Talking Stick - July/August 2015 - 36

2015 ACUHO-I WALL OF HONOR AWARDS

Roelf Visser
Global Initiatives
Award
Gloria Belden Fernàndez,
Universidad de Monterrey
As the director of the Universidad de Monterrey
residence halls, Gloria Belden Fernàndez focuses on
enhancing the development of residents through wholeperson education in support of the university's mission
and philosophy, highlighting the educational value of
community life.
As the recipient of the 2015 Roelf Visser Global
Initiatives Award, Gloria has worked to increase
international participation in ACUHO-I through her words
and actions. As an enthusiastic and active member in the
association, she regularly shares that enthusiasm with
colleagues on her home campus and around the world,
encouraging them to attend events and participate in a
variety of ways.
One nomination noted that Gloria "has made a
significant contribution to the international agenda
of ACUHO-I over many years, serving on a number of
committees and workgroups where she has provided
great energy, support, and collegiality to colleagues
around the globe."
Roelf Visser was instrumental in the formation of the
ACUHO-I Southern Africa Chapter. His skill in working
with all races and ethnicities enabled him to enact
dramatic change, and he possessed a vibrant energy
for his work, his housing colleagues, and his country.
This award honors campus housing professionals
who have contributed to advancing the strategic
initiatives of ACUHO-I and its aims of becoming a
pre-eminent international student housing association.

Herstory Award
Joan Schmidt,
Central Michigan University
"Joanie is without compare when it comes to her
mentoring and guidance for women in our field. She's
given guidance for women to be human without being
superheroes, and for so many of us finding our way, it's
the exact advice we needed to hear."
That is just one example of the several testimonials
received in support of Joan Schmidt being honored with
the Herstory Award. Retiring this year from her position as
director of residence life at Central Michigan University,
additional supporters described her as "a role model who
inspires," "a hero and mentor," "one of a kind," "a true
leader," "someone we all respect and enjoy," and "the
ideal role model for taking her work seriously while also
finding the humor and humility in each situation."
Throughout her career she continually gave back to
her profession, serving as ACUHO-I president (2001-02)
and as chair of the ACUHO-I Foundation. She has been a
faculty member for the James C. Grimm NHTI as well as
the Roelf Visser South African Training Institute. She has
written for publication, once winning the Robert P. Cooke
Talking Stick Article of the Year Award. She contributed
greatly to ACUHO-I events including being key initiator
and organizer for the Millennium Magic Conference in
2000. For these efforts and more she has been recognized
with the ACUHO-I Presidential Service Award and the
Leadership & Service Award and was inducted into the
ACUHO-I Foundation Parthenon Society.
This award recognizes an outstanding woman
professional who has served campus housing through
courage, leadership, a pioneering spirit, honor, and
commitment.

Talking Stick - July/August 2015

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