Jack McLean, coordinator of community service and service learning, won the prestigious Fr. William Dunne Award at the Merit and Service Awards ceremony. The award recognized McLean’s “unparalleled integrity” in his work to inspire learning in action and promote social justice.
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Service Learning Coordinator Gets Top Honor at Merit and Service Awards
More than 100 University of San Francisco faculty and staff were honored for their work during the 26th annual University of San Francisco Merit and Service Awards ceremony May 8.
The Fr. William Dunne Award—the highest individual honor bestowed upon a member of the USF community—was given to Jack McLean, coordinator of community service and service learning. The four Merit Awards went to Carmen Hermoso, verifications coordinator for the registrar’s office, Chuck White, director of recreational sports at the Koret Health and Recreation Center, Kathy Woo, head of acquisitions for Gleeson Library, and Richard Cooper, associate director of admissions.
Service awards were given to nearly 130 faculty and staff marking milestones of five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years with the university. The 35-year employees honored were Mary Sue Grant, Thomas Gruhn, and John Lo Schiavo, S.J.
The two awards traditionally presented to faculty at the Merit and Service Awards ceremony—the Ignatian Award and the Sarlo Prize—will instead be presented at the fall convocation for faculty. This decision was made by the Deans’ Council.
A team merit award was not presented this year because the nominations in this category did not meet the strict standards of the award criteria, according to the selection committee.
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Carmen Hermoso (left) won a Merit Award for her dedicated and skilled work as verifications coordinator in the registrar’s office.
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McLean was recognized for his dedication to learning in action and promoting social justice. “Trained in the Jesuit tradition, he clearly lives this tradition and the mission of USF in his relationships with students, faculty, and community partners. He personifies the power of Ignatian spirituality to all he meets,” the award citation stated.
As director of the Office of Community Service and Service Learning, McLean has inspired and helped faculty integrate service learning into their curricula, established a standing committee on service learning, and participated in the development of service learning through national professional organizations. McLean was described in the award citation as “a quiet, gentle, effective leader (who) makes everyone feel valued, feel part of the process and feel they have an active voice that can make a difference.”
Hermoso, a staff member since 1982, was described in her merit award citation as “a woman whose dedication to USF has not wavered while her skills and love for learning and teaching others have grown immeasurably. She preserves the integrity of the information she handles from verifying degrees, veteran’s loans, and student visa status to enrollment information.”
Cooper was described as “passionate about his work, loyal to USF, hardworking, honest, full of integrity. He creates advantages for people who might not have opportunities for higher education.” A staff member since 1987, he has built professional, respected relationships with high school counselors in California and across the country. “Current students who originate from small schools in far-off states often confirm, ‘I am here because I met with Richard Cooper,’” according to his award citation.
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Associate Director of Admissions Richard Cooper received a Merit Award from USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. Cooper was recognized as an unconditional advocate for underrepresented students.
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White was credited with having a “spirit of play” that has inspired his teaching of physical education and sports and fitness management, and has produced “an innovative and exemplary recreation program that has put the Koret Fitness Center on the map…. From coaching men’s tennis to starting women’s athletics to directing intramural sports, for 29 years he has played on and off court, sometimes in ‘no man’s land’ for the good of USF, (and) its students.”
As a head librarian, Woo is “one of (the library dean’s) most valuable leaders and department heads…. In her 28-year career, colleagues characterize her as ‘the leaven in the loaf of bread’ and the ‘shining star’ in Gleeson/Geschke. She has worked in every department engaged in mergers and acquisitions: she was a key person in planning the Geschke addition and currently serves as head of acquisitions for Gleeson Library.”
Any full-time, permanent faculty or staff member with at least three years of continuous service to the university is eligible for the merit awards. Winners are nominated by members of the university community and chosen by an anonymous selection committee of past winners and a student representative.
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