2012 – Arlene Norsym
Vice President - University of Illinois Alumni Association
Associate Chancellor for Alumni Relations - UIC
Since 2004, the CUPPA Alumni Association Board of Directors has presented the Jim Marek Alumni Appreciation Award recognizing individuals or groups for their dedication to the fields of urban planning and public administration and their contributions to the development of the college's students and alumni. The 2012 award recipeint is Arlene Norsym, Vice President, University of Illinois Alumni Association and Associate Chancellor, University of Illinois at Chicago
Arlene has been a continued advocate for the CUPPA Alumni Association. She has seen to it that CUPPA alumni have been rewarded for the board’s efforts in activities and growing membership by supporting an increase to our allotments from UIAA. These funds allow us to host more activities and services for alums without bearing the full cost. She continually shows her gratitude to the CUPPA board by personally thanking board members and alumni at every opportunity, noting the work we do in her conversations and in the alumni publications, and encouraging or inviting CUPPA alumni to serve on wider UIAA committees.
Arlene has been the lead, chair, or impetus for a variety committees within UIAA and UIC to provide services and inspiration to the university community. The Alumni Relations Council, chaired by Arlene for example, brings individuals around the UIC campus together to discuss relevant issues and engage in problem solving. The ARC spearheaded the creation of a web-based campus events calendar for the UIC community and also created the WOW employee recognition program. Individuals who provide extraordinary service to students, faculty, and staff may be nominated for the WOW award. She is an expert administrator who has held UIC alumni services together despite unprecedented budgetary reductions and position eliminations.
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The CUPPA Alumni Association has presented the CUPPA Alumni Appreciation Award recognizing individuals or groups for their dedication to the fields of urban planning and public administration and their contributions to the development of the college's students and alumni. In November 2010, the Board of Directors of the CUPPA-AA voted unanimously to rename the award to the Jim Marek Alumni Appreciation Award honoring the former CUPPA assistant dean for student services, Jim Marek. Marek retired from his post in CUPPA on February 6, 2007 after over twenty-nine years of service to the university, its students and alumni. He unexpectedly died on August 13, 2010.