Braga Named KU Employee of the Month for September 2025

Patricia Braga Named KU Employee of the Month for September 2025

KUTZTOWN, Pa. - Congratulations to Patricia Braga, secretary, Business Administration, on being named Kutztown University Employee of the Month for September 2025.

Braga's nomination from Gary Chao, chair, Business Administration, reads:

"The Department of Business Administration is the largest academic unit at Kutztown University, serving more than 1,200 students, more than 30 faculty members and nearly 100 course sections each semester. Remarkably, Ms. Patricia Braga manages the daily operations of this entire department as its sole academic secretary. While her responsibilities include providing administrative support to leadership, assisting students and faculty with academic needs, coordinating internships and managing departmental processes, it is her professionalism, dedication and impact that truly set her apart.

Patricia treats each responsibility as more than a task - she sees it as an opportunity to strengthen the department and advance KU's mission. She anticipates challenges and resolves them quickly, enabling faculty to concentrate on teaching, research and mentoring. She provides patient and caring guidance to students navigating complex procedures, ensuring they receive the resources needed to succeed. She is also a reliable collaborator across KU offices, building relationships that keep operations running efficiently.

Her specific contributions illustrate her value to the university community. Through careful budget monitoring, she ensures resources are used effectively to support both students and faculty. By managing inventory and office supplies, she prevents disruptions and keeps the department well equipped. Her leadership in training and supervising student workers strengthens office operations while providing those students with valuable professional experience that contributes to their intellectual and career growth. She also plays a pivotal role in open house/recruiting events, coordinating logistics, preparing materials and ensuring prospective students and families experience a welcoming and professional introduction to Kutztown.

In all these ways, Patricia goes far beyond her job description. She actively builds a caring, well-organized academic community that empowers students, enhances faculty effectiveness and reinforces KU's aspiration to be a regional center of excellence."

Nominations are collected from students, faculty and staff, and the Employee of the Month is selected by the Human Resources Advisory Council. A winner will be selected each month, and out of the 12 monthly winners one will be selected as Employee of the Year. The Employee of the Month will receive a plaque, reserved parking and a monetary gift.

For more information on the award or to nominate someone, please visit the KU human resources website.