Rebecca Smith Named VSU’s Spring 2017 Employee of the Semester

Rebecca “Becca” Smith is Valdosta State University’s Spring 2017 Employee of the Semester.

VALDOSTA — Rebecca “Becca” Smith is Valdosta State University’s Spring 2017 Employee of the Semester.
 
Smith, who has worked at VSU since 2012, is the assistant director of the Counseling Center. She provides individual, group, and crisis counseling to students; supervises counselors; manages scheduling software; and gives outreach presentations to the campus community. She previously served as a staff counselor.
 
“I truly feel overwhelmed at actually winning this award,” Smith said. “There are so many people who work hard here and do so much for our students. I was very honored to be nominated and so surprised that I actually won. It makes me feel so appreciated.”
 
Tricia Hale, director of the Counseling Center, nominated Smith for the award.
 
“Becca is always striving to better herself, our department, our students, faculty, staff, the university at large, and the counseling community,” Hale said. “Becca is always volunteering to present to organizations or classes on campus. She is extremely knowledgeable about our services and answers any questions posed by students, parents, faculty, and staff. She often makes herself available during her lunch time to answer crisis concerns.”
 
Smith is part of the VSU Leadership Academy and the Student Affairs Retention Committee. She serves as the social media chairwoman for the American College Counseling Association.
 
Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in business marketing in 1996 and a Master of Arts in clinical counseling in 1999, both from Bradley University in Illinois. She is a licensed professional counselor, a national certified counselor, and a certified professional counselor supervisor.
 
“The best part of my job is when I see a student make improvements with their mental health or stress level,” Smith said. “When they work hard to get better, it is so rewarding to watch. I love helping others.”
 
Smith likes to spend her spare time reading, watching television, walking, hiking, and traveling with her husband, Steve, who works as a counselor in VSU’s Office of Financial Aid. She also enjoys playing with her cats, Juliet and Oreo.
 
Quinncy Thomas, a computer services coordinator from the Division of Information Technology, and Sergio Brown, an inventory and surplus coordinator from Physical Plant and Facilities Planning, were runners-up for VSU’s Spring 2017 Employee of the Semester. The other nominees were Holly Wright from the Counseling Center; Chelsea Holcombe and Hazel McCoggle from Campus Recreation; Jennifer White from Budget Services; Megan Slator from the Department of Mathematics; Susan Jones from the Department of Modern and Classical Languages; Jeff Hodge from Physical Plant and Facilities Planning; Kim Harding from the Department of Public Safety; Margaret Duncan from the Access Office; Chandler Day from the Office of Student Life; Robin Smith from the Department of English; Karen Jarvis from the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education; Rebecca Taylor from the Office of Testing; Nicole Flannery Foster from the Student Health Center; Joy Bryant from the Department of Computer Science; Graham Nguyen from Creative Services; and Sophi Stevens from the Air Force ROTC Program.
 
VSU’s Council on Staff Affairs presents the Employee of the Semester Award at the end of every fall and spring semester. All full-time classified staff employees are eligible for the award.
 
Visit http://www.valdosta.edu/administration/council-on-staff-affairs/employee-of-semester.php to learn more.