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Nancy DoveWhat is the spirit
of JMU? Is it in the great academic success demonstrated by the alumni?
Is it the beautiful campus that the tour guides boast
about? Or is it in the multitude of activities that students participate
in? No, I believe the spirit of JMU is found in the people at this
university. That was the stimulus behind looking at the nominations
for this award and one certainly stood apart from all the rest. Not
often do I read about an individual being described as a “saucy” lady
and as “Mama Dove.” Her dedication to JMU alone qualifies
her for today’s award, but I believe that the love and passion
for our school exemplify her true character and the meaning of “All
Together One.” After talking with
Mrs. Dove, I learned that she worked with her husband at JMU for
25 years starting in the Personnel Department and working
up to Assistant
Director of Employee Relations, now Human Resources. She enjoyed dealing on
a day to day basis with JMU employees. She proudly boasts that interaction
with
the people at JMU was the most enjoyable part of her experience here and credits
the success of JMU to the dedication of those people. Mrs. Dove’s dedication
has kept her here since the time that JMU was a small teachers’ college,
when ISAT was not even a dream, and when the current basketball coach was a
player. Coming out of retirement to return to the JMU community, today she
works in the
Cardinal House and takes pleasure in seeing the accomplishments of our graduates
in which her son and granddaughter are members. Considering JMU her second
home, Mrs. Dove not only works hard at her job, but has been a fervent supporter
of
JMU athletics within the Duke Club, was a member of the Pilot Club, and stays
extremely active in her Church. It is this dedication,
generosity, and faithfulness that people admire when meeting and
working with Mrs. Dove. Her supervisor of 20 years,
Henry Allen,
told me
he could not say enough good things about her as she gave “so generously
of her time, her talents, and service to James Madison University.” Dr.
Carrier spoke of Nancy Dove’s employment and describes her as a woman of
dedication to her “family, faith, work, and her friends.” He goes
on to say that she has “a disarming smile about her that sets everyone
at ease when they are dealing with her that they are dealing with a person that
has a high sense of integrity in their interest and well being.” I
can say from my experience in meeting her that these qualities are evident
as soon
as she greets you and her passion eminent when talking about JMU. Personally, I found
Nancy Dove to be all that her colleagues described her as. In fact,
when I went to further my investigation I contacted
her former
supervisor
and Dr. Carrier. These individuals, though extremely busy in their own
lives, responded to my request immediately. All seem to jump at the
opportunity
to share with me their magnificent experiences working with Nancy Dove.
In fact,
everyone
I contacted about Nancy did not hesitate a second to tell me that ODK had
made a terrific choice in choosing Mrs. Dove. From former to current supervisors
all agree she is a “tireless worker” who inspires others. Nancy Dove provides
this inspiration not only through her hard work, but through the
advice she gives and follows she says: “students, faculty, and staff,
reach out and touch somebody with a word of encouragement or a kind thought or
smile.” It was my privilege to meet Mrs. Dove, who openly stated to me
that she believes there are people more deserving of this recognition than her,
but that no one has loved her job more. She also expressed to me how important
the meaning of JMU’s “All Together One” theme meant to her
and that the world would be better off taking on this motto. In my opinion, it
is not necessarily the motto itself that creates such a positive atmosphere,
but people like Nancy Dove who takes it upon herself to make JMU the place we
know today. Mrs. Dove we would like to present to you the “All Together
One” award because we do not believe that a person could be more
deserving than you because of your love for JMU shown through your dedication
and spirit.
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