Department of Biology

Mason Lutes, Technology and Computer Support Specialist in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biology at Indiana University Bloomington, has received the College's Outstanding IT Staff Award.

Jane D. McLeod, Executive Associate Dean of the College, presented the award to Lutes on December 1.

"You were selected for this honor by your IT peers, a testament to the high value they place on your contributions to the College," said McLeod. "I add my own heartfelt gratitude to theirs, for your commitment to supporting College IT infrastructure and for the many ways you have gone above-and-beyond to do so since you joined the Department of Biology. The College could not achieve its research, teaching, and service missions without the dedicated efforts of staff such as you. Thank you for being part of our team!"

The Outstanding IT Staff Award, first given in 2020, is presented annually to a member of the IU Bloomington COLL+IT staff. Brian Crouch, director of the College IT Research Infrastructure, estimates there are around 60 IT support staff members within the College.

Crouch, along with other members of the COLL+IT executive leadership, select the recipient of the honorary award from nominations submitted by COLL+IT staff. Crouch noted that recipients must be COLL+IT support staff members, provide outstanding service, display a positive attitude, serve as a role model, and be a team leader.

A recipient of the COLL+IT Outstanding IT Staff Award is presented with an aluminum medal shaped like the IU trident. The medal includes the name of the award and the awardee's name and title. The award medal is milled on campus by the machine shop in either the Department of Chemistry or the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Lutes' medal was anodized to give it a red tint. Anodization also makes the aluminum more durable.