Congratulations Karel!

Karel Smith is the Administrator of Nisonger Center and the 3rd recipient of the Nisonger Center Staff Excellence Award! This quarterly award recognizes a staff member who goes above and beyond daily to advance our mission, vision and values and is a true representation of ‘excellence’. Karel was nominated for demonstrating Excellence, Compassion, and Innovation.

“Karel has managed business operations and navigated multiple emergency priorities amidst the adverse climate of the COVID-19 pandemic with leadership, grace and compassion; setting an example for others and doing so in a way that helped Nisonger Center faculty, staff and students feel safe, protected, comforted and reassured in a time of undue stress and anxiety.”

“Karel has masterfully navigated Nisonger Center through the COVID-19 crisis… she has been nothing less than remarkable and steady throughout.”

“This year we had to make many changes in the way we work and operate… she is the epitome of a team player. We are so grateful to have her on our team!”

A special thank you to everyone who submitted nominations. Nisonger Center is very proud to honor Karel with this award (presented at the January 2021 All-Staff Meeting); she is such a valuable team player and keeps Nisonger Center up and running with a humble heart and gracious spirit – thank you for all of your hard work and commitment to making Nisonger great!

Mission Statement:
The Mission of The Ohio State University Nisonger Center is to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families.
Vision Statement:
To develop and provide the highest quality interdisciplinary care, education, and research to support the
inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life.
Values:
The Nisonger Center values are the commitments made by our faculty, staff, and students regarding how we will carry out our work. Those values include:
Person/Family-Centered* Excellence* Compassion * Hope* Cultural Competence* Self-determination * Innovation