Stephanie Shanahan, a human resources assistant in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at George Mason University, is known for being able to do it all. In their letters of support, her colleagues emphasized her attention to detail, reliability, and willingness to help. In recognition of her dedication, expertise, and unwavering support of the CEC community, she has been named July Employee of the Month.
“Stephanie is an outstanding employee in every way,” said Karen Witt, CEC director of human resources. “Her real gift is her attention to detail. She regularly spots errors and quickly and expertly fixes the problems.”
Kim Goodwin-Slater, chief business officer, said, “Not only is Stephanie knowledgeable and her work of high value, she is also one of the most collaborative and supportive team members in the college.”
Shanahan’s support of her coworkers was mentioned by several colleagues. “Stephanie is consistently friendly, approachable, and generous with both her time and her expertise,” said Lizzie Barnfield, academic affairs and administrative coordinator in CEC’s Office of the Dean.
“Her willingness to help is sincere and constant,” said Elizabeth Dean, manager of administration and strategic projects. “She never hesitates to lend a hand, answer questions, or take on additional work when needed.”
“Stephanie's administrative support was vital to hiring the new IT director of the College of Engineering and Computing. She made the hiring process efficient and was fun to work with,” said Kevin Hicks, director of operations and facilities projects at CEC.
How did you come to Mason:
After several years of volunteering with the Navy–Marine Corps Relief Society as chair of volunteers, I was ready to reenter the workforce. I applied to the George Mason Temp Pool and was later asked to stay on as a wage employee in the same role. It was a wonderful opportunity and a great fit for me.
Best day on the job:
I don’t have just one best day, but I would consider a “best day” on the job to be one when I feel that I’ve been most helpful to my coworkers.
What do you like best about working at Mason:
Definitely the people. Everyone I interact with here truly enjoys working at George Mason, so it’s lovely to work in environment where people genuinely want to be.
What do you like to do when you’re not working:
My favorite things to do when I’m not working are walking—with or without my dog, traveling to new places, and reading books. We have a great monthly book club in the College of Engineering and Computing, so I always receive great recommendations from my colleagues.