Current Pure Gold Recipients

Kendall is an outstanding custodian who has dedicated 10 years to MSU with unwavering commitment and a positive attitude. He is not only one of the hardest working members of our department but one of the most beloved. His cheerful demeanor and genuine care for students make him an essential part of our university community. 

Kendall consistently goes above and beyond in his duties, ensuring that campus spaces are clean, welcoming and safe for everyone. He takes the time to engage with students, offering friendly conversations, support, and creating a warm and inclusive environment. His dedication is evident in the extra effort he puts into his work, whether it's staying late to finish a task or helping a colleague without hesitation. 

Beyond his work ethic, Kendall's kindness and enthusiasm inspire those around him. His positive energy uplifts our team, reminding us of the importance of dedication and compassion. He embodies MSU's values, contributing to a strong sense of community. For these reasons, we proudly nominate Kendall for this recognition, celebrating his decade of service and his invaluable impact on students, staff and faculty alike. 

Award received April 23, 2025. Nominated by David Santos Carrillo.

The members of the Archives and Special Collections Department and administration of the MSU Library enthusiastically support a Pure Gold recognition for curator Melissa Pomeroy. 

Since joining us in ASC three years ago, Mel has made one positive contribution after another to the library, university and community. She goes above and beyond at all times to collaborate with colleagues and to serve our researchers. She constantly thinks outside the box to inspire interest, engage creatively and make library services all that they should be. She has provided significant leadership in preparing the library's Wikipedia contributions and engaging, interactive exhibits, as well as collections for researchers. She loves what she does and, as a result, is just plain fun to work with. The department and the library are better with her presence. 

Mel brings a wealth of knowledge, inspiring work ethic, and honest and open integrity to her work in Archives and Special Collections. Newer employees feel comfortable asking her questions about collections, customer service and office procedures. She is humble, welcoming, kind, a great contributor and collaborator, and fun to be around.

Mel was instrumental in bringing library employees into the Archives to research the history of Renne Library for the building's 75th birthday. She had a good sense of what would be interesting to staff and was able to organize the materials so that their exploration was fun and fruitful. The result of her work on the Library Open House produced a much more nuanced and focused picture of the library's history.

Many people have a fear of archives, and Mel routinely helps all kinds of users work through the layers to find what they need without the frustration. Doralyn Rossmann, dean of the MSU Library, said Mel consistently represents the MSU Library with professionalism and dedication. 

Any ideas Mel brings forward will engage users and teach them how understanding our past can inform our future. Mel truly is Pure Gold!

Award received April 16, 2025. Nominated by Jodi Allison-Bunnell.

Award received April 9, 2025. Nominated by Chairsty Stewart.

Colton is a people person who always ensures the best outcome for campus events. He makes sure each one runs smoothly and efficiently, so that customers will be happy and bring their events to campus in the future. In addition to the quality of his work, which reflects his commitment to perfectionism, he positively impacts the campus community by getting to know everyone and checking in to see how things are going.

We joke (kind of) that he's the glue for connections on campus. He is everyone's friend, resource and ally, never making anyone feel forgotten or left out. He is a very vibrant person, who inspires me to be more vibrant and happy and to make new connections on campus. He's also shown me new tricks with technology to make my job easier.

Award received April 2, 2025. Nominated by Bailee Stenger.

Mark Plante is an extraordinary educator and leader in the Mathematics Department at Great Falls College. For 25 years, his unwavering dedication to student success has transformed lives and inspired excellence. Through innovative teaching methods, Mark ensures students not only master complex concepts but thrive in their academic journeys. His thoughtful course design has driven remarkable success rates in courses like Contemporary Mathematics, Technical Mathematics and College Algebra, profoundly impacting the MSU community.  

Mark's influence extends beyond the classroom. His former students have gone on to achieve incredible successes ranging from groundbreaking research to inspiring teaching careers. As department chair, Mark's leadership has enriched curriculum development and created a collaborative environment. His insightful contributions to initiatives like Data Days showcase his ability to make complex ideas accessible and impactful. Mark is an extraordinary educator whose commitment to student success and high academic standards has inspired his students and colleagues alike. Whether mentoring students to achieve remarkable success or contributing insights at conferences, Mark consistently raises the standard of excellence in education. His leadership has enriched curriculum development and created a collaborative, inclusive environment.

