebecca Reed – Administrative Coordinator, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
• Lauren Werkheiser – Library Fiscal Analyst, CofC Libraries

Innovation

We act with an entrepreneurial spirit to imagine and implement creative, bold and sustainable solutions in our pursuit of excellence and continuous improvement.  

• Morgan Bowers – Prospect Management Analyst, Division of Institutional Advancement
• Amelia LeCompte – Director, Academic Success and Retention Office
• Lainey Reuss – Administrative Assistant, Department of Mathematics
• Gabie Sears – CRM Administrator and Analyst, Office of Admissions
• Isaac Sheffler – Groundskeeper, Grounds Crew
• Sam Shirazi – Student Success Data Analyst, Office for Student Success and Engaged Learning
• Tie Smith – Senior Accountant, Division of Institutional Advancement
• Dan Taber – Applications Administrator, Division of Information Technology
• Regan Wacker – Access and Instruction Specialist, CofC Libraries
• Dylan Yau – Administrative/Budget Coordinator, Office for Student Success and Engaged Learning

Integrity

We take accountability for our actions and adhere to the highest ethical standards in all our professional obligations and personal responsibilities. We demonstrate respect for self, others and place.

• Jennifer Barnett – RN Staff Nurse, Student Health Services
• Melissa Barrett – Associate Director of Student Life Organizations/Programs, Office of Student Involvement
• Jim Bennett – Director of Enterprise Management, Division of Information Technology
• Anne Bennett – Rare Books/Manuscript Catalog Manager, CofC Libraries
• Lauren Bullard – Administrative Coordinator, Office for Student Success and Engaged Learning
• Frank Covington – Director of Facility Operations, Facilities Management
• Hannah Craig – Operations Manager, Office of Financial Assistance and Veterans Affairs
• Chrystal Davis – Financial Coordinator, Facilities Management
• LoRease Johnson – Registration and Scheduling Assistant, Office of the Registrar
• Victoria Leatherman – Sottile Theatre Director of Operations, Campus Services
• Chris Mothorpe – Chair, Department of Economics
• Michael Stewart – Assistant Director for Employment Services, Office of Human Resources
• Vishnu Volate – Health Educator, Office of Student Wellness and Well-being
• Ezra Wingard – Digital Library Analyst, CofC Libraries

Liberal Arts Education

We encourage intellectual curiosity and foster each student’s ability to think creatively and analyze, synthesize, apply and communicate knowledge from many sources. We inspire others to offer different viewpoints and input when applicable.

• Allison Jones – Librarian, CofC Libraries
• Rachael Mcnamara (3x) – Director, Office of Student Wellness and Wellbeing

Public Mission

We take action in meeting the educational and professional needs of our community, our state, our nation and the world.

• Chris Bond – Associate Director of Student Life for Events and Operations, Division of Student Affairs
• Sam Floyd – Recreation Coordinator, Campus Recreation Services
• Michelle Futrell – Executive Director of Continuing and Professional Education, School of Business
• Alexis Johnson – Community Oral History and Project Coordinator, CofC Libraries
• Shawnna Kendrick – Administrative Assistant, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Thomas Martin (2x) – Event Support Worker, Facilities Manangement
• Patrick McCarty – System Support Manager, CofC Libraries
• Rebecca McClure – Metadata Services Librarian, CofC Libraries
• Jarrell McCray (2x) – Maintenance Worker, Facilities Manangement
• Lainey Reuss – Administrative Assistant, Department of Mathematics
• Wendy Stephens – Director of Professional/Transfer Programs, School of Business
• Lauren Van Buskirk – Director of Development, Division of Institutional Advancement
• Vishnu Volate – Health Educator, Office of Student Wellness and Well-being
• Sitara Walker – Research Associate, Division of Institutional Advancement

Respect for the Individual

We create and nurture a diverse and inclusive community demonstrated through thoughts, words and actions. We value and respect the unique perspectives, backgrounds and experiences every individual has to offer.

• Laura Cergol – Student Employment and Community Service Specialist, CofC Libraries
• Angela Flenner – Acquisitions and Resource Management Coordinator, CofC Libraries
• Laura Fornadell – Associate Director, Center for Civic Engagement
• Stephanie Laffey – Multimedia Communications Specialist, Division of Information Technology
• Ashleigh Parr – Associate Vice President, Campus Services
• Josette Pelzer – Associate Professor, Department of Accounting and Business Law
• Gretchen Scronce – Librarian, CofC Libraries
• Stephanie Visser – Director, Center for Civic Engagement
• Dave Wyman – Associate Chair, Department of Management and Marketing

Student Centeredness

We illustrate dedication to nurturing thriving scholar-citizens through the intellectual, ethical and social development of each individual student. We exhibit behavior that conveys commitment to student success. 

• Stephanie Auwaerter – Director of Orientation, Office of New Student Programs
• Jean Beckwith – RN Staff Nurse, Student Health Services
• Bruce Fleming – Director of First-Year International and Experiential Programs, Office of New Student Programs
• Kenny Greene – Director, Mail Services
• Kayla Kipps – Collection Development Librarian, CofC Libraries
• Kait Lamontagne – Associate Director, Center for Student Learning
• Carly Pruitt – Associate Director, Office of New Student Programs
• Sierra Raysor – Coordinator for Prevention Education Initiatives and Student Support, Office of the Dean of Students
• Renee Shackleton – Admissions and Administrative Coordinator, Graduate School

To see more people who’ve been recognized through The Cistern Standard in the past year, check out these posts from September 2025, July 2025 and March 2025.

Do one or more of your colleagues demonstrate one or more of the College’s seven core values described above? Recognize them through The Cistern Standard! The form is available on the human resources website.