Bryan Beverly, director of the Office of K-12 Outreach at the College of Education, is a recipient of the Outstanding Supervisor Award at Michigan State University.
For Beverly, who oversees close to 30 staff members, the award is a great honor, but he believes it would not have been possible without his team's dedication.
“As part of a strategic planning workshop our team did with MSU HR, we completed a survey and our one common workplace goal was to make a difference,” said Beverly.
Surprise, surprise!
On October 25, Beverly was greeted by family, colleagues and friends at a surprise party in Erickson Hall to announce the award, many of whom were outfitted in T-shirts that read “Best Boss Ever,” a moment that he will never forget.
“I was super pleased to have my family there to witness,” he continued. “My dad was a former school principal and professor of education at Olivet College, and for him to be in the room while I received that recognition meant a lot to me.”
Not only did Beverly receive several nominations for the award, but the words used to describe his leadership paint the picture of a holistic approach to supervision.
One staff member wrote, “Dr. Beverly’s merit is seen in his ability to help employees navigate stressful circumstances and extreme work-life situations with his unique attitude and skills.”
Megan Papoi, fiscal officer in the Office of K-12 Outreach and employee of Beverly said the following:
“We are a large, diverse team that is stationed all over the state, and Bryan finds a way to develop a personal connection and relationship with every teammate. He does not care just about an employee’s work performance. When you are part of his team, he is invested in you as a person.”
Family first
Beverly’s leadership style puts his employees at the center by exercising a “flat hierarchical approach,” as he describes it, meaning no work is beneath him.
“As a leader, I’m family first,” said Beverly. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck approach in our office.”
Having served in the director role for almost five years, the Office of K-12 Outreach has found great success under Beverly’s leadership, vastly expanding partnerships, and solidifying its role as a valuable educational resource in the state and around the globe.
“The pure excitement and joy of his staff, family and friends was uplifting,” said College of Education Dean Jerlando F.L. Jackson after attending the surprise party. “His dedication to ensuring a productive, safe and collaborative environment are hallmarks of a great leader, and what has allowed the Office of K-12 Outreach thrive throughout the years.”
Beverly is the second college leader to receive the accolade in recent years; Jeannie Patrick, director of the Office of Research Administration, won the award in 2021.