T. J. McAndrew, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture research facility coordinator, was honored with the department’s Special Contributions Award by the Staff Advisory Committee on April 24 at the department Spring Picnic.
The semiannual award recognizes department staff who go above and beyond in their job duties in a way that greatly benefits the department and/or the university.
Originally from Alliance, Nebraska, McAndrew received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He started with the department in 1998 as the research farm manager at Mead and Havelock where he learned the management side of farming. In 2009, his supervisor retired and he was brought to campus to take over as the research and facilities coordinator.
The scope of McAndrew’s job includes everything from supervising office and farm personnel to overseeing classrooms, labs, buildings, equipment and farms used by department personnel across the state. He also helps on the farms when needed, makes sure equipment is available for individual research projects, oversees the tractor lease program, coordinates equipment bids and is the liaison with Nebraska’s Facilities Maintenance & Operations department.
“No matter what is needed to do a job, what is needing fixed or whoever needs help within the department, McAndrew either takes care of it himself or gets someone else to take care of it,” said Lana Johnson, agronomy and horticulture communications specialist. “He makes sure everyone in the department can do their jobs efficiently.”
McAndrew has an enormous impact with new students, staff and faculty and is one of the first welcoming faces they see in the department. He is the one to organize their office space, building access, internet, phone, chairs, lab equipment, computers and whatever else one would need to do their job.
“TJ’s professional network, institutional knowledge, organizational skills and problem-solving skills are a tremendous asset to this department, and it’s easy to take those things for granted when things are running smoothly around here,” said Sam Wortman, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture. “I can always depend on his pragmatic problem-solving help when I need to find a way to get a project done.”
McAndrew said he has a great team to work with, making this job rewarding and enjoyable.
