Leisa Osborne receives 2013 President's Award for Excellence
Leisa Osborne, undergraduate coordinator for the Department of Philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has received the university's 2013 President's Award for Excellence.
The President's Award for Excellence is presented annually to up to five Virginia Tech staff employees who have made extraordinary contributions by consistent excellence in the performance of their job or a single incident, contribution, or heroic act. Each recipient is awarded a $2,000 cash prize.
Osborne has worked at the university for 23 years and currently manages undergraduates and serves as advisor to approximately 60 minors in the philosophy department.
“Leisa is meticulous in maintaining the records of our students,” said Joe Pitt, professor and director of undergraduate studies. “She cares deeply about these students, and they know it. I am constantly being told by students both in and outside our department how helpful she is.”
Osborne is responsible for the department instituting two advising sessions per semester open to any student to attend, not just philosophy majors and minors. She also assists in the organization of the department graduation ceremony each year. In addition to her administrative work, Osborne is actively involved with the Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and currently serves as treasurer of the group.
In addition, Osborne works with Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley, involving students and the department in support of fundraising efforts, such as a yearly Scrabble tournament and book sale.
“Leisa represents the best qualities of a caring Virginia Tech family member and exemplifies the university motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve),” Pitt said. “She makes Virginia Tech a better place for everyone.”
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
Written by Catherine Doss.
