Denise Nivison was stuffing mail for Daniel Sundahl, professor of English, when personnel staff from Administrative Affairs suddenly crowded into her office in Delp Hall.
For a moment, she thought she was getting fired.
Instead, they presented her with the most recent Mission Award, given to college employees who display noteworthy adherence to the mission of Hillsdale College.
“We’re big on the mission,” Chief Administrative Officer Richard Péwé said. “If we want to be great, commitment to the original foundation is paramount.”
Nivison, he said, is an exemplary recipient of the award.
“Her commitment to the mission is obvious. She supports the faculty, and I know she is invaluable to them.”
Nivison, born and raised in Hillsdale, is a bit of a secretarial legend. Ever since she started working for the college in 1985, she has been the go-to person for professors who need help with just about anything.
“She is unfailingly professional, efficient, and prompt,” said Michael Bauman, professor of Christian studies, who nominated Nivison for the award. “Not only does she make my burden lighter, she does so for dozens of faculty members all at once.”
Her duties now include making photocopies, running errands, and sending mailings for the professors. She also helps them move offices, prepare for class, or make travel plans. Sometimes, she said, she even helps with computer-related problems.
In the days before computers, professors would dictate their manuscripts.
“Dr. [John] Reist used to come in, bless his heart, and talk to me at 105 miles per hour and I would type,” Nivison said.
With the rise of computers, professors no longer dictate things, and the mailing system has gotten much easier. Nivision said she is glad to be done with carbon paper frustrations.
“This is a God-send,” she said with a smile and quick gesture toward her computer.
Sundahl commended Nivison for her high amount of patience with all the people who come and go in her office with their requests.
“All the good things she has done for me for many years are priceless,” he said.
Péwé said her receipt of the Mission Award reflects her adherence to the college mission and the Staff Code of Commitment, adopted in August of 2008. The code includes six principles all employees of the college are to uphold: founding mission, integrity, goodwill, partnership, leadership, and accountability.
Nivison received the award based on her goodwill, Péwé said.
Sometimes the administration gives the award out quarterly, sometimes every six months.
“There really is no set way in which we do it,” Péwé said.
The previous employee to receive the Mission Award was Angela Lashaway, art director for External Affairs, who received the award in June for her accountability.
Before Nivison worked for the college, she worked several jobs including planting seed packets in the greenhouse at the local Glei’s nursery and working as a clerk in an American Automobile Association office.
Her two grown sons, Don and Darin, along with her daughter-in-law, Shelly, graduated from Hillsdale College, but no longer live locally. She currently lives with her husband Patrick. Between them, they have four children and eight grandchildren.
