‘I enjoy connecting with everyone’: Kimberly King earns Outstanding Staff Award
Kimberly King stepped into a leadership role for the 2023-2024 academic year as president of the Staff Council at the VCU School of Social Work.
She’s stepped out with more experience and a sense of accomplishment – and as the recipient of the school’s annual Outstanding Staff Award.
“Receiving the award made me feel special,” says King, the administrative coordinator for the Office of Field Education, who has been with the school since 2018 and VCU since 1996.
“The award wasn’t something I was considering or thought about. I enjoy being supportive of others because I see all the good work that they are doing. I am appreciative of the people who recognize me as a leader. It just meant the world to me.”
King recused herself from the selection process when she learned she’d been nominated.
“I didn’t want to compete with anybody else,” she says. “I wanted to make sure as president that I was still in a space to be supportive of whoever the winner was.”
Staff Council is an important space that represents and advocates for staff within the school to ensure equity in regard to their roles, contributions, and needs. It’s a neutral space where all staff can gather regardless of their unit or role within the school.
King says she appreciated the opportunity to take on more leadership than in previous volunteer roles, such as serving as treasurer on a few school PTA boards.
“I’m OK with being behind the scenes,” she says. “But I took this as an opportunity to be in a more leadership role and gain leadership skills.”
Before joining the School of Social Work, King previously worked at VCU in graduate admissions, on the MCV Campus, and in Environmental Health and Safety.
“I enjoy working in the School of Social Work. I have broadened my connections within the community and with students through engaging with faculty and other staff. It’s a wonderful place to be.”
Working in the Office of Field Education team in the School of Social Work, King is usually the first point of contact with students and community partners whether virtually or as the first face they see if they visit the office in person.
“I’m the hub person in the office, and I enjoy connecting with everyone,” King says.
Categories Community, Faculty and staff