Outstanding Classified Staff Award

Sue Hutchings - Health & Human Development

Sue Hutchings started her career at WWU as a student, graduating in 1986 with a B.A. in recreation. In 1993, Hutchings was hired in the Dean’s office of Woodring College of Education and later transitioned to support the director of the NSIS Higher Education Consortium. In 2002, Hutchings transferred to the Computer Science Department and remained there for 11 years as department manager. In 2013, she took a position in the Department of Health and Human Development to “go back home” to the department where she earned her bachelor’s degree 27 years prior. Hutchings’ current title is the Administration Services manager, and she manages the complexities of three separate academic programs. Hutchings’ faculty and colleagues say, “Sue is the foundation of our department. Sue builds a positive work environment and takes initiative to prevent problems before they arise. Her door is both literally and figurately always open. She is also a trusted source of emotional and professional support when needed. She is always willing to lend an ear and help figure out solutions. Sue has been loyal to WWU and its faculty, staff, and students for over three decades and the value that she brings to our department is truly remarkable.”

Jessie Tanksley - Political Science

Jessie Tanksley serves as the program coordinator and academic advisor in Western's Political Science Department, where she is recognized for her deep commitment to student success and her ability to create supportive, accessible pathways for a diverse student population. Tanksley discovered her passion for expanding access to higher education and strengthening student support when she first joined Western in 2013. Since then, she has devoted substantial personal time to advancing her education, earning her M.S. in higher education administration and later her Ph.D. in education, to better understand the systems, barriers, and opportunities that influence student success.

Since transitioning into advising in 2022, Tanksley has become a trusted resource for majors, minors, transfer students and prospective students, offering empathetic, knowledgeable, and high touch guidance that helps students navigate academic planning, transitions, and challenges.

As co-chair of the Navigate360 Academic Departments Committee, Jessie collaborates with departments across campus to expand advising practices and strengthen student engagement processes university wide. She also created two innovative Canvas resource courses that centralize advising information and increase students’ sense of connection to the department.

Her nominators described her as “the core of the department’s student support system,” reflecting her dedication, creativity, and genuine care for every student she serves.