The Division of Student Affairs has held the annual Neal R. Gamsky Quality of Student Life award ceremony every year since 1992. This prestigious award goes to a current Student Affairs staff member who has made a significant contribution to the quality of student life, which is readily acknowledged as such by peers and/or students.
The most recent Gamsky Award ceremony was held on December 1, 2022, and the Division of Student Affairs was pleased to recognize Career Services’ Quanisha Kumi-Darfour as the 2022-23 recipient.
Quanisha has been working in Student Affairs at Illinois State University for over thirteen years and currently holds the position of associate director in Career Services. Quanisha is known for how tirelessly she works to help, develop, mentor, and motivate every student and staff member she encounters. Whether it’s her work with the career advisor team, as president of the Illinois State University Association of Black Academic Employees, or her daily commitment to share her skills, knowledge, and to uplift those around her, Quanisha truly embodies the ideal of the Neil R. Gamsky Quality of Student Life Award.
As one nominator wrote, “[Quanisha] embodies Illinois State University’s core principles, and our students are blessed by her continual efforts.”
If you know of a staff member who embodies these same ideals, nominations for the 2023-24 Neil R. Gamsky Quality of Student Life Award are now open. Please visit our online nomination form to read more about the qualifications or to nominate a colleague.