Mark's dedication to teaching, service and community make him a truly deserving candidate for the Pure Gold Award.

Award received March 26, 2025. Nominated by Rebecca Tyler.

Rylie always goes above and beyond to help out students, giving the extra little touches that make them feel welcome in our office. Her calm demeanor and kind actions make everyone feel comfortable. Rylie keeps our office running smoothly, keeping track of our budget and our calendars, adding breaks into the days when we are full. She makes sure we have some downtime to recover after particularly trying situations. Rylie makes sure everyone feels "seen" and always checks in before scheduling a lot of appointments for anyone. 

The Department of Education required campuses to submit a Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment report by January 15, 2025. Despite significant challenges, Ms. Dena Wagner-Fossen and Ms. Leah Habel ensured the report was submitted on time. 

Dena worked closely with the National Student Clearinghouse to gather the necessary documents, manually verifying information for over 2,300 students. She dedicated countless hours outside her regular schedule to prepare the report. 

Leah played a crucial role in submitting the report, testing a Banner solution for all four MSU-affiliated campuses, which greatly benefited each campus. She also worked many extra hours to ensure the report was ready. 

Without their dedication and hard work, the campus would not have met the Department of Education's deadline, risking penalties. Their extra efforts demonstrate their commitment to Great Falls College MSU's mission to support students. I am continually impressed by what we achieve on our small campus. Dena and Leah led this major project, and their colleagues in Student Services understood the challenge and stepped in when needed. We have a truly special campus community, with Dena and Leah fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. 

They are PURE GOLD!

Award received March 5, 2025. Nominated by Stephanie Erdmann.

Denise De La Garza is PURE GOLD to me because of her caring help during the Cattle Academy in Miles City. 

As the MSU Extension family economic specialist, I present workshops across Montana about estate planning. One week, I gave an evening presentation at the library in Bozeman on Monday, the Farm Bureau Federation in Billings on Tuesday, and in Miles City on Wednesday. By then my cold and sore throat were about to do me in. Denise took one look and said I needed to take it easy. She helped carry in four suitcases of presentation equipment and four boxes of handouts. Then she set up MSU Extension MontGuides with mini posters on the tables. She made a list of the MontGuides that needed to have more added when I returned to Bozeman. From somewhere she rounded up a teapot and managed to find tea bags that were "good for a cold and sore throat." After my presentation she loaded up all the handouts and helped carry all the equipment to my car. Since then, I have learned this type of caring is typical of Denise. 

How fortunate MSU is to have such a "golden" person on staff.

Award received February 26, 2025. Nominated by Marsha A. Goetting.

Glenn is the director of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Machining Laboratories. In this role, he provides invaluable service to the department and greater campus community by running this complex space. Glenn teaches students how to appropriately use tools in the shop and provides essential advice that has enabled many projects to reach completion. Countless capstone students have leaned heavily on Glenn's advice and support. Research students also rely on Glenn to help their ideas become reality. Though his workload is high, Glenn is always calm, patient and helpful. He has helped me several times to quickly modify a part for a lab or teaching project, despite juggling other assignments.

We are beyond grateful that Glenn is part of the MSU community.

Award received February 19, 2025. Nominated by Chelsea Heveran and Mark Jankauski.

I would like to nominate Jessica Frank, associate director of the Academic Support Center and assistant director of Writing Services. She has been a student, staff and faculty member at MSU Billings for many years and will be serving her last day with us very soon. 

Her hard work and dedication stand out because of her daily commitment, professionalism and – more importantly – her service to the students. Her commitment to the students extends beyond campus and normal work hours. She dedicates her time to continuing education for incarcerated students and education for dually enrolled students, and she leads the charge to make sure all MSU Billings students feel welcomed and taken care of. She visits the high schools to meet with students in person and is constantly reviewing writing submissions. She coordinates campus events that create a sense of pride and belonging, such as workshops with the library, a soup day, Pi Day and the famous Chili Day. 

