Distinguished Staff Award 2009

Margo Warden

Director of First Year Experience , At JSC since 1988

The newly established Alumni Association Distinguished Satff Award recognizes and honors outstanding staff members for their commitment and dedication to the mission of JSC.

Margo Warden currently serves as Director of First Year Experience at Johnson State College. Margo earned her master's degree at JSC in 1997. Both JSC alumni and current students appreciate Margo's commitment to higher education and her genuine interest in their overall success. She knows many students personally and has maintained contact with graduates.

Margo serves as a mentor, counselor, and friend, and sets a fine example for current students. Numerous students have remarked over the years that they would not have made it to graduation without Margo’s help. Students consider her a support person, confidante, and advocate. Students sense her compassion and innately trust her. JSC hopes that each student will connect with at least one person on campus, and for many students Margo is that person. In addition to her strengths surrounding our students, Margo is appreciated and respected by faculty and staff on campus and by members of the local community, where she is actively involved in town government.

Margo truly cares about JSC, and this is apparent to all who work with her. She asks the difficult questions, brings conversations to a forward-moving place, always listens to what others have to say, and somehow finds a way to lighten a challenging situation with her wonderful sense of humor.