Computer Science accountant keeps department humming

Computer Science accountant keeps department humming
Sifuentes honored with Distinguished Employee Award

BY JENNIFER HARRIS
Special to the Rice News

It’s possible that Lena Sifuentes may not have been listening closely when Director of Compensation and Employee Relations Colleen Dutton began speaking. Sifuentes, an accountant for the Department of Computer Science, was, after all, sitting next to her 4-month-old grandson, Ian, at the department’s holiday party. And though she wondered why her husband and her sons were at the party, Sifuentes said it was not all that unusual for them to be there — one of her sons works just down the hall from her office, and both her husband and her other son occasionally stop by to visit.

	LENA SIFUENTES

But then Dutton announced she was there to present the Distinguished Employee Award — and said Sifuentes’ name.

”I couldn’t speak when I was standing up there,” Sifuentes said. ”I wanted everyone to stand up because I haven’t worked with a group that’s been greater than this one, and I feel like everyone deserves recognition.”

Sifuentes has been with the Department of Computer Science, or CS, since 2001. She was originally hired to provide accounting support to both CS faculty and the Center for High Performance Software Research, as well as to reconcile funds to the Banner System and process monthly reports for the faculty. Now she also trains and mentors staff on occasion, teaching them how to process travel or other financial documents.

Eighteen letters were submitted nominating Sifuentes for the award, commending not only her meticulous and reliable accounting work but also her calm and polite demeanor and professionalism.

”Lena goes above and beyond her duties of reconciling transactions and maintains long-term planning projections that help me assess the status of my research funding and plan proposal writing over a year into the future,” said John Mellor-Crummey, professor of computer science and electrical and computer engineering. ”Because of her, the CS department accounting hums like a well-oiled machine.”

”CS today is known on campus as the department with the best post-award research management. I believe that Lena deserves a large part of the credit for that,” said Moshe Vardi, the Karen Ostrum George Professor in Computational Engineering and professor of computer science. “(She) embodies staff excellence!”

”I enjoy working with all of the faculty, staff and students in the department,” Sifuentes said. ”This award means a lot to me because it comes from faculty, co-workers and students. That they put together all the work to nominate me is what makes this special.”

The Distinguished Employee Award is not given routinely, but is instead an honor given to employees who perform above and beyond their job descriptions to the benefit of the Rice community. Peers, co-workers and supervisors may nominate fellow employees within their department or across campus to honor or recognize employees. The award is designed to honor and recognize those who are most deserving and those who serve as a positive role model for Rice University staff, faculty and students.

To nominate an employee for the Distinguished Employee Award, contact Colleen Dutton at 713-348-4755 or cdutton@rice.edu.

— Jennifer Harris is the editor and Web coordinator for the Department of Computer Science.