Jessica will be missed, and we wish her luck in her future endeavors. We hope she knows the impact she has made on all of us at Montana State University Billings!   

Award received February 12, 2025. Nominated by Logan Lucas.

Dr. Angela Woodland exemplifies excellence in everything she does, consistently going above and beyond with unwavering dedication. Anyone fortunate enough to spend time around her has witnessed her extraordinary commitment to her students, the field of academia and the future of accounting. Her teaching is marked by passion, authenticity and an unrelenting drive to inspire. Dr. Woodland doesn’t just teach; she transforms her classroom into a space where students grow not only as professionals but as individuals. Her influence leaves a lasting impact, shaping students into the best versions of themselves.

Dr. Woodland embodies care, always willing to go the extra mile for her students. Her presence is a treasure to the university, and her contributions are invaluable to the countless lives she touches.

Award received February 5, 2025. Nominated by Elora Van Middendorp.

We wanted to take a moment to recognize and give heartfelt thanks to Brad for his exceptional contributions to the Museum of the Rockies. His hard work and dedication stand out, and he continually goes above and beyond to support the team in any way that he can. Brad is always willing to lend a hand, tackle challenges head-on and bring a positive attitude to every task. His attention to detail and commitment to the museum's success are invaluable, and he consistently demonstrates a level of kindness, professionalism and enthusiasm that inspires everyone around him. 

Thank you, Brad!

Award received January 29, 2025. Nominated by Evie Fatouros.

I am pleased to nominate Gabby Brown for Pure Gold. Gabby has been a business operations manager (BOM) in the College of EHHD for over a year, but you would not know she has only worked in this position for a year. Her commitment to the college demonstrates profound dedication to ensuring that everyone she encounters is heard, and their needs are correctly met. 

Being a BOM is challenging. Gabby handles these challenges with grace, understanding and a willingness to solve every problem. Out of Gabby's many positive attributes, I would like to highlight her learning mindset. Gabby openly acknowledges her errors and views them as opportunities for learning. She continually seeks internal and external feedback to improve. She shares the lessons or information she learns with her co-workers, staff, and faculty. Gabby goes above and beyond to ensure everyone understands new policies and procedures and is open to providing correct information for all questions and inquiries. I enjoy her openness to fostering a culture of collaboration. Over the last year, she has found her voice. She uses her voice to share her experiences and help others navigate their journeys, encouraging them to embrace mistakes as a natural part of growth. 

In addition to verbal communication, Gabby has created resources, such as a BOM Toolkit, with videos, instructions, information regarding procedures, and helpful tips for business operations managers. This toolkit showcases her willingness to inform and help build a supportive community. 

Gabby is supportive, dedicated, kind, and delightful, and we’re lucky to have her on the EHHD team!

Award received January 22, 2025. Nominated by Skyeler Huntsman.

I enthusiastically nominate Jo Moore for the Pure Gold Award in recognition of her significant contributions as Campus Visit Coordinator in the Admissions Office. 

Jo embodies the spirit of dedication, teamwork, hustle and excellence, devoting her work to the success of the department and MSU. One of Jo's standout qualities is the exceptional energy and work ethic she brings to every aspect of her role. Whether managing campus visits and our team of AdvoCats and Student Ambassadors, or assisting with other teams and departments, Jo approaches every task with enthusiasm, ensuring nothing is overlooked. She has an extraordinary ability to problem solve in the face of adversity, creating a seamless experience for prospective students and their families.

Jo is proactive in identifying areas where she can contribute, often taking the initiative to start new projects or cover needs before they are even assigned. No job is too small or beneath her; she is always willing to roll up her sleeves to pitch in or bundle up to cover a campus tour. This work ethic is contagious, setting an example for her colleagues and AdvoCats, and making the entire team stronger. Her willingness to assist other departments, whether offering support during busy seasons or helping with special events, speaks to her commitment to the success of the entire office and MSU. Jo's positive attitude, reliability and drive to get things done make her a truly exceptional team member.

Award received January 15, 2025. Nominated by Alyssa Simmons.