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Eberly staff members receive 2022 Outstanding Staff Award

Albert “JR” Taylor and Amanda Tustin have been named 2022 recipients of Eberly College of Arts and Science’s Outstanding Staff Award.

JR Taylor serves as Academic Lab Manager III in the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry and consistently maintains a safe and healthy working environment in his assigned areas. His expertise in lab preparations result in excellent work products that directly affect students' grades, and he is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure the success of the research and teaching missions of the department.JR Taylor

According to a nomination letter by Eberly Family Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry Gregory Dudley, Taylor “brings brains, braun and decades of institutional experience and knowledge to his multiple roles in the Department of Chemistry.”

Taylor’s job duties include organic lab preparations, asset management, various cost analyses, gas cylinder management, and serving as liaison with hazardous waste personnel and WVU Facilities Management. During the pandemic, he worked with other staff to move laboratory equipment to better accommodate the students and ensure physical distancing. He also helped collect and deliver PPE to researchers on the Health Sciences campus to meet short­term public health needs.

His colleagues report that he remains positive through adversity and is an effective communicator when dealing with complex matters.

Amanda Tustin

Amanda Tustin is Program Assistant II for the Office of Academic Affairs and manages a wide variety of paperwork that touches every aspect of the student experience, from New Student Orientation to Commencement and everything in between. Her nominators credit her attention to detail, positive attitude, support for her colleagues and willingness to learn new things for helping keep things running smoothly and giving students full transparency about their degree requirements and academic needs as they work towards graduation.

“Amanda never shies away from new tasks,” said Joy Carr, director of undergraduate studies at Eberly, in her nomination letter. “COVID has stressed the limits of all of us, but she has stepped into the virtual world to learn the technologies required to continue to produce high quality work for the college.”

According to her nominators, Tustin is willing to help in multiple capacities and consistently represents Eberly College with sincere professionalism, even under pressure.

She has taken academic dishonesty and grade appeal meetings into the virtual world, juggling multiple schedules for faculty, staff and students while ensuring a secure online room and monitoring for technological issues. She also supports students and parents during confusing or emotional moments, always exuding calm, control and a masterful knowledge of University policy and procedure.