Mike Adams receives inaugural Outstanding Staff Senator Award
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 16, 2024) — The Employee Engagement Committee of the University of Kentucky Staff Senate presented Michael "Mike” Adams with the inaugural Outstanding Staff Senator Award. Adams has served on the Staff Senate for 21 years, including various leadership positions, such as chair.
Adams is the space and facilities coordinator and safety officer for the College of Arts and Sciences.
In the nomination narratives, his senate colleagues say his dedication and passion for the Staff Senate were evident.
"I honestly believe no one is more passionate about the Staff Senate than this candidate, and nobody believes in its potential more,” said Kelly Hahn, a fellow Staff Senator.
Adams’ proactive leadership in addressing issues and collaborating with the administration was also noted.
"Mike has been a big proponent of staff and being a part of shared governance from the day he became a senator and worked hard every day to get there," said Staff Senator Carl Harper.
The Outstanding Staff Senator Award was established to recognize a Staff Senator for their exceptional service and unwavering commitment to the Staff Senate. The award acknowledges their significant contributions through effective collaboration with staff to address crucial issues impacting the University of Kentucky community. It reflects their steadfast dedication to shared governance principles and their instrumental role in advancing the Senate’s overarching agenda and goals.
“Mike’s passion and engagement have set a high standard for advocacy and collaboration within our community,” said Staff Senator Mindy Thompson, past chair of the Employee Engagement Committee. “His receipt of this award honors his outstanding achievements and inspires continued excellence and commitment among his peers.”
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.