Ellen Neufeldt to Receive Outstanding Performance Award from National Organization

Ellen Neufeldt, Old Dominion University vice president for Student Engagement & Enrollment Services (SEES), has been tapped to receive an outstanding performance award from a national organization for her work as a senior student affairs officer.

The National Association of Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) will present Neufeldt with the John Jones Award for Outstanding Performance as a Senior Student Affairs Officer for NASPA Region III during a June 9 luncheon at the professional organization's summer symposium being held in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

NASPA is a professional advocacy organization that focuses on the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession.

According to award-related materials, nominated professionals must demonstrate:

• Sustained professional service as a Senior Student Affairs Officer
• High-level competency in administrative skills
• Merited respect and support of students, faculty and fellow administrators
• Innovative response in meeting varied and emerging needs of students
• Effectiveness in the development of junior staff members
• Significant contributions to the field through publications or professional involvement
• Leadership in community and university affairs

In a nomination submitted for the award, ODU Provost Carol Simpson noted that Neufeldt was recruited in 2011 and inherited a newly re-organized division.

"From her first moments on the Old Dominion University campus, Ellen infused the division with her enthusiasm and determination to use data-informed strategies for student success," Simpson wrote. "Over the next two years, she completely overhauled all aspects of her division to provide what is now an efficient, professional, and very high quality service organization for our students."

Simpson, who co-chairs the University's Student Success committee with Neufeldt along with ODU's Strategic Planning Committee, credited Neufeldt's efforts in re-instituting Living Learning Communities in campus housing, developing a new student orientation program, creating a "cohesive" communication's plan for students and parents about programs and services that promote engagement and bringing about innovative co-curricular and support programs for military affiliated students and established a new Military Connection Center, among other achievements.

"Personally, I feel very privileged indeed to have interacted with Ellen over the past two and a half years and I know that many, many others must feel the same," Simpson wrote, in her nomination of Neufeldt. "She instills in her close associates and colleagues her own values of honesty, compassion, integrity and strong work ethics. I have learned much from her about the co-curricular side of our students' experiences at Old Dominion University and have come to appreciate to a much greater degree the importance of educating our students about their life choices and overall well-being."

For more information about student affairs programming at ODU, visit the Student Engagement & Enrollment Services website.