Kelcey Buck honored with CEHS Staff Star Award

07 Jul 2020    

Kelcey Buck, communications associate in the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, has been named the recipient of the latest Staff Star Award by the College of Education and Human Sciences Staff Council. 

In her role, Buck is responsible for all external communications for SECD, including maintaining the department website, writing and distributing stories, creating promotional materials, and generating content for the department’s website and social media accounts.

“Kelcey is always bringing innovative ideas to our department because she is our storyteller,” wrote one nominator. “Her stories speak on behalf of our department that we are aware, engaged, and participating in what is happening in the fields of special education, speech-language pathology and audiology."

Buck’s creativity and innovative approach shined bright earlier this year when the department was forced to cancel two graduate open houses due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a short timeframe, she coordinated video open houses that could be showcased to prospective graduate students via Zoom. This involved recruiting clinic coordinators and other faculty to speak on camera, recording and editing the videos, and managing the distribution.

“While we are all remotely working and learning, Kelcey’s creativity and quick response to meeting a need is allowing us to continue to share our message and work to a variety of audiences and stakeholders,” shared another nominator. “An idea to meet a need that needed to be met in the immediate future has become a product that has turned out to be invaluable during this period.”

Buck has also been instrumental in updating the department website with timely information for students and clients during the pandemic. She developed a webpage full of resources and clinical activities for communicatively challenged individuals to implement at home. 

“She brings a sense of what the public wants/needs and helps us to highlight those areas of our work,” wrote one nominator.

The Staff Star Award recognizes staff members who go above and beyond their scope of duties. To nominate a staff member for a Staff Star Award, click here.