Jacquie Pryor - 2012 MSA Staff Change Agent Award Recipient
On Sunday, April 29th, Dr. Jacqueline Pryor was awarded the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs 2012 Staff Change Agent Award, which recognizes individuals who exemplify diversity within the work environment, and who are involved in community service that significantly impacts ISU, Ames, and surrounding communities.
After a career in undergraduate admissions, Jacquie moved to Ames in the fall of 2001 from Arkansas to begin the PhD program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. After two assistantship experiences, Jacquie applied for an assistantship with the Graduate College in May 2003 to work with students in the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. She was hired immediately and quickly became a very valuable member of the staff helping to develop and build the program. As a strong student advocate, Jacquie provides support when needed on professional as well as personal matters. Because McNair students are primarily first-generation, her gentle counseling skills and methods of providing support are invaluable. In May 2010, Jacquie received the PhD and was hired as a post-doc with the Graduate College. As full-time staff, she devotes a good part of her days to working directly with students and providing administrative assistance to the McNair director on the day-to-day requirements of running a federally funded program.
Jacquie has also been very active in the ISU Black Graduate Student Association and is close to completing two years as co-advisor. Through her participation, she has been involved in various community activities, fund raising events, and mentoring programs that include meeting with prospective students who visit campus and/or when they enroll as first year graduate students.
According to Thelma Harding, McNair Director, "hiring Jacquie to work with McNair and with the Graduate College was one of the best decisions we've made. She has been an asset to us and to the students we serve." She is also very deserving of this award.