The Civil Service Council will feature a Civil Service employee at Illinois State University each month to highlight an exceptional colleague and the outstanding work being done on campus. This month, learn about and applaud Facilities Management Customer Service Representative Christa Lawhun.
What is your position on campus and how long have you been with the University?
Customer Service Representative, 26 years.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
I appreciate the chances for growth and development that my job offers. This includes training, learning new skills, and advancement. I value the relationships and sense of belonging I have with my colleagues, students, and other members of the university community. Building connections and working together towards common goals is important to me. I find it fulfilling to play a role in keeping the campus clean, beautiful, and running sustainably. Knowing that my efforts help the university operate smoothly and in an environmentally friendly way is rewarding to me. Overall, the combination of these factors—professional development opportunities, a sense of community, and contributing to the campus’s upkeep and sustainability—makes my job at the university fulfilling and rewarding.
What are your hobbies or favorite pastimes?
I enjoy crafts including scrapbooking and card making, trying my hand at some resin work, dog rescue transports, dog sitting, game nights, keeping my plants alive (this is still new for me), spending time with friends and family, enjoying my new great-grandson, fundraising, and volunteering.
What else would you like others to know about you or your time at ISU?
In my time here at Illinois State University, I have had the privilege to sit on the Civil Service Council as the chair, vice chair, raffle committee, academic senate as the Civil Service chair, campus communications committee, and council member, LGBTQ Institute, and the Triangle Association, the Triangle social committee, and Queer Coalition. Currently, I have had the opportunity to sit on the State Universities Civil Service System Advisory Committee (SUCSSAC) to the Merit Board, in addition, I get to be a part of the Legislative sub-committee. The opportunities available at Illinois State are endless.
More about Lawhun from Sandra Schmeusser-Smith, Office Administrator of Facilities Management
Christa has been working with us in Campus Services since September 23, 2019, but has been with the University since March 9, 1998.
Our branch has about 300 employees and is divided up into three departments: recycling, janitorial and grounds. She’s the one who gets to transfer all the requests we get to the foremen. She also works closely with the academic and housing customers along with the plumbing, carpentry, maintenance, and electrical departments.
Something you may not know about Christa is that she has helped with transporting dog rescues, sometimes state to state. Christa loves her fur baby Prince, her family, and her faith. She also has the same pleasant demeanor with clients, vendors, and employees that she interacts with daily. She does an excellent job at juggling multiple tasks and is a pleasure to work with.
