Annual dinner and awards ceremony recognizes milestone years of service and four retirees.
by Shelby Burton
COLUMBIA, KY (04/16/2026) The Lindsey Wilson University community celebrated its annual Employee Appreciation Week with a dinner and awards ceremony Wednesday, April 16, in Roberta D. Cranmer Dining and Conference Center.
The event marked the first Employee Appreciation Week held since Lindsey Wilson officially became a university.
51 Lindsey Wilson employees were honored for celebrating five, 10, 20 or 30 years of service to the university, and four employees were also recognized for retiring from the university during the 2025-26 academic year.
The four Lindsey Wilson employees who are retiring this academic year are:
* Judy Bryant, a.m. server with 15 years of service;
* Kerry Robertson, associate professor of english with 30 years of service;
* Sharon Shields-Smock, assistant registrar with 15 years of service;
* and Susan Vickous, assistant professor of nursing with 10 years of service.
Employees celebrating 30 years of service:
* Kerry Robertson, associate professor of english;
* Christopher Schmidt, dean of students;
* and Donnie Willis, vending.
Employees celebrating 20 years of service:
* Holly Abel, professor of counseling;
* Kimberly Bryant, online admissions counselor for educational outreach;
* Amy Cooper, bookstore manager;
* Kevin Duncan, network administrator;
* Jennifer Furkin, associate professor of communication;
* Jodi Irvin, custodian;
* Tommie Saragas, assistant vice president of educational outreach;
* and Stacy Springston, associate professor of counseling.
Employees celebrating 10 years of service:
* Tiffany Brooks, associate professor of counseling;
* Sicelo Buthelezi, head men’s soccer coach;
* Jesse Chavez, head athletic trainer;
* Patrick Hardesty, professor of counseling;
* Amber Hughes, associate professor of counseling;
* Kenneth Murphy, utility;
* Penny Rizenbergs, enrollment coordinator for educational outreach;
* Angie Schwendau, associate professor of criminal justice;
* Laura Smith, associate professor of counseling;
* Elaine Turner, p.m. cook;
* and Susan Vickous, assistant professor of nursing.
Employees celebrating five years of service:
* Samuel Ambrose, men’s assistant football coach;
* Nehemiah Baldwin, p.m. cook;
* Darlene Batcher, administrative assistant for educational outreach;
* Brandi Berry, online student success coach for educational outreach;
* Gregory Bohner, assistant professor of counseling;
* Travis Brown, maintenance and electrician;
* Jameel Bryant, head men’s wrestling coach;
* Shelby Burton, assistant director of public relations and media producer;
* Lindsay Butler, director of student success counseling;
* Carlyn Causey-Meece, instructor of education;
* Tamara Coots, director of health services;
* Hannah Coyt, assistant professor of counseling;
* Caleb Dempsey-Richardson, assistant professor of english;
* Gregory Feese, custodian;
* Karly Flynn, instructor of art;
* Patricia Foley, assistant professor of technology management;
* Sarah Fucillo, assistant professor of counseling;
* Jordan Greenburg, assistant professor of psychology;
* Nedra Henry, a.m. cook;
* Taylor Henry, blue raider cafe;
* Ty Jones, maintenance, general maintenance, pool technician, and key systems;
* Richard Kean, maintenance and HVAC;
* Daniel Melear, assistant professor of counseling;
* Hunter Rogers, AV coordinator;
* Jennie Shelpman, administrative assistant for academic affairs and ADA coordinator;
* Jeff Stevens, maintenance and general maintenance;
* Patricia Stewart-Hopkins, assistant professor of counseling;
* Katie Stilts, online admissions counselor for educational outreach;
* and Tamara Yoho, instructional designer.
Four Lindsey Wilson University employees who are retiring during the 2025-26 academic year were honored with a university-branded rocking chair at the annual Employee Appreciation Dinner, held Wednesday, April 16, in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center. From left: Sharon Shields-Smock, assistant registrar with 15 years of service; Susan Vickous, assistant professor of nursing with 10 years of service; Kerry Robertson, associate professor of english with 30 years of service. Not pictured: Judy Bryant, an a.m. server with 15 years of service.
Three Lindsey Wilson University employees with 30 years of service to the university were honored at the annual Employee Appreciation Dinner, held Wednesday, April 16, in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center. From left: Christopher Schmidt and Kerry Robertson. Not pictured: Donnie Willis.
Eight Lindsey Wilson University employees with 20 years of service to the university were honored at the annual Employee Appreciation Dinner, held Wednesday, April 16, in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center. From left: Tommie Saragas, Jennifer Furkin and Kimberly Bryant. Not pictured: Holly Abel, Amy Cooper, Kevin Duncan, Jodi Irvin and Stacy Springston.
11 Lindsey Wilson University employees with 10 years of service to the university were honored at the annual Employee Appreciation Dinner, held Wednesday, April 16, in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center. From left: Kenneth Murphy, Patrick Hardesty, Jesse Chavez, Penny Rizenbergs, Angie Schwendau and Susan Vickous. Not pictured: Tiffany Brooks, Sicelo Buthelezi, Amber Hughes, Laura Smith and Elaine Turner.
29 Lindsey Wilson University employees with 5 years of service to the university were honored at the annual Employee Appreciation Dinner, held Wednesday, April 16, in the Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center. Pictured, alphabetically: Darlene Batcher, Gregory Bohner, Travis Brown, Jameel Bryant, Shelby Burton, Carlyn Causey-Meece, Tamara Coots, Caleb Dempsey-Richardson, Karly Flynn, Jordan Greenburg, Ty Jones, Hunter Rogers, Jennie Shelpman and Jeff Stevens. Not pictured: Samuel Ambrose, Nehemiah Baldwin, Brandi Berry, Lindsay Butler, Hannah Coyt, Gregory Feese, Patricia Foley, Sarah Fucillo, Nedra Henry, Taylor Henry, Richard Kean, Daniel Melear, Patricia Steward-Hopkins, Katie Stilts and Tamara Yoho.
Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 30 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university’s 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.
(Shelby Burton – Lindsey Wilson University)