John Wood Community College recently announced faculty and staff members who were honored as Employees of the Year for 2020 as well as employees who reached milestone service anniversaries.
Jimmy Behrens of Quincy was named Full-time Faculty Member of the Year. Behrens is an instructor in the mathematics department and in his fourth year of teaching at JWCC. He teaches statistics, math for elementary teachers, developmental math, and currently serves on the curriculum and academic standing committees. Behrens holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Quincy University and a master’s degree in statistics from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He lives in Quincy with his wife Madalynn and their son Wren.
Vicky Nieders of Quincy was named Full-time Staff Member of the Year. Nieders has worked for the College for 24 years, starting in career services before moving to the information technology department as the first help desk technician. She currently holds the position as coordinator of instructional technology and training. She completed both an associate of information management/business in 1998 and an undeclared associate degree in 2014 from JWCC.
Heather Keller-Giltner of Quincy was named Part-time Faculty Member of the Year for 2020. Keller-Giltner, associate faculty in the Languages, Communication, Humanities, and Fine Arts Department, has provided instruction in English and communication courses both in person and online since 2015. Keller-Giltner holds baccalaureate degrees in English and communication and a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Illinois at Springfield; she is also a PhD candidate in leadership at the University of the Cumberlands. She serves as a lecturer and associate faculty member at Quincy University, Culver-Stockton College and other local institutions and works independently as a career and executive coach. Additionally, she serves as President of Salem Church in Quincy, is a board member of the Friends of the Castle (supporting the Villa Kathrine), and formerly served as an executive board member of Arts Quincy.
Jeffrey Grott of Quincy was named JWCC Part-time Staff Member of the Year. Grott, a part time Officer with the JWCC Police Department, has worked at the College for the past 7 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Police and Staff Command. Jeff retired as a sergeant from the Quincy Police Department in 2018 after over 27 years of service.
In addition to Employee of the Year recognition, JWCC announced the following employees who marked milestone anniversaries between January 2020 and December 2020:
25 Years of Service
Gina Chapman of Quincy, software licensing administrator
20 Years of Service
Tom Bentley of Quincy, department chair and assistant professor of emergency services
Josh Brueck of Quincy, director of information technology
Sandy Smith of Quincy, student services-admissions specialist
Phil Steinkamp of Payson, assistant professor of truck driver training
15 Years of Service
Jason DeVerger of Quincy, maintenance technician
Randall Egdorf of Quincy, assistant professor of social & behavioral sciences
Lindsay Herren of Quincy, financial aid coordinator
Chris Kaelke of Quincy, department chair & professor of natural sciences
10 Years of Service
Tiffany Frericks of Quincy, assistant professor of social & behavioral sciences
Christine Genenbacher of Sutter, financial aid coordinator
Barb Lieber of Quincy, director of the learning resource center
Alan Prewitt of Hannibal, MO., grants compliance officer
5 Years of Service
Bill Beard of Quincy, visual & social media coordinator
Emily Dozier of Quincy, adult education transition coordinator
Gordon Forbes of Quincy, business & industry coordinator
Kristen Foster of Quincy, student navigation coordinator
Brenda Graff of Clayton, department chair & assistant professor of mathematics
Eric Piner of Taylor, MO., maintenance technician
Steven Soebbing of Quincy, assistant professor of music & theater
Jerry Wellman of Maywood, MO., HVAC systems manager
