Registrar Rebecca McOmber (left) and Sheila Brown, associate director of Multicultural and Academic Initiatives, share congratulations after being named co-winners of the 2003 Michael R. Ferrari Award.

Rebecca McOmber, Sheila Brown are dual winners of Ferrari award

Not one, but two people took home a Ferrari Sept. 16. For the first time, two winners were selected to receive the highest award given to administrative staff at the University.

Sheila Brown, associate director of Multicultural and Academic Initiatives, and Rebecca McOmber, registrar, were presented Michael R. Ferrari awards at the Administrative Staff Fall Reception. They will share the $1,000 prize and will each have a reserved parking place for one year. Their names will also be inscribed on a plaque.

Criteria for the award comprise three areas: the individual’s relationship to the University community, innovation and initiative, and performance above and beyond the position’s requirements. Both women’s nominators gave them high marks in all three areas.

In the course of her duties, Brown coordinates a number of projects. To everything she does, she brings a tireless work ethic, her nominators said. She also has a special ability for bringing together people from all over campus to make each event or activity better, they noted.

As coordinator of the Pre-College Enrichment Program, which brings students from underrepresented populations to BGSU during the summer for a well-rounded pre-college experience, Brown goes to great lengths to support student success. Enlisting instructors from a diverse array of academic departments and campus offices, “Sheila has maintained an atmosphere of productivity, respect, collaboration and enjoyment of achievement that has nurtured not only the students engaged in this endeavor, but all of the support staff and faculty as well. An exceptionally high percentage of the students in this program have gone on to matriculate to BGSU and gone on to successful college experiences,” said Bob Midden, director of Partners in Context and Community, in introducing Brown.

Brown’s organizing skills are also put to use in the annual dinner theatre production hosted by her office. She recruits students, faculty and staff to perform in and produce the show, calling upon often previously undiscovered talents in all. “Her energy and attention to the planning of this event is a great example of how to plan a ‘multicultural event’ that is encompassing of cultural awareness, student participation and involvement from all levels within the institution,” wrote Marcos Rivera, co-director of the Office of Student Academic Achievement.

Last year, her nominators said, Brown mustered all her abilities in organizing, initiative and innovation, as well as the strong relationships she has built within the University community, to help a former student in need. When Gabiel Marquez, a recent graduate with whom she had worked closely, was in a near-fatal car accident, Brown organized several fund-raising events and a tribute to Marquez that have raised more then $13,000 toward his medical bills. Marquez attended the reception yesterday.

In accepting the award Brown said, “It’s an honor to be nominated by and to have worked with Dr. Midden, and it’s especially an honor to have my dear friend Gabiel here today with me.”

Alberto Gonzalez, vice provost for academic services, presented the Ferrari Award to McOmber. She said, “This means a lot to me and I appreciate the honor, but I also appreciate the last 26 and a half years of being able to work with colleagues like you all.”

McOmber has been BGSU registrar for the past nine years. Described by a former staff member as “an outstanding leader with the highest ethical standards,” she serves in a position central to the University. “Becky accepts the critical nature of her responsibilities with seriousness, pride, humility and grace,” Gonzalez wrote. In his presentation of the award, he cited several instances in which, thanks to McOmber’s leadership and the teamwork she enlisted, seemingly difficult problems were resolved within a matter of days.

Over the course of her tenure, she has overseen major changes in the way the office conducts business, moving to more Web-based, online delivery of services. To facilitate this, McOmber several years ago initiated an office reorganization utilizing staff strengths.

Her vision for Registration and Records is clear, Gonzalez wrote: “To deliver an accurate and accessible registration process and records-maintenance program to students, faculty and staff.”
Toward this end, McOmber takes an innovative approach to insuring that her office’s services are “highly responsive to the changing needs of our learning community,” Gonzalez wrote.

Her job performance has been recognized at the state level as well as on campus. When the Ohio Board of Regents revamped its data-collection system, beginning in 1996, McOmber was BGSU team leader. As a result of her extreme diligence and accuracy in learning and implementing the new rules, the tedious, highly detailed process went smoothly, her nominators wrote.

“The fact that BGSU’s reporting of enrollment data is often used as an example within the state attests to Becky’s professionalism in accomplishing these tasks,” another said.

McOmber daily demonstrates her “belief in true cooperation and her gift of genuinely caring for others,” a nominator wrote. As she did in the data collection project, she has led her team through many difficult changes, always with the goal of providing excellent service to the BGSU community, whether current students, alumni or faculty.

She has been involved with the Ohio Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers for many years, serving as secretary from 1999-2001. Brad Myers, former OACRAO president and Ohio State University registrar, wrote in support of her nomination for the Ferrari Award: “Within the Ohio, public, four-year institution registrars group, we have all valued Becky’s long history and wealth of knowledge about our profession.”