University announces October 2014 employees of the month


LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas has announced the October 2014 Employees of the Month. They are as follows:

Name: Lois Elmer

Start date: Jan. 27, 1986

Title: Administrative associate, School of Music

Lois Elmer
Lois Elmer

What that means: Elmer assembles each semester's schedule of classes, attends to all paperwork for the music education undergraduates, compiles all applications for graduate students and attends to all functional elements of the Music Education and Music Therapy (MEMT) programs. These elements include updating all web materials, curricular requirements, student files, and teaching materials for MEMT. Previously she worked in the former Department of Art and Music Education and Music Therapy.

Notable: Scheduling for the entire School of Music, with its thousands of courses taking place in hundreds of spaces of all sizes and configurations, is a daunting task. Back when the School of Music was first created, Elmer adapted gracefully to administrative staffing changes within the School and in the MEMT division. Most recently she was invaluable when the division’s director became interim dean and a faculty member became interim director for MEMT. Elmer cheerfully worked with everyone so that the unit moved forward despite a "change of the guard." She was instrumental in keeping things together, for she knew what needed to be done and knew when issues needed attention. With Elmer’s assistance the unit handled change effectively and efficiently. Her expertise, time, and devotion continue to be exceptional.

Name: Shu Tosaka

Start date: Sept. 17, 2007

Title: Academic advisor senior, School of Business

Shu Tosaka
Shu Tosaka

What that means: Tosaka maintains a student/adviser ratio of around 400 to 1. His level of support to students and the business school is exceptional and includes assisting students with enrollment, helping them to decide upon concentrations and minors, planning for study abroad, identifying internship opportunities and support with petitions.  He also serves as the advising liaison for KU Athletics and International Student Services.  

Notable: Tosaka’s accomplishments include automatically stepping up this past summer to organize New Student Orientation when the director of recruitment position became vacant. He was a significant player in the development of the Business School Experience and facilitation of BUS 110/120, a program that helps to provide academic success for freshmen admitted to the business school. This summer Tosaka was instrumental in making refinements to this program to better serve students and increase retention. He also is widely known for his leadership in organizing the KU Dance Marathon, whose mission is to unite the Lawrence and KU communities with the goal of providing emotional and financial support to the children and families of KU Pediatrics, a local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Since Tosaka has taken over to advise KUDM, group has raised more than $250,000 for the KU Pediatrics.