Long joined the Blazer Nation family in 1989 and currently serves as the associate director of the Office of Admissions. She oversees the operations of the office through the evaluation of applications, transcripts, and other documents that come with a student’s file.
 
“It was a surprise to receive this award,” said Long. “It was an honor, especially because the nominations came from my coworkers. There is no better group of people to work with than the dedicated staff who loves this institution. We are a great team.”
 
Ryan Hogan, director of the Office of Admissions; Christy Croft, assistant director of the Office of Admissions; and Walter Peacock, development officer in University Advancement and former director of the Office of Admissions, all nominated Long for the award.
 
“Our entire campus knows Lisa Long,” said Hogan. “Lisa leads an example across campus to show we should all work together to do what is best for our students. She will stop everything she is doing to meet with a student and his or her family.”
 
Peacock hired Long and served as her supervisor for more than 25 years.
 
“The people that you surround yourselves with are the ones that make you or break you, and throughout these years, she has been a true professional,” said Peacock. “Lisa has done a tremendous job. I can’t say enough good things about her.”
 
Long is a Valdosta native and graduated from VSU in 1996 with a Bachelor of General Studies. Her husband, David, as well as their two adult children, Travis and Keri, also earned degrees from VSU. She and her husband are active members of the community. They enjoy attending Crossroads Baptist Church and cheering on the VSU Blazers at football games.
 
“We have a great institution,” said Long. “I love working with the students and I am looking forward to what 2017 has in store for VSU.”
 
Benjamin Li, a computer coordinator from Information Technology, and Blake Foster, a painter from Physical Plant and Facilities Planning, were runners-up for VSU’s Fall 2016 Employee of the Semester. The other nominees were Elaine Darity, Marty Spells, and Chelsea Holcombe from Campus Recreation; Tracy Burch, Leah McLaren, and Sheree Hudson from the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services; Barrie Fitzgerald from the Office of Institutional Research; Susan Jones from the College of Arts and Sciences; James Jenkins from Physical Plant and Facilities Planning; Regina Lee from Human Resources; and Teresa Williams from the Graduate School.
 
VSU’s Council on Staff Affairs presents the Employee of the Semester Award at the end of every fall and spring semester. All full-time classified staff employees are eligible for the award.