KU announces March employees of the month


LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas has announced its employees of the month for March 2013. They are as follows:

University Unclassified Staff Employee
Who: Jeff Severin
Start date: March 2004
Current title: Director, KU Center for Sustainability

 

Jeff Severin
Jeff Severin

What that means: Severin oversees the CFS, which provides an avenue for students and student organizations to collaborate on sustainability initiatives, works to engage faculty in multidisciplinary research and curriculum development, and involves university administration and staff in discussions of policy and processes. Severin also promotes through the center’s website all efforts of the campus community to advance sustainability, extends the issue across campus via a sustainability ambassador program and acknowledges sustainability success through recognition programs.

Notable: Severin coordinated creation of the Campus Sustainability Plan, Building Sustainable Traditions, which is directly tied into the universitywide, transformative strategic initiative programs Bold Aspirations and Changing for Excellence. He was intentional in involving the KU community in input and support and for identifying stakeholders, both when developing the goals for the CFS and in the sustainability plan.

University Support Staff Employee
Who: Peter Shipman
Start date: February 2000
Current title: Safety and security supervisor, Spencer Museum of Art

 

Peter Shipman
Peter Shipman

What that means: Shipman's transition from the Public Safety Office to security supervision for the museum, starting July 1, included training five officers and overseeing installation of cameras in all levels and areas of the museum building, which also houses the art history department and the Murphy Library of Art & Architecture.

Notable: On Aug. 1, 2012, a major water break on Mississippi Street poured water into the museum building for more than five hours. Shipman had three officers new to KU on staff and a flooded building, including library stacks. He quickly was one of the first responders on the scene and later became a key integration point among the cleanup workers, reconstruction crews and building occupants over the course of the major restoration process.