College of Humanities Stellar Staff Awards, Spring 2025

Four College of Humanities staff members were recognized with Stellar Staff Awards this summer: Emmy Darling, James Martak, George Rojas, and Lindsay Simas. Nominees are chosen by the college’s Staff Council twice each year. 

Emmy Darling, Administrative Assistant and PR Coordinator in the Department of Communication. Emmy stepped into the department’s Administrative Assistant position a year ago and has hit the ground running. She has handled large RPT cases with lots of intricacies this year, developed and managed student PR interns, and elevated events to new heights. She supports the department chair and administrative officer and is always willing to step in and help others. Emmy is proactive and takes great initiative to help improve, gather information, and seek trainings to expand her skillsets. She has made a positive impact, and her colleagues in the Department of Communication are so grateful to have her on their team.

James Martak, Administrative Manager in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric Studies. Since joining Writing & Rhetoric Studies in March 2024, James quickly became an indispensable member of the team. In a short time, he not only learned the ropes of a complex department but also introduced new systems and streamlined existing processes in ways that have made a lasting impact. James’s work reflects a deep commitment to efficiency, organization, and service. More than that, he models a thoughtful and forward-thinking approach to administrative management, and he is well deserving of recognition.

George Rojas, Specialty Media Coordinator and Video Technician in the Department of Communication. George is universally appreciated for his can-do attitude and willingness to offer extra help, even outside of his typical tasks. He’s efficient and always impresses with how quickly he responds to requests. George was instrumental in helping the department during a Scholarship Celebration event in April 2025. He helped with setting up the event and served as both an AV technician and photographer for the event. Using his wonderful photographs, he went above and beyond and edited the photos to commemorate the students and donors who were honored at the event. In addition, he is always warm and friendly. George has also recording events for the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation Archive Project, producing amazing video, which is then shared back with the Nation to show to members who cannot attend in person. George is professional, calm, and excellent at his job!

Lindsay Simas, Administrative Coordinator in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Lindsay started with World Languages & Cultures in December of 2024 and has been a joy to have on the team from the beginning. She has the perfect demeanor to manage the front desk and coordinate office operations, consistently showing up with a positive attitude and approaching customer service with a steady, solution-oriented mentality. Lindsay is always willing to learn something new and she strives to both understand and improve upon existing processes to create efficiencies and transparencies in the department. Beyond that, Lindsay is a team player who creates a space that invites connection, communication, and camaraderie amongst the staff and faculty. She has been a great addition to the department and has proven herself “stellar” amongst the staff.

Please join us in congratulating our colleagues on this recognition!