SU Announces 2024 Meritorious Staff Award Honorees

By SU Public Relations

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University honored four recent retirees with its 2024 Meritorious Staff Awards.

The awards recognize recently retired staff with records of noteworthy contributions or extraordinary commitment during at least 10 years of service to SU and hold a designation similar to a faculty emeritus honor.

This year’s honorees included Mike Boolukos (Information Technology, retired 2023), Kevin Mann (Physical Plant, retired 2022), Wayne Shelton (Campus Sustainability and Environmental Safety, retired 2023) and Beth Walsh (Sponsored Programs, Graduate Studies and Research, retired 2023).

Boolukos, an information technology programmer, served SU for 37 years, working to keep many departments on pace with the evolution of technological advances to best serve students and employees. He also was a founding member of SU’s annual Sea Gull Century bicycle tour, serving on the committee since its inception in 1988. He also has planned the ride’s routes each year. The event raises funds for SU student scholarships and initiatives.

Mann has been part of the SU community for more than 35 years, working his way up from a student employee to overseeing the largest staff on campus as Physical Plant director. In that role, he was responsible for millions of dollars in projects. He also was a strong advocate for education and professional development among staff. He also represented SU as president of the Eastern Shore Region Association of Physical Plant Directors and served on numerous campus committees. He continues to support SU Athletics in retirement as a member of the Maroon and Gold Club.

Shelton served SU for 36 years. As the director of campus sustainability and environmental safety, he was the first SU employee charged with ensuring sustainable practices at the University, creating the campus’ inaugural Climate Action Plan. His efforts led to local regional and national attention for SU’s commitment to sustainability, including being named among the Princeton Review’s “Top 50 Green Colleges” in the U.S., earning Maryland Bird Campus and Bicycle Friendly University designations, and receiving the Maryland Green Registry Leadership Award, among others.

Serving SU for 25 years, Walsh submitted nearly 3,000 external proposals as a grant specialist, bringing more than $100 million in funding to SU. In that role, she also assisted many faculty with often complicated research proposal processes, earning praise for her kindness and positivity. This also extended to her volunteer work with the University at events including Commencement, Move-In Day and the Sea Gull Century. In 2018, she received the University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Staff Award for Excellence in Effectiveness and Efficiency for implementing a new electronic research administration system that created an estimated savings of more than $30,000.

Meritorious Staff Award winners receive a prize package including lifetime privileges to SU’s Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons and Bookstore, a discounted University Fitness Center membership and free campus parking. They also are invited to attend SU employee, cultural, academic and athletic events.

Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at the SU website.