Carver honored for selfless leadership, service

Some people live their lives in service to others, and Terry Carver is one of them. Whether at work or in the community, she gets no greater pleasure than helping others, boosting them up and making life better.

In recognition of her myriad contributions over her 13-plus years at the University, Classified Staff Council presented Carver an Outstanding Service Award at the annual reception and awards ceremony May 18.  Along with it came a $1,000 check and a plaque bearing her name, to be permanently displayed on the second floor of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

A natural leader, Carver, an administrative secretary in the Division of Recreation and Wellness, has helped organize numerous events and activities, including five years helping coordinate commencement in the Office of Student Affairs, from 2003-08.  As she described it, coordinating commencement is “like putting on seven wedding receptions a year for 2,000 students and their families.” In that role she implemented many practices that are still being used today. When she later moved over to the Division of Recreation and Wellness, Carver did not abandon the person who followed her in the job, Jen Moore.

“Instead of leaving me to fend for myself, Terry continued to take the lead on the first ceremony and shadowed me on the next two,” said Moore in her nomination letter. “She cared about the event, the students and their parents, but she also cared about me.”

Now, as the primary resource for the Perry Field House student employees, Carver has implemented resources for welcome desk staff members to ensure they are prepared to provide the best service and enhance the overall experience, said nominator Scott Sehman, assistant director for recreation and wellness. She uses her wide knowledge of the University to help identify the resources or people needed for solutions to problems, and is an independent worker who is always willing to take on additional duties to improve operations.

Carver has served on Classified Staff Council for eight years, in several leadership roles but notably as chair, in 2012-13, where she instituted a number of changes to make council more inclusive and effective and BGSU more welcoming to new classified employees.

That year, for the first time in 25 years, all classified staff classification specifications were revamped, and the president appointed Carver to the Classified Staff Compensation Committee. “The project was a huge undertaking in addition to her regular duties, and her contributions were awesome,” wrote nominator Gail Houtz. “The time and effort and thought that Terry put into each and every review was unmatched.”

Although Carver has been among those who have had additional duties assigned to their position as others vacated their jobs and were not replaced, she has continued to maintain the highest level of service to students and others, Houtz added.

Not only does she have great ideas, Moore said, she puts in the time and energy to make them a reality.

In addition to Classified Staff Council, Carver has also served on numerous University-wide committees and as a volunteer for special events. In the community she volunteers for multiple causes, including those who, like her, are coping with the loss of a loved one to cancer.

“She brings her kind, positive and caring attitude to all she does,” Moore said.