Recognizing excellence in administration

Rebecca White, administrative specialist in the history department, has found that her professional path aligns with her educational and personal goals. “I’ve always loved history and research and being able to help people, “she says. “I like working with our students and people across campus.” White is a standout in her administrative role and, last spring, was nominated by several colleagues for the CAL Staff Advisory Committee’s Distinguished Staff Award, which recognizes a colleague who excels in teamwork, customer service, creativity and innovation.

White received the award this May. Nominators praised her ability to perform both public-facing and detail-oriented work effectively and simultaneously. When responding to specific requests from individuals in the community, she treats each person with dignity and respect. At the same time, she executes multiple, complex tasks — including completing essential documentation and financial processes — with the highest accuracy and precision.

White came to the History department at the prompting of a new friend, Peggy Smith, then the administrative assistant in history. White had been working as a Deputy Clerk of Court but found a part-time position at JMU in the Music Library. Though a big change, the job offered better hours and the chance to take JMU courses as part of the university's Tuition Waiver Program to support employee professional development. After "the trip of a lifetime" to Italy with her husband in 2017, she was all in to learn Italian.

After a few years working at JMU, White began pursuing a bachelor’s degree in individualized study through JMU’s Adult Degree Program (ADP) in the School of Professional and Continuing Education. The ADP is an online undergraduate degree-completion program that allows students to design a personalized interdisciplinary path. White chose a dual focus on Communications and Italian Studies. With a wide grin she explains, “I want to return [to Italy] with a better understanding of the country and be able to do my own research.”

Meanwhile she found a full-time job in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), where she met Peggy Smith while working a few CVPA events. “We hit it off really well,” White recalls, “and she told me there was an opening [for a fiscal technician] in the History department.” To her new friend’s delight, Rebecca was hired for that job.

Her first day in the new job in March 2020, however, turned out to be JMU’s last day in-person before the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down. Despite the disappointing start to the job — against a backdrop of collective uncertainty and fear — the experience cemented her friendship with Smith. White set up her home office and communicated with Smith virtually and, occasionally, in person to learn more about the department and her new tasks. “We really bonded during [the lockdown] and found we worked well together,” recalls Rebecca.

In September 2023, Peggy Smith passed away unexpectedly. Suddenly, and for six months following, White took on the work of two administrative assistants while grieving the loss of her colleague and friend. In addition to her fiscal responsibilities, she hired and supervised five student assistants, served as Wilson Hall's building coordinator and secretary to the graduate program, made sure department courses schedules were completed on time and much more.

David Dillard, Interim Academic Unit Head of History, has praised Rebecca’s hard work under difficult circumstances. “Rebecca White is an exemplary leader and team member,” he says. “The History department would have floundered this year without the stellar efforts of Ms. White. She is thoughtful, highly skilled and extremely dedicated to the History department and James Madison University.”

White still misses her friend dearly. She now has a new colleague, Jonathan Donovan, to train and with whom to share departmental knowledge, just as Smith did with her. Meanwhile her passion for Italy carries on; she hopes to return there as a JMU student while continuing to pursue her degree. “I envision possibly writing a children’s book or creating an educational tour,” she says. “There is a purpose for this.”