2026 Academic Affairs Distinguished Staff Award Recipients Announced

2026 Academic Affairs Distinguished Staff Award Recipients Announced

Sam Houston State University’s Office of the Provost celebrated and honored five outstanding Academic Affairs (AA) staff members during the fifth annual Academic Affairs Distinguished Staff Awards on April 22. The recipients of this year’s awards are Markeytta Galvan, Sarah Burchett, Dee Dee Dirk, Maegan McKerrow and Julie Campbell.

“The awards honor our staff colleagues in Academic Affairs for their outstanding work and commitment to our students, faculty, the division and our university,” Sumanth Yenduri, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, said. “It is an incredible opportunity to offer my gratitude to our staff colleagues.”

Markeytta Galvan, administrative associate in the College of Business Administration dean’s office, received the Rookie Award. This award recognizes a recently-hired AA staff member who has quickly asserted themselves as passionate, effective and a go-getter in their respective area.

“Receiving the Rookie Award is both an honor and humbling experience,” Galvan said. “It is incredibly rewarding to have my hard work, dedication and commitment recognized during my first couple of years.”

Sarah Burchett, partnerships and communications coordinator in the Center for Community Engagement, received the Spirit Award. The Spirit Award recognizes a staff member who constantly exhibits a positive attitude and takes initiative in generously serving faculty, students and their colleagues.

“Winning this award provides further motivation to continue doing the best I can in the position I am in,” Burchett said. "My favorite aspect of this job is truly the people. I work alongside incredible individuals across campus and throughout our community."

Dee Dee Kirk, assistant to the chair in the Department of Counselor Education, received the Loyalty Award. This award recognizes a staff member who has had at least 10 years of service at SHSU, with at least five of those years within AA, and has shown superior service and an outgoing commitment to faculty, staff and students.

“I feel fortunate to work under Academic Affairs at SHSU,” Kirk said. “Their continued support for staff has made a meaningful difference, and I truly believe that anyone who has the opportunity to work in this area is very lucky.”

Maegan McKerrow, director of business and administrative operations at the College of Criminal Justice, received the Leadership Award. The Leadership Award is presented to the staff member who leads others and displays leadership qualities, such as exceptional communication, problem-solving, integrity and a desire to help others succeed.

“To me, this award represents a validation of the work I’ve poured into the university over the years,” McKerrow said. “It serves as a meaningful reminder that even the day-to-day tasks contribute to a much larger, impactful mission within Academic Affairs.”

For the ceremony’s final award, Yenduri presented the Distinguished Staff Member of the Year Award to Julie Campbell, associate director of the Center for Building Business Professionals in the College of Business Administration. This prestigious award honors the staff member who has shown the ability to lead and create a positive work environment and consistently makes an impact through contribution and commitment to the university’s core purpose and values.

“This award represents both personal growth and the support of a strong team around me,” Campbell said. “It reinforces that the work we’re doing matters and inspires me to keep pushing forward, learning and helping others succeed.”