Robin Jaeckel is Gold U winner

Robin Jaeckel is the Gold U winner for the second quarter of 2015.

An administrative associate in the Office of the Dean in the College of Public Health, Jaeckel has been with UNMC since 2000.

Alice Schumaker, Ph.D., the associate dean for academic affairs, called Jaeckel a resource throughout the college.

“No matter the request, Robin is always ready to help out, no matter how busy she is,” Dr. Schumaker said. “If she doesn’t know the answer, she seeks it out in a true spirit of cooperation and service.

“Because Robin is a wealth of knowledge about UNMC processes, procedures and policies, many people ask her advice and direction,” Dr. Schumaker added.

In addition to supporting three “very busy” associate deans, Jaeckel assists in other areas as requested, said Laura Bashus, who is business operations administrator in the McGoogan Library of Medicine and a former employee in the College of Public Health. “Her leadership skills drive her to seek out ways to improve the college.”

In the past several years, Jaeckel said she has been focusing on professional development, not only to better herself, but to bring more value to the college. For instance, she was the driving force behind the creation of the Community Supported Agriculture program that brings fresh produce to campus weekly.

“It means quite a bit to me that my efforts have been noticed and appreciated,” she said.

Jaeckel has been with the college since its creation in 2007, and the only department she hasn’t officially worked in is Health Services Research Administration.

The variety of experiences has given her a deep appreciation for the college’s mission.

“There’s nothing that doesn’t touch public health — it’s everywhere, in everything,” she said. “It’s not just washing your hands.”

She has been pleased to be part of the college’s growth, and to see “more people coming to recognize the value of public health, and the value of the degrees the college offers,” she said. “We’ve been a hidden jewel on campus, and more and more people know we’re here and perhaps are becoming aware of how we can partner through education and collaboration.”

Jane Meza, Ph.D., professor and senior associate dean in the College of Public Health, called Jaeckel a leader.

“She has continued to be a source of knowledge for the entire college and continually solves increasingly difficult challenges in very creative ways.”