Anna Milan Received the Loud & Clear Staff Award for dedication and professional excellence
Last week, Stephens College faculty and staff gathered in the Kimball Ballroom for the Employee Appreciation event featuring live piano music, delicious food and a lively New York-inspired atmosphere.
The event itself reflected the creativity and care that went into it. Human Resources Business Partner Anna Milan worked to transform the annual celebration into a more immersive and meaningful experience – taking what was once just a normal luncheon event and transforming it into a lively atmosphere celebrating employees and their families.
But in a surprise twist, unbeknownst to her, Milan became the evening’s honoree.
“I was in complete shock!” Milan said. “I was so focused on the event itself and had just sat down at the computer waiting to hit “play” on the short film that I had no idea it was coming!”
Milan joked that she was just happy that she had changed out of her sweaty clothes right before the event, and said her colleague, HR Director Tina Fisher, “did an amazing job at keeping this a secret from me.”
A Recognition of Purpose and Impact
The Loud & Clear award is a staff honor recognizing individuals who make a meaningful impact within the Stephens College community. It is reserved for those who take risks, lead with purpose and inspire others through their actions.
“Anna was selected for her dedication, energy and professional excellence,” Fisher said. “To support employee engagement, she has worked hard on our Employee Appreciation Event – for that event, she spent many hours outside of work making decorations to bring something unique to share with the employees.”
Fisher also emphasized Milan’s broader contributions across campus.
“She has been an advocate for employees during periods of transition, supporting everything from personnel matters to benefits,” Fisher said. “Her thoughtful revitalization of the Employee Appreciation event significantly enhanced its impact and strengthened our sense of community.”
Leading with Authenticity
For Milan, the award reflects something deeper than recognition; it affirms the values she brings to work with her every day.
“One of my favorite parts of the Loud & Clear Award is ‘Stand Out Authentically,” Milan said. “I really want to be honest, vulnerable, empathetic and authentic in my work, and I appreciate being recognized for that,” said Milan.
She also highlighted the award’s emphasis on influence and connection.
“Inspire Others’ is a reminder that I’m not working in a vacuum,” Milan said. “My actions and commitment have a purpose–to encourage and motivate my colleagues.”
About Anna Milan
Milan has been a part of the Stephens College family for more than 3.5 years, and alongside her role in HR, she is also an active member of the Staff Advisory Council (SAC).
“I have a background in event planning,” Milan said. “I’m grateful that Stephens gives me the chance to do that alongside my HR duties.”
Milan is the Communication Coordinator and is responsible for hosting Happy Hours, producing the HR Newsletter to recognize birthdays, service anniversaries, and sharing other useful information.
“I believe providing quality employee events can improve morale and reduce staff turnover,” Milan said. “I want our employees to feel valued and appreciated and break down institutional silos. My goal is always to strengthen relationships within our academic community.”
About the Loud & Clear Award
The award is available for staff members only and is designed to celebrate individuals who stand out authentically by taking bold and innovative risks to make a positive impact on the community and organization.
Employees or teams can be nominated here.
Nominations can be accepted year-round, with the cut-off date being January 15th.
Photos from the Employee Appreciation Event
