Gabby Alvarez/Nov 2011

The Bright Idea Award is designed to recognize an individual who has, in the past year, created an innovative program or service consistent with the mission and values of Student Affairs. The new program or service should be one that improves efficiency, customer service, and/or significantly enhances accomplishment of the Division goals.

This October the Bright Idea Award was presented to Gabby Alvarez.

Gabby started her job as Coordinator of Administrative Services in the Disability Resource Center in 2009. Gabby’s bright idea of creating an onsite adaptive technology lab became a reality a year ago. She worked hard to write, coordinate, and present a funding proposal to the University Technology Fee Committee. As a result, the office was awarded $130,000 for the creation of the lab. This critical resource for our students is an example of how Gabby is truly thinking Worlds Ahead. The lab offers an array of assistive software as well as a state of the art Braille Embosser and tactile diagram maker. Since its opening a year ago, the lab has received over 1,700 visits.

Gabby’s nominator wrote, “She is always working to identify ways to better serve students, not only by creating new efficiencies in our day to day work processes, but also by thinking about new and engaging ways to support student success.”

We are proud to have Gabby Alvarez as a member of The Division of Student Affairs.