Anupama Shanbhag, better known by most facultyand staff as Ranjoo, received the 2005 RWC Distinguished Staff Award at ceremonies on April 29.Ranjoo is a relatively new face on the RWC campus, but has quickly made a significant impact on campus life. She began working as an intern in 1998 for the RWC Office Information Technology Department (OIT).
After she obtained her Associate’s degree in Applied Business Technology in 1999, Ranjoo joined the OIT staff and today is an information technology analyst. Her colleagues say that Ranjoo has helped them and many students master new computer technologies.
In 2003 Ranjoo became an adjunct faculty member at RWC. She taught evening courses in desktop publishing and macromedia flash software while still holding down her full-time job.
Brenda Helton, one of Ranjoo’s colleagues, says, “Ranjoo is the ultimate problem solver and team player. She never says no or it can’t be done.” Helton follows this by also sharing her personal thoughts on Ranjoo’s dedication, mentioning that “there have been several times she has worked from home to solve an impending problem and she consistently goes more than the extra mile.”
Shelia Yates-Mattingly also shares Helton’s view on how wonderful an addition Ranjoo has been to RWC. “Ranjoo has never been too busy to assist our student organizations with their desktop technology needs,” Yates-Mattingly said. “I have never had a student complain to me that she asked him or her to come back later.” Yates-Mattingly added that students always leave with a smile on their face and a great bit of relief as well.
Ranjoo, who holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Library Science from her native India, says she enjoys “troubleshooting problems and interacting with students to help them out any way I can. I think there is some truth in the wise saying that hard work is the key to success and that any significant achievement is only possible with hard work, courage, persistence, commitment to quality and long lasting patience.”
The OIT Department Chair, Professor Vicki Hammer, also had nothing but wonderful things to say about Ranjoo. Hammer noted that “Ranjoo has demonstrated outstanding initiative and leadership on several extracurricular projects that benefited the college–and even greater community–in numerous ways.”
Hammer also mentioned Ranjoo’s recent participation in a project that developed a Business Technology expanded enrollment grant. According to Hammer, Ranjoo stepped up and became the team leader, researching all grant purchases, coordinating equipment deliveries, participating in all related training, and demonstrating the technology to faculty and students.
“I am really honored to be chosen for this award,” Ranjoo said. “It reinforces my belief that Raymond Walters College is a great place to work.