Jean Good receives Outstanding Contribution Award at UVa-Wise

For more than 20 years Jean Good has served The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, presiding over the growth and success of the College’s mail services. Her service to the UVa-Wise community has earned her the 2008 Outstanding Contribution Award.

Each year one classified staff member at UVa-Wise is selected to receive the Outstanding Contribution Award along with colleagues from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Letters of nomination are accepted from faculty and staff, with an awards committee making the final decision on the winner.

Good, who receives a $1,000 cash award, will be honored along with other award winners during a June 13 ceremony in Charlottesville hosted by U.Va. President John T. Casteen III.

Good is responsible for overseeing the campus post office, telecommunications and the Supply Room office supplies contract. She currently serves as the president for the College and University Mail Services Association and is a member of the UVa-Wise Staff Council.

Community service is also important to Good, who works with Relay for Life, the Keep Virginia Clean Campaign, PAWS, the Pet Smart Ink Return Charity and Cell Phones for Soldiers. She also collects donations for the Dickenson County Food Bank.  

She was nominated by Michael Donathan, professor emeritus of music, who considers Good a “consummate professional” in her leadership of the campus post office.

“It is not unusual on any given day of the year to find the campus post office brimming with conversations about such diverse topics as international politics, intercollegiate athletics, political campaigns, student social concerns, gardening, the state of the economy and numerous other issues,” wrote Donathan in his letter of nomination. “The campus post office is indeed a ‘center for the liberal arts.’ ”

Perhaps one of the things Good is best known for is her kindness and friendship with students.  

“One of my earliest memories of Jean is when she put a ‘You’ve Got Mail’ card in my mailbox,” wrote David Amos, an administrative assistant in the campus post office, in his letter of nomination.  “She places these cards in students’ mailboxes when she overhears them complain that they never receive mail from anyone.”  

“Recently Jean completed something she referred to as ‘random acts of kindness,’ ” wrote her supervisor Joe Kiser, director of College services, in his letter of nomination. “She purchased candy items and attached words of encouragement for the students and placed them in their campus boxes.... Jean is always willing to assist the College in any way she can.”  

Good and her husband Bob live in Clintwood.

Posted June 6, 2008