On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Randolph-Macon recognized 11 dedicated staff members during the College’s semi-annual Yellow Jacket Awards ceremony in Birdsong Hall.

President Robert Lindgren expressed his gratitude for the hard work of staff members across campus and their impact on the educational experience of RMC’s students.

“As the Cabinet and I reviewed the outstanding accomplishments of today’s honorees and the outstanding and highly qualified nominees, we are always struck by the breadth of your good work,” Lindgren remarked.

Yellow Jacket Awards were given to staff members who were identified and nominated by their peers as exceptional employees. Each award recipient received a certificate and a cash award. Remarks for each employee, shared by President Lindgren, are excerpted below.

The Excellence Behind the Scenes award is given to a staff member who provides excellent service behind the scenes, showing initiative and drive, and making Randolph-Macon a better place for work and study. Three staff members were presented with this award.

Stephen Arthur

Plumber Helper

“Stephen joined RMC in October of 2021, working as a Plumber Helper in the Trades department.

Stephen now does a majority of all plumbing service calls across the campus. He takes the initiative when responding to calls and is leading efforts to change outdated fixtures in our older restrooms. He is learning general steam boiler maintenance and is taking classes to get his journeyman plumbing license.

Students and co-workers appreciate Stephen’s dedication to making Randolph-Macon a better place for work and study.”

Yazmine Jones

Athletic Trainer

“As a dedicated young professional, Yazmine has seamlessly taken on the responsibility of providing top-tier care for five different RMC athletic teams, totaling over 100 student-athletes. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her daily pursuit of knowledge—conducting research, engaging with fellow professionals, and continuously evaluating and refining her own skills to be the best athletic trainer she can be.

Beyond her technical expertise, Yazmine has fostered a culture of trust and support among her athletes. She is not only a medical professional to them but also a mentor and confidant. The fact that her athletes seek her out—whether to brighten their day or to lean on her during difficult times—speaks volumes about the relationships she builds and the confidence she instills in those she serves.”

Andy Lohman

Writer & Content Marketing Specialist

“Andy took on this important role in our Office of Marketing and Communications in September 2022, serving as editor of the Randolph-Macon Today magazine and writer of nearly all our web stories on rmc.edu.

With a keen interest in telling student stories, he has elevated our content ever since. His background in sports writing has been particularly important in helping better integrate our coverage of athletics into our primary content channels and he’s been instrumental in telling student-driven stories that go beyond game statistics.

The subjects of his stories often comment on how wonderful he is to work with. And his colleagues in Marketing and Advancement especially enjoy his genuine curiosity for all topics, his great editing skills, his way with words, and his easy manner!”

The Excellence as a Manager award is given to a mid-level manager who provides excellence in personnel and department leadership to include employee development, innovative ideas, time management, or use of College resources. Two staff members received this award.

Dennis Harbin

Maintenance Services Supervisor

“With a thorough understanding of all College utilities, mechanical systems, and physical buildings, Dennis has consistently been relied upon to provide insight and to help coordinate repair work and plan deferred maintenance activities, all around the schedules of our faculty, staff, and students. He has mastered the dance of scheduling maintenance around breaks, vacations, and College down times to be as least intrusive to our community as possible.

Dennis has done a valiant job at hiring, training, and managing his staff, working to cross-train associates in all areas of maintenance. He has continued to work closely with our outside vendors and contract support to coordinate larger work efforts across the College. He is a great asset to RMC and will be deeply missed in retirement.”

Rick Golembeski ’96

Executive Director of Development

“Rick’s deep expertise and broad skill set have been instrumental in shaping the success of the Advancement Office and the College as a whole. He leads by example, always willing to take on additional responsibilities, as demonstrated by his co-leadership of the Athletics and Activities Working Group within the Strategic Planning Committee.

Despite a demanding workload, Rick approaches every challenge with patience, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Under his leadership, Randolph-Macon’s alumni participation rate has consistently ranked among the top 30 of all colleges and universities nationwide. His strategic mindset has also driven innovation, including the successful rebranding of the Annual Fund to better engage a younger generation of alumni.”

