McBride named May’s Civil Service Employee of the Month

Pam McBride, program assistant for the offices of Career Development and Student Activities, has been named South Dakota State University’s Civil Service Employee of the Month for May. 

She will be honored from 11 a.m.-noon Thursday, May 18, at the University Student Union, office 136.

McBride has worked at SDSU since fall 2020.

Becky Pistulka, assistant director of employer engagement in the Office of Career Development, said McBride is the face of their office and greets all who walk in the door. McBride excels in her position, and she’s always willing to lend a helping hand when asked.

“She has been extremely helpful in assisting with our eight career fairs that we host on campus. She approves recruiters in our external Handshake program to register for fairs, answers questions and helps on career fair day with registration,” Pistulka said.

McBride’s work with student organizations for Jacks Club Hub includes offering assistance when updating their contact information and answering questions for posting events.

Cara Olson, assistant director for student activities, said McBride is diligent, hardworking and highly adaptable.

“Pam is skilled at supporting several competing demands on her time while providing high-quality support for staff, students and community members alike. She is always willing to take on a new project or to take initiative with office duties and roles. Pam is a delight to work with and unites our offices,” Olson said.

Stephen Miedema, program coordinator for career development, said McBride exemplifies person-centered service and adapts to ever-changing needs of a busy office space with friendly attentiveness.

McBride fields a lot of questions from campus visitors at the University Student Union, Miedema said. “Pam goes out of her way to not only answer questions but to be as welcoming and helpful as possible. As the first line of contact, she also regularly encounters individuals who are upset. In these moments, she always demonstrates professionalism, even in stressful situations.”

Alex Andersen, career education coordinator, praised McBride’s positive and helpful demeanor.

“Pam is always willing to help and support all members of our office, no matter what the task may be. She has been a huge help to me with any questions that I may come up with about our office in my first few months working in my position,” Andersen said.

McBride moved to Brookings in June 2020. She has three children—a soon-to-be college senior, an eighth-grader and a sixth-grader—and loves to watch her kids do what they love to do, which includes a lot of soccer games and bowling matches.

“I love working at SDSU, especially in the union with all of the energy during the academic year with all the students around,” McBride said. “We have a great team here, and I truly enjoy working with them every day!”

All SDSU Employee of the Month selections are determined through a nomination process by the Civil Service Advisory Council. Each civil service employee of the month receives an appreciation monetary gift from the F.O. Butler Foundation. The trustees of the foundation recognize the importance of civil service employees and take this opportunity to thank them for their exemplary service.