UT System Board of Regents honors UTSA employees for excellence

(April 24, 2018) – Two employees from The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) have been selected as recipients of the 2018 UT System Regents’ Outstanding Employee Award (ROEA). Brent Tyroff, an electrician in the UTSA Office of Facilities, and John Shaffer ’02, ’07, associate director of Graduate Student Success in the UTSA Graduate School, were honored for their outstanding performance, innovation, enthusiasm and dedication.

Tyroff was recognized for his display of customer service, partnership, technical acumen and compassion through his efforts to assist a Ph.D. student set up a weather station, giving the student hope and ensuring a successful project. Tyroff is known around campus for his collegiality and ingenuity. In July, he and fellow master electrician Matt May received the 2017 APPA Effective & Innovative Practices Award for their development and use of portable variable frequency drives, which allows them to expeditiously restore the operation of critical mechanical equipment in the event of a failure.

“Brent is most deserving of this prestigious award,” said Dave Riker, UTSA interim senior associate vice president for Business Affairs. “He is first and foremost a good man, whose humility and selfless dedication to serving the students, faculty and staff of UTSA is unparalleled. He is an innovator, a caring individual, an incredibly talented electrician and a mentor to students and staff. We are fortunate and proud to have an individual of Brent’s caliber on the UTSA Facilities Team.”

Shaffer was recognized for his role for providing programming to more than 4,000 graduate students, and for working with internal and external teams to create a world-class Graduate School Orientation experience that has earned high praise from attendees. At UTSA, Shaffer supervises all processes related to thesis and dissertation requirements, and manages the daily operations of the Graduate Student Professional Development Center.

“John is a phenomenal UTSA alum and employee who demonstrates consistent effort as a team player and leader at various levels to ensure success in our office and on campus,” said DeBrenna Agbényiga, vice provost and dean of the UTSA Graduate School.”

“Universities can only achieve greatness through the cumulative talents of their people,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “We are a great institution because of dedicated staff like Brent and John. I am delighted that they have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to UTSA.”

The ROEA nominations were reviewed by a selection committee made up of the Executive Committee of the UTSA Staff Council. Selection was based on the impact the employees make individually and to improve the university.

The 30 ROEA winners, who represent all 14 UT System institutions, will receive $10,000 each and will be honored at a luncheon hosted by the UT System Chancellor William H. McRaven and Board of Regents in Austin on May 14, 2018.

— David Diaz

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