Administrative Assistant on Campus Wins Recognition for Service to University Staff

Evelyn Kaufmann, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension administrative assistant in the state office on campus, was recognized Oct. 16 for her contributions to Cooperative Extension. The Meritorious Support Service Award is given each year by Epsilon Sigma Phi, the Cooperative Extension professional fraternity.

Kaufmann has been employed at Colorado State for 20 years and within Colorado State Cooperative Extension for 13 of those years.

"Ev has been more than a support staff person to me," said Wendy Douglass, Cooperative Extension marketing coordinator and one of several staff members who rely on Kaufmann for administrative support. "She has been my right-hand, my mentor, a cheerleader as well as an anchor. She has supported my growth and development as a professional."

During her tenure in Cooperative Extension, Kaufmann has traveled to South Africa, Mozambique and Thailand to work with Cooperative Extension professionals across the country on Cooperative Extension’s national leadership and professional development program.

During her recent career at the university, Kaufmann coordinated Colorado State’s significant involvement in the annual Colorado Garden and Home Show. She also created and produced an employee newsletter as well as helped to coordinate diversity development for the organization, as well as helped with the university’s Colorado Combined Campaign, a campaign to raise money for community charities such as United Way.

Kaufmann, who retired in July, recently supported seven staff that have university roles as divergent as technology development and maintenance, marketing, 4-H and youth development, organizational diversity, grant writing and coordination oversight, and regional staff management. During her tenure, she has supported projects and staff in rural development, student anti-drug and alcohol initiatives, family and community leadership programs, and staff development.        

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Colorado State University Cooperative Extension brings the resources of the university to you. As part of a nation-wide system, we call upon the latest research to help Coloradoans learn more about gardening and commercial horticulture, healthy eating, personal finances, community resources, agricultural technology, food safety, dealing with changes in their community, family relationships and managing small acreages and natural resources. Our youth development program annually reaches more than 115,000 children in Colorado. Our 57 county offices, serving 59 Colorado counties, help people use university expertise on the job, at home and in their community.