Three Redlands Community College employees were honored by the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges (OACC) for their outstanding contributions to the college. Elise Row was named Outstanding Faculty Member and received the Great Ideas for Teaching Award, while Bailey Trammell was recognized as Outstanding Professional Staff Member and Dana Smith was Outstanding Support Staff Member.
“We have an excellent team of faculty and staff at Redlands, and all three of these honorees have played a pivotal role in helping our students and employees navigate the challenges of the past year,” said Jack Bryant, president of Redlands Community College. “It’s an honor to recognize individuals each year who have exhibited such dedication to the students and the college, and we appreciate their commitment to making a positive impact on our students’ college experience.”
Row joined Redlands in 2017 as an adjunct professor in the Liberal Arts department before becoming a full-time faculty member the next year. Earlier this year, she received Redlands’ Innovation in Teaching Award for her project that helps students understand the importance of professionalism and etiquette on online conferencing platforms. This project was also recognized with OACC’s Great Ideas for Teaching Award, and Row was invited to present a breakout session at the OACC annual conference on this innovative lesson.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Redlands students to switch to online learning and adults to utilize Zoom and other group communications technology, Row recognized the need to educate others on how to display an appropriate online presence. As a result, she created a unit teaching “Fundamentals of Speech: Zoom Speeches” in her Fundamentals of Speech course.
Trammell currently serves as coordinator of Title IX and High School and Community Relations. She joined the college at the beginning of 2020 and has worked with counselors throughout Oklahoma to help students get a jumpstart on college courses through the concurrent enrollment program. She and the Admissions and Advising team have also implemented several programs and events to make the transition from high school to college easier for students.
Smith, a Human Resources specialist, celebrated five years at Redlands earlier this year. Her skills have been invaluable as the college has made the transition to a new computer system to manage employee information and records. Her contributions have had a significant impact on employees, and her efforts to promote the college’s job bank have led to attracting experienced job candidates.