The Excellence in Service award is given to an employee who provides excellent service to students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni, or visitors. Two staff members received this award.

Terri Church

Assistant Campus Store Manager for Financial Reporting

“Terri is responsible for the tasks of ordering, receiving, pricing, displaying, and inventorying the merchandise of the Randolph-Macon College Campus Store.

In addition, Terri manages the inventory of the store at the end of the fiscal year when every piece of merchandise, every decal, and every sticker must be accounted for. This is no easy task.

Listening is an important part of Terri’s job. Terri listens to her customers, to her students, to her alums. She carefully discerns the advice of every vendor. She is always willing to attend seminars and online sessions to learn about new buying strategies, ways to save money, and better merchandise display techniques.”

Taylor Cox ’22

Coordinator of Inclusive Engagement and Outdoor Programs

“Taylor is a consummate professional whose dedication to inclusive engagement and outdoor programs is truly inspiring. She is empathetic, thoughtful, and insightful, always approaching her work with a level of care and sincerity that makes a lasting impact.

Whether facilitating meaningful conversations or fostering a sense of community, Taylor’s ability to navigate difficult subjects and situations is remarkable—she handles challenges with the same confidence and grace that she demonstrates when scaling a climbing wall.

Her work is a testament to her deep understanding of people, her passion for inclusion, and her unwavering commitment to making every individual feel valued and heard.”

The Excellence as a Team Member award is given to an employee who exhibits outstanding teamwork and cooperation, both in their own department and with others. Four staff members were presented with this award.

Linda Altman

Human Resources Specialist

“Linda is an exceptional team member, demonstrating unmatched expertise in team building, efficiency, and dedication. Linda joined Randolph-Macon in August 2021 as Human Resources Generalist with the primary role of recruitment and onboarding.

Her remarkable interpersonal skills and ability to build genuine connections made her a trusted and invaluable resource for hiring managers, staff, and candidates alike. Linda has a keen sense of awareness of meeting individuals where they are and putting them at ease in all situations.

She is deeply caring, empathetic, and an attentive listener, and is always ready to tackle any challenge with a solution. With her expertise and know-how, Linda is an invaluable asset to our College community.”

Irene Hoskins

Academic Records Coordinator

“Irene started in the Registrar’s office in September 2023, at a time of significant change. During that time of transition, Irene was able to learn her role and help the whole department stay afloat and make the 2024 graduation a success.

Irene is always looking for new opportunities to learn how she can help her peers with their work and help streamline the office and make it as efficient as possible. She is great at multitasking and helping everyone stay organized.

Irene is always willing to help with things that aren’t in her job description because she enjoys learning. She is a pleasure to work with and I appreciate her hard work and dedication to her job and to RMC.”

MK Geratowski

Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach/Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator

“MK is highly successful as a coach, leader, and administrator. Her teams have recorded 118 wins against 79 losses.

MK is clearly focused on the academic success of our student-athletes. The RMC Women’s Lacrosse team has been awarded the IWLCA Academic Honor Squad award every year that the award has been presented. To qualify for this prestigious honor, the team must earn a 3.2 or higher team GPA for the academic year.

MK is a distinguished administrator. The NCAA and its rules are continually changing. MK is RMC’s one-stop shop for all things related to the NCAA. And she handles our needs beautifully.

As the senior woman administrator, MK is a valued and respected voice in the athletic department, representing all views. MK is an incredibly valuable contributor to the RMC community.”

Amir Khozaei

Senior Assistant Director of Operations and Technology, Admissions

“Amir’s technical and recruitment expertise have led to a more efficient and effective Slate instance that serves both the recruiters on the ground and leadership who depend on comprehensive reporting.

Amir’s speed and resourcefulness stand out. He tackles every task with efficiency and confidence.

Beyond his technical contributions, Amir is a true team player. Whether stepping in to read applications, cover events, or speak with prospective students, he is always willing to help.”