Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is extremely pleased to congratulate our colleague Jens Locher on receiving a 2013 President’s Staff Award for creativity and innovation.
Jens works as Manager, Web Strategy and Student Recruitment Initiatives in Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Since 2008 he has focused entirely on graduate student recruitment and has implemented various new initiatives and systems at UBC, including virtual recruitment webinars, search engine optimization and marketing strategies, and an online graduate student community. He supports more than 100 graduate programs with workshops, consultations and strategic insights, covering topics from recruitment best practices, web analytics, marketing, social media and web development.
The President’s Staff Awards (Vancouver Campus) recognize the personal achievements and contributions of staff to UBC and to the vision and goals of the University. Jens received his award, which includes a $2000 prize, in the category Creativity and Innovation.
Across UBC, Jens is known for bringing people together from various units to create communities of practice that can more effectively and efficiently produce outstanding work on behalf of the university. People across campus are willing and eager to work with and learn from Jens, because he is so supportive and clearly dedicated to excellence. He is a magnet and an inspiration for other innovative people on campus who want to work across barriers.
In celebrating his award we’d like to share with you not only this summary of his accomplishments, but some of the wonderful things his UBC colleagues have said about the experience of working alongside him.
“Aside from Jens' admirable qualities as an employee, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Jens' humane and supportive attitude toward others. Jens is passionate about his work, but also strives to ensure that other staff have what they need to succeed. He has been a needed champion time and again, and has brought many people together who would otherwise likely not known of each other. Jens is an outstanding, inspiring example of what we can all do as UBC staff.”
- Bjorn Thomson, Programmer Analyst, Web Services, Information Technology
Jens’ creative thinking and constant drive to innovate has also had a profound effect on his Graduate Studies colleagues.
“When people talk about Jens they likely mention his creative and innovative ways of making things happen … but for me, it’s his ability to make me want to do more and be better that makes him so outstanding as a colleague. His drive and commitment to improving the way we do things and how we respond not only within grad studies, but at the university level, is infectious. His energy and ability to respond to what is needed makes me want to try that much harder. When I approach a new project I always have at the back of my head “How would Jens do this?” and I think that says it all. He simply inspires one to go that extra mile.”
- Lousie Mol, Manager, Data Systems and Analysis
Jens holds a Diplom-Kaufmann (equivalent to a Master of Science in Business Administration) from the University of Muenster, Germany, and a Master of International Business from the University of Sydney, Australia. Before moving to Canada, he worked for seven years as a recruitment specialist for Australian and New Zealand universities.
He has served on the international relations committee and awards committee at NAGAP, The Leader in Graduate Enrollment Management, a US-based organization which recently recognized his excellence with a “Future Leader” award. Jens’ supervisor, Assistant Dean Jenny Phelps comments, “While we in Graduate Studies supported this nomination, it was Jens’ colleagues across the Canadian chapter of the organization that spearheaded it, in appreciation of his generous and outstanding contributions to launching the chapter, advising on its website, sharing his creativity and expertise across peer institutions and serving on NAGAP committees.” Since April he is the President of the Canadian Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals.
His passion is technology, and if he is not immersed in trying out new gadgets and tools, you can find Jens hiking up a mountain trail or sailing out upon beautiful English Bay.