U-M College of Pharmacy: College News

Dean Perry Receives Michigan's 2005 Distinguished Service Award

There are approximately 15,000 employees at the University of Michigan. Each year, one is selected to receive the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor the University can bestow upon an individual staff member.

In June, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Valener L. Perry, was named the 2005 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award: the first ever given to a College of Pharmacy employee.

Perry's achievement was celebrated at a Thursday, July 7 honors luncheon at the Michigan League, hosted by the University's Department of Human Resources.

Assistant Dean Valener L. Perry (right) was the 2005 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, presented at a July 7 ceremony. She is shown here with Katherine Bridges, associate vice president for human resources, Information Technology Central Services, who received the Outstanding Leadership Award at the same ceremony. Photo by Paul Jaronski, U-M Photo Services.

"The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual whose personal example and on-the-job performance result in exceptional contributions to the mission and work of the University," observes Dean Frank J. Ascione, BSPharm'69, PharmD'73, PhD, who wrote one of Perry's nomination letters. "That describes Dean Perry to a tee. Ask any alumnus or alumna who has graduated from our College since she joined us in September 1972. She is one of a kind: the best kind.

"Dean Perry is genuinely committed to the best interest of every student, from first contact until the day they graduate - and typically, well beyond that," Ascione adds. "She is straightforward and honest, combining personal integrity, humility, and a good sense of humor in equal measure. She brings a firm, no-nonsense approach to her interactions with students - leaving no doubt that she expects them to achieve their full potential. Yet, her door is always open for students struggling with academic or personal issues. They know she will listen with an open mind and a generous heart, and provide sage counsel. She is an outstanding mentor and role model and a credit to our College and University."

Doneka R. Scott, PharmD'97, who returned to U-M to earn a master's degree in higher education and is now an education specialist in the preceptor education and development office at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, seconds Ascione's assessment.

"While I was a student in the PharmD program, Dean Perry was a constant support, provided exceptional guidance, and was, and continues to be, a great mentor. In fact, she was instrumental in my return to the U-M to pursue a master's degree, and continued to be a mentor and coach during my master's course work."

Scott remarked on Perry's uncanny ability to remember not only the names of current and former students, but the names of their family members. She also cited Perry's longstanding policy of monitoring students' class attendance as a means of intervening before small problems became big ones.

Another alumna who befitted from Perry's hands-on approach, Associate Dean and Professor Lynda Welage, BSPharm'81, PharmD, remarked in her Distinguished Service Award nomination letter, that Perry's personal approach creates a sense of belonging, of community, even before students enroll.

"Dean Perry's accessibility, warmth, and tell it like it is style has resulted in the College's ability to attract top students from across the country," Welage explains. "Our College is a unique place where personal interactions predominate. Valener makes our community a richer environment and touches the lives of each of our students in a very special way. As are many of our alumni, I am personally indebted to her for the caring and guidance she has offered over the years. She has been an outstanding asset to our College for more than 30 years."

Perry said she was surprised and flattered to receive the award.

"There are so many deserving individuals at the University of Michigan, so many talented and hard-working people," Perry observes. "To have been singled out for the Distinguished Service Award is both a great honor and a humbling experience. I am deeply appreciative to the University for bestowing this honor, and deeply touched by the thoughtfulness of the people who nominated me.

"For me, the greatest satisfaction in my work is witnessing the achievements of past and current students, and the continuing friendships I've developed with former students who write, who call, who e-mail to keep me informed of the important events in their lives. I feel privileged to be part of this wonderful process of lives unfolding."

		Dean Perry Receives Michigan's 2005 Distinguished Service Award There are approximately 15,000 employees at the University of Michigan. Each year, one is selected to receive the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor the University can bestow upon an individual staff member. In June, Assistant Dean for Student Services, Valener L. Perry, was named the 2005 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award: the first ever given to a College of Pharmacy employee. Perry's achievement was celebrated at a Thursday, July 7 honors luncheon at the Michigan League, hosted by the University's Department of Human Resources. Assistant Dean Valener L. Perry (right) was the 2005 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, presented at a July 7 ceremony. She is shown here with Katherine Bridges, associate vice president for human resources, Information Technology Central Services, who received the Outstanding Leadership Award at the same ceremony. Photo by Paul Jaronski, U-M Photo Services. "The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual whose personal example and on-the-job performance result in exceptional contributions to the mission and work of the University," observes Dean Frank J. Ascione, BSPharm'69, PharmD'73, PhD, who wrote one of Perry's nomination letters. "That describes Dean Perry to a tee. Ask any alumnus or alumna who has graduated from our College since she joined us in September 1972. She is one of a kind: the best kind. "Dean Perry is genuinely committed to the best interest of every student, from first contact until the day they graduate - and typically, well beyond that," Ascione adds. "She is straightforward and honest, combining personal integrity, humility, and a good sense of humor in equal measure. She brings a firm, no-nonsense approach to her interactions with students - leaving no doubt that she expects them to achieve their full potential. Yet, her door is always open for students struggling with academic or personal issues. They know she will listen with an open mind and a generous heart, and provide sage counsel. She is an outstanding mentor and role model and a credit to our College and University." Doneka R. Scott, PharmD'97, who returned to U-M to earn a master's degree in higher education and is now an education specialist in the preceptor education and development office at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, seconds Ascione's assessment. "While I was a student in the PharmD program, Dean Perry was a constant support, provided exceptional guidance, and was, and continues to be, a great mentor. In fact, she was instrumental in my return to the U-M to pursue a master's degree, and continued to be a mentor and coach during my master's course work." Scott remarked on Perry's uncanny ability to remember not only the names of current and former students, but the names of their family members. She also cited Perry's longstanding policy of monitoring students' class attendance as a means of intervening before small problems became big ones. Another alumna who befitted from Perry's hands-on approach, Associate Dean and Professor Lynda Welage, BSPharm'81, PharmD, remarked in her Distinguished Service Award nomination letter, that Perry's personal approach creates a sense of belonging, of community, even before students enroll. "Dean Perry's accessibility, warmth, and tell it like it is style has resulted in the College's ability to attract top students from across the country," Welage explains. "Our College is a unique place where personal interactions predominate. Valener makes our community a richer environment and touches the lives of each of our students in a very special way. As are many of our alumni, I am personally indebted to her for the caring and guidance she has offered over the years. She has been an outstanding asset to our College for more than 30 years." Perry said she was surprised and flattered to receive the award. "There are so many deserving individuals at the University of Michigan, so many talented and hard-working people," Perry observes. "To have been singled out for the Distinguished Service Award is both a great honor and a humbling experience. I am deeply appreciative to the University for bestowing this honor, and deeply touched by the thoughtfulness of the people who nominated me. "For me, the greatest satisfaction in my work is witnessing the achievements of past and current students, and the continuing friendships I've developed with former students who write, who call, who e-mail to keep me informed of the important events in their lives. I feel privileged to be part of this wonderful process of lives unfolding."
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