Biehl Named KU Employee of the Month for October 2021

President on left, Biehl on right accepting award.

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Congratulations to Diane Biehl, clerical assistant, Women’s Center, on being named Kutztown University Employee of the Month for October 2021.

Biehl’s nomination from Christine Price, director of the Women’s Center and LGBTQ+ Resource Center, reads:

“Diane Biehl is the secretary for the Women's Center and the LGBTQ+ Resource Center. She has been working at KU since 2004, brings many professional and personal skills and a variety of experience to our office.

Diane started in this position in January 2020, and only had the opportunity to see our "normal" operations of inclusion work, student support and engagement, and dynamic educational events for a short time before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and changed our lives forever. Diane is a caring, hard-working, selfless professional staff member and she has adapted to and embraced our community so well, that it seems as though she has been here for years. Diane has taken the initiative to gain more knowledge of the issues that are impacting women and LGBTQ+ students and has gone above and beyond to ensure that the students and the center achieve their mission and goals.

Diane's exemplary work was demonstrated through the organization and planning of our move to Boxwood House. When we first learned of the exciting news that both centers would be moving to a new, prominent location on campus, Diane immediately went to work to identify the needs of our centers; how the furniture, educational resources, library and all components could be assigned and organized in a new house that would effectively meet the needs of the undergraduate and graduate students and staff. This was no small task. The previous location for the centers in Old Main included three large meeting rooms and six office workstations. Diane provided excellent communication and creativity in managing the logistics of this project. It involved strategic collaboration with various campus constituents, including IT, Facilities and the offices who resided in Boxwood. Diane is detailed, organized, calm, patient, approachable and personable, so these tasks were all completed in a thorough and professional manner. Since the move has taken place, Diane continues to work tirelessly to create a new, welcoming and all-inclusive environment.

In addition to tackling this important moving project, Diane continued to manage her day-to-day responsibilities of coordinating the details of LGBTQ+, Women’s, and “It’s On Us” events, including all of the marketing, set-ups, reservations and purchasing. Diane takes care to think of every detail to support our educational initiatives. She always has the students at the forefront of her work. She works to include the input, ideas and needs of our students for every event so to welcome and provide an inclusive experience for all students. Diane supports our centers with her whole heart and always takes the time to listen and interact with everyone who comes through our doors.

While the work of the two centers is enough to keep Diane busy, she also provides support as needed to the senior associate dean of students and chief diversity officer, Jerry Schearer; the director of Multicultural Services, Melinda Quiñones; and the director of Veterans Services, Tania Brown-Berringer.

Schearer writes:

“Diane has been an asset to the Women's Center and LGBTQ+ Resource Center since she began. She was always willing to do all the extra things that needed to be done in times of crisis or crunch time. Especially with the move to Boxwood - her attention to detail, communication with all parties involved, organizing, packing and unpacking, she was dedicated and went above and beyond expectations. We and the students are lucky to have her.

Beyond that, Diane has always offered to help and assist me and the other inclusion and diversity centers. We have had a lot of fluctuation in administrative and support help in the past. She has always stepped up to assist and help in any way when the Multicultural Center or Veterans Center or my office needed temporary assistance. Not only does she help, but she does it in a cheerful way, always wanting to support our programs and students. She exemplifies the Golden Bear Rule.”

Quiñones writes:

"During my transition to KU, Diane was invaluable. She is always willing to help. She is kind, welcoming and a true asset to our department(s). I am grateful for her and I have endless admiration for her skill and generosity of spirit. Thank you, Mrs. Diane...I appreciate you!"

Brown-Berringer writes:

“Diane has been a true blessing to work with. She stepped in to assist Veterans Services when I did not have an administrative assistant. Her invaluable support, positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile was constant. Her work ethic and work quality are above par. She was also very welcoming to my new assistant, spending time helping her to transition with ease. Diane is a true professional and a value-added asset to the organizations she serves and KU as a whole.”

Nominations are collected from students, faculty and staff, and the Employee of the Month is selected by the Human Resources Advisory Council. A winner will be selected each month, and out of the 12 monthly winners one will be selected as Employee of the Year. The Employee of the Month will receive a plaque, reserved parking and a $100 monetary gift sponsored by President Hawkinson.

For more information on the award or to nominate someone, please visit the KU human resources website.