Student Life Inspiring Leaps Awardees

Student Life Recognizes Inspiring Leaps Winners

The Office of the Vice Provost for Student Life has recognized Rob Cumberland, business analyst for University Residences, and Jintawee Hanley, a production coordinator for Purdue Dining & Culinary, as winners of the Inspiring Leaps: Student Life Staff Awards.

Cumberland provides invaluable behind-the-scenes support to students living in University Residences, overseeing the housing assignment process for all residents. His work ensures students are successfully paired with roommates and assigned according to housing criteria including learning communities, disability accommodations and more. Cumberland and his team also support the move-in and move-out processes, room change requests and meal plan selection and changes. One of his recent areas of impact was a review of Purdue’s Summer College for High School Students program, which streamlined the housing and billing processes for the program. His extensive knowledge of programs such as Tableau, Excel and StarRez make an impact every day.

“Rob is one of the hardest-working University Residences staff that students will most likely never meet,” wrote Cumberland’s nominator. “His work directly impacts the lives of thousands of current and prospective university students, but his work – while seen by thousands of students and parents – is unseen by many who aren’t familiar with the intricacies of students applying for University Residences housing for the first time or those re-applying for housing.”

In her role at Ford Dining Court, Hanley serves as a mentor for fellow staff members in the areas of safety, culinary techniques, safe food handling and operations. Her responsibilities include food preparation and training student employees in areas such as service, safe food handling and food storage. She is lauded for being a team player who is always ready to assist in any area of operations, especially when an area is struggling to keep up with a rush. Examples of her selflessness include putting aside her own work to assist at a serving station during a recent Saturday evening rush.

“Jintawee is great at working with everyone,” wrote her nominator. “She always has a super positive attitude and always helps everybody. Her work ethic is impressive and she is always ready to assist you with anything you need. I love working with her – she makes our shift very enjoyable. Honestly, she’s one of the most hard-working and caring people I’ve known in my life.”

The Inspiring Leaps: Student Life Staff Awards are a Student Life employee award program that recognizes outstanding contributions and excellence in the areas of Steps to Leaps, inclusion, and organizational and operational excellence. All regular Student Life employees, including Business Office, Human Resources and Information Technology, are eligible. Awards are bestowed three times annually. One management/professional staff and one service/support staff member are honored during each award period.

Staff and students are encouraged to nominate outstanding staff members for an award. Learn more about the Inspiring Leaps: Student Life Staff Awards and how to nominate here.

Written by: Matthew Vader, Writer, Student Life Marketing