This year’s Rich Steele Campus Services award goes to Robbie Ouzts, Career Development Advisor II, with the Vice Provost/Graduate Education and Faculty Development department

In recognition of Rich Steele’s 36 years at Georgia Tech and his positions throughout Campus Services, upon his retirement from Georgia Tech, June 2017, Campus Services created the Rich Steele Campus Services Award.

The award annually recognizes one Georgia Tech person – faculty, staff, or contract professional – who consistently demonstrates a commitment to making the university experience a positive one for Georgia Tech students.

Robbie Ouzts received multiple nominations for this award, stating that she “has helped generations of Tech students in their career development, to find jobs and internships, and improve career development programs on campus.”

One of the specific projects Robbie worked to a success was the Career, Research & Innovation Development Conference (CRIDC), Tech's premier career conference for graduate students.

“Robbie was on top of everything, having all the information necessary from previous events. She worked so hard on bringing panelists and employers.”

Presented by the Graduate Student Government Association, CRIDC expanded to a two-day event this year and added a career fair.

“Robbie made significant efforts to bring in companies to meet our students and address employers’ concerns. The CRIDC-2018 was a great success because we had 40 companies (target was 25) and doubled the student attendance to ~560 students.”

When asked why Robbie should receive the Rich Steele Campus Services award, students responded unequivocally.

“Robbie is very hard working and dedicated to helping students. When something needs to be done, she is always responsive. Whether it is 10 pm on a Saturday night or 6 am on a Monday morning, Robbie will definitely respond to your email or message with all the information you need. She is very good at keeping things on track and we students learned a lot of management skills from her, in addition to her excellent career advising skills. She definitely deserves to be recognized for all she does.”

Her excellent career advising skills was described more than once.

“Robbie Ouzts is an enthusiastic career coach, advising grad students even on weekends or when she is on vacation.”

A student said it best, “Every time I have left her office, it has been with a hugely positive attitude, and a plan about what to do next and how to improve, academically. I have been able to confide in her openly and she has always pointed me in the right direction. She has proactively helped me out, even in times of personal strife, and for that, I am exceedingly grateful.”

Summing it up, this year’s Rich Steele Campus Services award recipient, Robbie Ouzts, “has made a tangible impact on our graduate students. For months, she worked days, nights, weekends, even vacations and Christmas break, to make CRIDC a success, without complaint, all while juggling her other work! She created connections between our students and employers and reduced uncertainty of our students after their graduate programs.”

For all this and more, congratulations, Robbie, and thank you for your “commitment to making the university experience a positive one for students!”