The executive assistant is recognized for her exemplary behind-the-scenes work on UMB’s Middle States accreditation process and making sure the peer review team’s visit to campus went smoothly.
Leilani Uttenreither, MM, MS, experienced a double dose of shock on June 23 in the President’s Boardroom at the Saratoga Building.
First, she was surprised with news that she had been selected as the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Employee of the Month for June. Then she was shocked to see that about 25 employees from around the University were on hand to celebrate the occasion, filling the room in UMB’s second in-person Employee of the Month Award ceremony since February 2020.
“I was so shocked,” said Uttenreither, who is the executive assistant to UMB’s provost and executive vice president, Roger J. Ward, JD, EdD, MSL, MPA. “I can’t believe all these people showed up for me in person, including people from the Staff Senate who don’t even work in this building. I thought this was going to be a human resources presentation, but I thought to myself as I walked in, ‘There’s a lot of laughter in the room for an HR meeting.’ ”
UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, delivered the good news to Uttenreither, who has worked at UMB for nearly eight years and was honored for her behind-the-scenes work on the University’s Middle States accreditation process, including her efforts to ensure a smooth experience for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education’s peer review team when it visited campus in early April.
(In photo, left: Leilani Uttenreither is flanked by Roger Ward, left, and Bruce Jarrell.)
“This reaccreditation happens every eight years and is the most important activity the University goes through,” said Ward, who served as the Middle States Steering Committee co-chair. “Without accreditation, we don’t get federal financial aid for students, we don’t get federal grants — that good seal of approval that we need in order to execute on our mission.
“A lot of tasks aren’t necessarily delegated but must be well handled behind the scenes for the site visit itself to go really well, and you need someone who could think about what those things are, from ‘Do we need to have extra phone chargers on hand for the visitors who might have forgotten to bring theirs?’ to ‘Do we need umbrellas on standby in case it starts raining and we need to get them around campus?’
“This cycle, that person was Leilani. And so without her quiet and effective work, we would not have achieved the success we’ve had. I think it was very appropriate that she was nominated for this award and that the University saw fit to recognize Leilani with this honor.”
Courtney Resnick, EdD, special assistant to the dean, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, worked closely with Uttenreither during the Middle States process as members of the Logistics Committee. Resnick nominated her for the Employee of the Month Award, praising her work on the site visit in particular.
“The site visit was nearly three years in the making,” Resnick said. “While many individuals contributed to its success, Leilani was the one quietly and consistently holding it all together. From coordinating complex meeting schedules and room logistics to managing catering, communications, and travel arrangements, Leilani’s attention to detail and calm under pressure were remarkable.”
Resnick noted that Uttenreither organized UMB’s first-ever Middle States Kickoff event, an outdoor celebration April 2 that featured food, music, giveaways, the Oriole Bird mascot, and more than 100 attendees. “The event was fun, informative, and engaging, and it started our reaccreditation visit off on a positive note,” Resnick said.
“During the April 6-9 site visit itself, Leilani seamlessly managed overlapping meetings, handled real-time logistical challenges, and ensured that all events were executed flawlessly,” she added. “I can say without exaggeration that the entire effort would have been very difficult without her leadership, foresight, and grace.”
Tricia O’Neill, JD, senior advisor, Office of the Provost, and a member of the Middle States Logistics Committee, said that with so many people involved in the accreditation process — comprising two committees and seven working groups — a lot of ideas are floated during the group discussions.
“You’re going to get a wide range of opinions from a large group, and Leilani helped us elevate the good ideas, being the point person to check in with Dr. Ward and answer the question, ‘Is Roger OK with this? Is Roger OK with that?’ ” O’Neill said. “We met every Thursday at 10 a.m. for three years, so somebody had to be tracking ideas and following up on things, and that was Leilani. I don’t think you could write a job description for what she does, let alone find somebody who does it as well. She is a great partner to us all.”
Uttenreither received a master’s degree in project management from University of Maryland Global Campus in May, after juggling her final semester responsibilities with Middle States tasks and her regular job duties, which included helping to organize a mid-April trip by Ward and three UMB deans to South Korea along with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
“It was a lot to deal with, it was all happening in March, and it presented a real challenge as I was working to finish my degree online,” said Uttenreither, who also finds time to serve as treasurer of the University System of Maryland Women’s Forum and the Westchester Elementary School PTA in Catonsville, Md. “So, yes, sometimes the work is unpredictable in this job, but I like the challenge and would not enjoy just doing the same thing every day. I like getting into the ‘mess,’ so to speak, and figuring out solutions. I just really enjoy the problem-solving aspects of my job.”
Uttenreither, who received a certificate, a letter of commendation, and $250 for the Employee of the Month Award, thanked Ward and Resnick for their support, as well as Katie Park, accounting analyst, Office of the Provost and University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies, who helps handle travel and procurement issues.
“It’s such an honor to be recognized by the University,” Uttenreither said. “I’m really grateful and thankful to be singled out, and I am still just amazed that this many people showed up for me.”