Dr. Med Byrd Receives First Departmental PASSION Award

The Forest Biomaterials Department Head office has instituted a new annual recognition for faculty and staff, the PASSION award. Each year, the Department Head office will recognize the member of faculty or staff who most exhibits the following:

1. Outstanding Achievement & Performance: consistently and substantially exceeds the expectations of the position; performs at a level above and beyond normal requirements; makes important and significant contributions within their area of expertise; furthers the mission of the Department and the College.

2. Personal Interaction: consistently and substantially demonstrates an ability and willingness to work positively, respectfully, and effectively with others; has significantly improved/increased student/customer satisfaction; is open-minded, fair and respectful of differences between students and colleagues.

3. Initiative & Creativity: has significantly improved a work process or system or has developed an innovative system/process/approach as it relates to their area of responsibilities.

Other areas of distinction may include:

• Diversity & inclusion initiatives
• Sustainability initiatives
• Service inside and outside the University

We are very pleased to announce Dr. Med Byrd is the first recipient of this special recognition!

Dr. Byrd has been a critical part of building our world-class Paper Science and Engineering program. He always strives for excellence, bolstering the well being of our students through his valuable mentorship. Dr. Byrd is full of positive, forward-moving energy, which is truly the soul of our Department. His dedication has no boundaries. He never seeks to be acknowledged. Instead, he is always concerned about awarding others around him.

Based on discussions with faculty and staff and reflecting on the criteria, this years recipient is a clear choice.