Illinois State University recognized distinguished service from Civil Service and Administrative Professional staff during the Founding Celebration on February 15, 2024.
Civil Service Distinguished Service Awards
The Civil Service Distinguished Service Award acknowledges outstanding contributions by Civil Service staff. It is the highest non-faculty award presented to Civil Service staff members by the University.
Cindy Greskiwcz, College of Applied Science and Technology
Cindy Greskiwcz ’00 worked in Student Counseling Services and the School of Social Work before joining the College of Applied Science and Technology Dean’s Office in 2006. Whether it was in her role as office manager or her current position as business administrative associate, Greskiwcz has been the “go-to” person in the Dean’s Office and throughout the college. She is always willing to share her wealth of knowledge not only within the college but across campus. Beyond the College of Applied Science and Technology, Greskiwcz is heavily involved with Illinois State Athletics.
Andrew Witt, Facilities Management
Andrew Witt ’05 began his 16-year career at the University as a building mechanic with University Housing and Facilities Management. As a building mechanic, Witt takes pride in providing an exceptional living environment for the students and staff within the residence halls. As his career progressed, he was promoted to building mechanic foreman where he leads a team of 11 building mechanics and up to 35 extra help employees. Together his team provides for all maintenance and projects within the residence halls, university apartment complexes, and general university housing. Witt continues to remain on call 24/7 to ensure our residents continue to have an exceptional living experience. He is a graduate of Illinois State with a bachelor’s degree in computer systems.
Administrative/Professional Distinguished Service Awards
The A/P Distinguished Service Award acknowledges outstanding contributions by A/P staff. It is the highest non-faculty award presented to A/P staff members by the University.
Jennifer Sedbrook, Development
Jennifer Sedbrook has been the director of development for Mennonite College of Nursing since 2017. She exceeded the college’s ambitious Redbirds Rising campaign goal, and currently is leading the college’s campaign for a new nursing simulation center. She is a graduate of Illinois State’s 2020 Leadership Program, and in 2022 she created and taught an Honors Exploration class on American philanthropy. She recently served on the President’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council Subcommittee on LGBTQAI+ Policies and Initiatives and has been a volunteer for numerous campus initiatives. She co-founded Women Empowered, a pioneering women’s giving program focused on women’s health and recently received a Visionary Trailblazer Award for her work in establishing Women Empowered.
Debbie Fox, College of Arts and Sciences
Deborah “Debbie” Fox ’79 is the assistant dean for external relations in the College of Arts and Sciences, where she manages public relations for the college’s 16 schools and departments. Fox edits and publishes the college’s weekly electronic newsletter, CASNews, and also plans, budgets for, and executes cultivation and alumni events for the college. She also serves as the college’s liaison to advancement and communication units, including the Office of Development staff, the Alumni Engagement staff, University Marketing and Communications, and Media Relations. Her role also includes strengthening ties to external constituencies and acts as liaison to outside agencies and businesses. For the past two years she has served as the coordinator of the college’s food drive to benefit the School Street Food Pantry.
Kristie Toohill, Facilities Management
Kristie Toohill ’97, M.S. ’16, has grown up in this community and earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Illinois State. She began her career in Facilities Management as a student worker, progressing to several different positions during the last 25 years, where she now serves as the director of Facilities Management. She has served on numerous campus committees and task forces and has served in several board positions, such as APPA membership chair, MAPPA president, and APPA regional representatives chair. She gives back by supporting the Stay 4 Program and as a member of the Baby Fold’s Festival of Trees Presentation Committee for 10 years. As secretary of the Illinois Art Station Board, Toohill can combine her passion for Illinois State with providing students opportunities to explore the arts, see their potential, and reach their goals.
Molly Knapp, Psychology
Molly Knapp ’02, M.S. ’04 has a love of education and spent most of her career working in academia. In 2010, she was employed at Illinois Central College in the Testing Center and moved on to be an academic advisor and mental health counselor, working her way up to be the advisement coordinator. In 2017, she returned to Illinois State’s Department of Psychology, this time as an academic advisor. Knapp enjoys teaching a Careers in Psychology class for psychology majors, and she says she loves to witness the “light bulb” moment when students discover something new about themselves.
Administrative/Professional Emerging Leader Award
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes A/P staff whose professional performance has shown tremendous promise for and commitment to the University.
Ingrid Brown, School of Social Work
Ingrid Brown joined Illinois State’s School of Social Work as the director of Field Education in June 2022. In her role, she facilitates the practicum placement process for undergraduate and graduate social work students in organizations throughout the community. She teaches the Field Instruction Seminar course for senior BSW students and has also participated in the MSW Admissions Committee, the Interprofessional Education Simulation collaboration with the Mennonite College of Nursing, and the ISU Child Protection Training Academy Advisory Group. She enjoys being involved in Internship Coordinator Roundtable Discussions, as well as Equity-Minded Teaching Workshops and the Neurodiversity Learning Allyship Community. She is also a part of the Illinois Field Director’s Consortium.
Civil Service/Administrative Professional Esprit de Corps Award
One individual representing Civil Service and A/P is selected for special recognition for work on behalf of the University that has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Samantha Lowry, Civil Service, Alumni Engagement
Samantha Lowry serves as an associate director in the Office of Alumni Engagement, where she is responsible for student to alumni transition and regional network events and programming. Much of this work is driven by cultivating relationships with our students, alumni, and friends while encouraging volunteers to host meaningful experiences for their respective communities. As advisor for Student Alumni Council, she educates our students on the many ways to get involved following graduation, the importance of ISU traditions, and serves fellow students when hosting Homecoming events. Additionally, she serves the University community as a Civil Service Council Ex-officio member, ISU Annuitants Association representative, and as a volunteer with Alpha Omicron Pi.
