Stacey Gambler Named KU Employee of the Month for April 2025

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Congratulations to Stacey Gambler, executive assistant to the dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, on being named Kutztown University Employee of the Month for April 2025.

Gambler’s nomination came from six individuals across the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Excerpts of those submissions are below.

Laurie McMillan, dean:

“Soon after I became dean in CLAS, I asked Stacey whether a particular task fell outside her purview. Stacey answered, “Whatever you need me to do, I will do.” That answer had a transformative effect. I immediately felt more comfortable asking for help from my office team, and I felt inspired to hold a similar attitude.

Stacey’s support of others is not only in response to requests, but also as she exhibits leadership, noticing where things could be better and working to make it so. When she began her current role as executive assistant to the dean, Stacey noticed that monthly meetings with CLAS secretaries were sometimes lackluster. She began incorporating guest speakers and field trips to campus sites like the Health and Wellness Center and the Clock Tower. She also introduced an onboarding process for new secretaries and introduced changes in our office so every person would get their full lunch hour.

As the office conduit for information about hiring, evaluations, budget and other areas, Stacey sometimes encounters colleagues in states of great anxiety who communicate in unprofessional ways. Stacey handles these moments with clear boundaries, so colleagues understand that she is trying to help and is not in control of policies. Stacey’s professional demeanor helps diffuse tension and contributes to a work environment that we all appreciate.

Stacey seeks out opportunities to learn, both in on-campus workshops and external professional development opportunities. She shares valuable insights and applies them to her own work.

Stacey plans events to support student, faculty and staff retention. She works with colleagues from across the university to make sure CLAS paperwork associated with hiring, evaluations, budgets, awards, and scholarships is processed appropriately, which is vital to everyday operations in the entire college. I rely on her, and Stacey has a network of trusted colleagues from across the university. She supports the mission, vision, and strategic plan of Kutztown University not only in terms of what she does but also in how she performs her work – as a leader and role model for others.”

Deborah Hokien, associate dean:

“In my daily interactions with Stacey, I have come to know her professionalism, dedication, and enthusiasm in a variety of ways. She always has a pleasant smile and demeanor. No matter what the task, she is quick to respond and see the project completed. In my interactions with Stacey, she completes the task quickly without hesitation, despite a full plate of other projects. Her knowledge of the office, how the processes run, who to contact and what paperwork is needed, is invaluable. She has many years of institutional history. She manages her daily tasks with organization and a proactive mindset. She is a reliable team member and is always courteous. Stacey manages two other staff professionals in our office. Stacey effectively communicates with staff and has great ideas when problem solving. She has a welcoming demeanor, a positive attitude, and creates a respectful office environment. She enjoys working with our student workers.

Although our mantra is “operate as an office team,” Stacey contributes to the goals of the office, which is to be student-centered, welcoming, professional and fun. She has excellent rapport with other staff, faculty and students. She has a kind heart. For example, during the holidays, she organized an office food donation box for Thanksgiving and Christmas for families in need. When brainstorming about how to support our student workers, she had a generous bend to her suggestions to make sure students know that they are appreciated and valued in our office.

Stacey helps to support our student workers in lifelong learning by involving them in office projects that are meaningful, engaging and relevant. She provides a caring presence that allows students to feel welcome in our office spaces and supports our student workers in their academic journeys through recognition, appraisals and project involvement. It is evident that Stacey celebrates the uniqueness of our student workers who bring a diverse culture and perspective to our office. Her welcoming demeanor and positive attitude are everywhere, and we appreciate her."

Madeline Anthes, assistant dean:

“Stacey is the backbone of the CLAS Dean's Office, and by extension, the entire College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Stacey arrives to work early every day to open the office and greets everyone as they enter with a smile on her face. She's a steadfast presence in our office who always has the answers and always knows how to fix a problem. We all rely on her for her calm head, hardworking attitude and kind demeanor. She's supportive and kind while also taking care of a ton of work behind the scenes to make sure our college runs effectively and smoothly. She is a model employee and we're all so lucky to work with her.”

Lisa Meyers, clerical assistant:

“Throughout her time at KU, Stacey has demonstrated exceptional dedication and dependability, leadership skills and commitment to Kutztown University every day. Beyond her skills and dedication, Stacey consistently brings positivity and motivation to the workplace, inspiring colleagues and fosters a supportive and productive environment.”

Julie Fiorini, management technician:

“A great boss takes the time to understand your strengths and weaknesses. They are patient, supportive, and help you navigate challenges while explaining decisions that affect the team. They provide clear guidance on tasks, stay organized, and prioritize both your growth and their own professional development. It’s also essential that when someone joins your office, they are the right fit – not just for the role, but for the team. A strong leader is willing to grow alongside their colleagues. Stacey embodies this perfectly. From day one, she was eager to learn and has collaborated seamlessly with multiple deans. One of Stacey’s greatest strengths is her sense of humor. She is easy to work with, easy to talk to, and a pleasure to be around.”

Diana LoChiatto, executive assistant (University Relations and Athletics):

“Stacey is that go-to colleague who has had the most positive impact on my onboarding, acclimating to and success here at KU. Not only is Stacey always approachable and friendly, but she is also always willing to share her extensive knowledge of KU policies, procedures and answer any questions I may have. Each day, Stacey courteously and promptly answers dozens (if not more) of questions in-person, via phone and email coming from administrators, department chairs, faculty, staff, alumni, vendors, outside collaborators, students and KU colleagues from around campus. She does this and more while supporting the dean, the dean’s staff, and supervising two full-time administrative employees. Stacey and her team are often picking up additional workload when clerical staff positions are vacated.

When I recently managed my first search committee, Stacey willingly came alongside me as a peer expert and collaborated very positively with the committee to a successful hire. Encouraging professional development of her peers, Stacey is the only KU employee who has proactively given me resources and invited me to attend alongside her, professional conferences such as but not limited to: PA Conference for Women, Lehigh Valley Women’s Summit, and Berks Women 2 Women. Going above and beyond her required job duties, Stacey also leads quarterly trainings for her college's administrative professionals. As a past attendee of these trainings, I was introduced not only to dozens of my administrative peers but saw firsthand the beautiful campus as each meeting was always held in a different place on KU. Thus, we learned firsthand about the following areas at KU (though not limited to): Health and Wellness Center, Bell Tower, Lytle, Old Main and Alumni Plaza.

Stacey exemplifies what it means to be a stellar employee here at KU – every day, she adds to our caring community, promotes the success of her peers and colleagues which in turn promotes the success of our students. In addition, Stacey is committed to building community partner relationships, such as but not limited to Utz, who contribute and donate to college student events.”

Nominations are collected from students, faculty and staff, and the Employee of the Month is selected by the Human Resources Advisory Council. A winner will be selected each month, and out of the 12 monthly winners one will be selected as Employee of the Year. The Employee of the Month will receive a plaque, reserved parking and a $100 monetary gift sponsored by President Hawkinson.

For more information on the award or to nominate someone, please visit the KU human resources website.