Praising John Churey's positive attitude and resourcefulness, Dean Kathryn J. Boor '80 presented the extension support specialist with the Service-Mindedness Award at a ceremony Oct. 30 celebrating research, extension and staff excellence. Churey, who works in the Department of Food Science, was recognized for his 37 years of dedicated service.
Churey started at Cornell in 1985, working for several faculty members as a research support specialist. In this role, he provided a wealth of knowledge and experience in food microbiology to professors who have recognized and leveraged Churey’s skills to support the our internationally renowned research and extension program in food science. Early in his career at Cornell, Churey's responsibilities were dramatically increased to include supervision and support of students, postdoctoral researchers and visiting faculty. He was also responsible for working directly with a large number of diverse food processors and farmers.
Over the years, he worked closely with people from the various departments at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station as well as with faculty in Ithaca and associates in the extension offices. His work is not limited to the laboratory. He has also undertaken research projects that include collecting fresh cow manure from dairies, collecting water samples from deep, muddy ditches and inoculating more than 1,200 boiled eggs with foodborne pathogens. In 2015, Churey became the manager of the fruit and vegetable products pilot plant in Geneva.
Churey's experience in food safety-microbiology advice and lab work has been critical for the Cornell Food Venture Center, as the center receives calls for assistance from New York processors on a daily basis. Churey's expertise and commitment allows better service for those constituents.
The Core Value Staff Awards recognize staff whose performance has gone far beyond the standards defined by Cornell’s Skills for Success, recognizing performance that surpasses expectations and makes a significant and/or unique contribution to the college. The award for service-mindedness is given to a team or individual who consistently reaches out to be helpful in a timely and responsive manner; strives to satisfy internal and external customers; and is diplomatic, courteous, accessible and welcoming.
"John’s positive attitude, dedication, resourcefulness and commitment to fulfill our mission are truly unmatched," Boor said at the event.
► Meet all of our 2017 Research, Extension and Staff Award winners
