Cindy Dion, Faculty Services Coordinator in Center for Teaching and Learning, has been named Staff of the Month for February 2024. Dion has been with College of Western Idaho (CWI) since July 2022, and in her relatively short time here, she has made significant contributions to the institution.
Dion 's role involves coordinating the Letters of Teaching Appointments for faculty each semester, collecting credentialing documents for new and continuing faculty, and spearheading the onboarding and training for new faculty. Her responsibilities are crucial to the smooth functioning of the academic schedule and the professional integration of new faculty members into the CWI community.
Annie Estvold, Department Chair of Social Sciences, who nominated Dion, praised her dedication and positive attitude, stating, "Cindy is a person who has a tough and important job, and she always does it with a smile on her face! Cindy plays an important role in our semester schedules, and there are so many moving parts to making sure every class has a time and space. There have been several instances where I have needed to make changes down to the wire, and Cindy has never once made me feel bad or like I am inconveniencing her. Her positive energy is contagious and welcomed during times of stress."
In addition to her work with scheduling, Dion has recognized the need for a more intentional and ongoing onboarding process for new faculty. She has taken the initiative to meet with various stakeholders across campus to gather insights and feedback on what should be included in the onboarding experience. "When starting this initiative, Cindy made time to meet with different folks across campus to learn from them what they believed to be important to include in the onboarding experience. Rather than tackle this completely on her own, she was open to hearing from others. I believe this intentional approach will result in an amazing and innovative onboarding experience for our new faculty," Estvold added.
Dion's approach exemplifies several of CWI's core values. She is not only dedicated to her work but also to creating a supportive and collaborative environment for her colleagues. "Overall, Cindy is an integral part of CWI, and she manages to represent several CWI Core Values while doing her work. She is very deserving of recognition," Estvold concluded.
Dion was drawn to CWI because of its mission to support students and the local community. She shared, "I love supporting people who support students. Our faculty work hard for our students, and I want to help support them in any way I can." Her background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Puget Sound. Before joining CWI, Cindy was a teacher and instructional coach in the K-12 education system.
Reflecting on her time at CWI, Dion mentioned working at the College has given her a deeper understanding and appreciation of higher education. She also values the opportunities for personal growth and development that come with the dynamic environment at CWI. "CWI cares about students. I love working with people that want students to succeed," Dion said.
Outside of work, Dion enjoys a variety of hobbies. She loves reading mystery books, gardening, bird watching, and is learning how to play pickleball with her husband. Dion grew up in Nampa, went away to college, and returned to raise her family. Her husband is a teacher, and by August, both of their children will be in college.
Dion 's commitment to her work and the positive impact she has on her colleagues and the Institution make her a well-deserved recipient of the Staff of the Month award for February 2024. Congratulations to Cindy Dion for her outstanding contributions to CWI.
