UTSA Extra Mile Award winner Martha Luna
receives notice of her award from Richard Gambitta,
political science and geography chair.
UTSA Extra Mile Award goes to Martha Luna
(October 19, 2001)--Martha Luna, UTSA administrative assistant II in the Department of Political Science and Geography, will be honored with the Extra Mile Award, one of five awards that will be presented at the UTSA Staff Excellence Awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in the University Center Laurel Room on the 1604 Campus. The Extra Mile Award recognizes those who demonstrate outstanding initiative and innovation in the workplace.
The 2001 UTSA Staff Excellence Awards recognize staff members for their service and outstanding accomplishments. The winners were chosen from 88 nominations submitted by UTSA faculty, staff and students. The ceremony will include other staff recognition, 5-30 year service pin recipients, festive food and door prizes (T-shirts and tickets to SeaWorld). All UTSA staff are invited to attend the event. At the ceremony, President Ricardo Romo will present to each of the five Staff Excellence winners an award of $1,000 and a commemorative plaque.
The following profile is fourth in a series of five spotlighting the winners of the 2001 UTSA Staff Excellence Awards.
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Profile:
MARTHA LUNA
"If ever there has been an employee who goes that extra mile regularly--and invariably--for this university's faculty, staff, students, administration and alumni, it is Martha Luna," declares Richard Gambitta, chair of the political science and geography department, where Luna is an administrative assistant. She joined UTSA in 1997, when the department's disciplines were still part of the university's divisional structure.
During the transition, Luna handled not only her job responsibilities, she also coordinated the moving of personnel into new offices, optimizing existing, limited space to accommodate multiple disciplines. Luna functioned, in effect, not only as chief architect, but also as "construction foreman, materials handler and furniture hauler."
"Rarely have I seen someone do so many different tasks of an unrelated nature as she has done during this process," Gambitta adds. "Because of Martha Luna, our transition has run smoothly."
Luna has been known to do everything from converting a closet into a laboratory for political science faculty member Amy Jasperson's media-monitoring project, to finding and resurrecting salvage materials with "life left to give" from the university's surplus warehouse.
While others wait for events to unfold around them, Luna is optimistic and proactive, offering encouraging words and workable solutions to all who approach her for assistance. She "mediates disputes by finding pathways of consent," writes one faculty member. She "reframes problems," writes another.
A UTSA student herself and the mother of four, Luna is known for her compassion and assistance to all, but particularly to students. When a graduate student was stricken with cancer, Luna counseled, encouraged and assisted the student in negotiating bureaucratic chores.
Never seeking fanfare or reward, Luna puts in hours on evenings, Saturdays and the occasional Sunday, whatever it takes to get the job done, and always--always--with a smile on her face.
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