 John Miller, Support Staff Employee of the Year |
DeSales University has named John Miller, water system operator in the DeSales University facilities department, and Ann Koefer, coordinator of tutorial services and the Gateway to Success program, Employees of the Year for 2012. Miller received the Support Staff Employee of the Year award, and Koefer received the Professional Staff Employee of the Year award. Both were recognized for their years of service and contributions to the University’s success, during the Service Excellence Dinner held on the DeSales campus on Tuesday, April 10.
The Employee of the Year awards are given annually to a professional and a support staff member in recognition of outstanding service. Recipients are distinguished for their commitment to the University's mission, witness to the values for which the University stands, and service marked by such characteristics as effort, skill, positive attitude and creativity in the work place.
Ann Koefer has been at DeSales University for 16 years. She earned her undergraduate degrees in psychology and human services from the University of Scranton and her master’s of education in student affairs from Kutztown University. Before coming to DeSales, Ann was the program coordinator for the English as a Second Language program at Lehigh University and was a youth coordinator for the Office of Continuing Education at Northampton Community College.
 Ann Koefer, Professional Staff Employee of the Year
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Ann has been married to her husband Robert for 28 years. Their son Andrew is a 2007 graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, where he was a member of the men’s varsity basketball team from 2003 to 2005, and their daughter Elsbeth is a 2010 graduate of the Catholic University of America and is pursuing a law degree from Duquesne University.
Outside of her work with DeSales students, Ann is a CCD teacher at St. Peter’s Church in Coplay, Pa., and she is a March of Dimes neighborhood coordinator. She enjoys music, walking, and gardening.
John Miller is a lifelong resident of Coopersburg, Pa. He attended Southern Lehigh High School and Lehigh County Vo-Technical School, where he learned plumbing, heating, and air conditioning.
He began working in the facilities department at DeSales in December 1981 in plumbing, HVAC, and water and sewer maintenance. Over the years, he was promoted to water and sewer operator. Today he is instrumental in overseeing all of the water and sewer operations throughout the entire campus.
In his free time, John enjoys saltwater fishing and drag racing his old car. He also spends a lot of time riding his Harley motorcycle. His favorite adventure is driving a tractor-trailer hauling horses around the country. It is said that he is the world’s foremost expert on Warner Brothers and Hanna Barbera Cartoons.