2021 Excellence in Service (Unclassified)

Gina Keucher

Gina Keucher, program director in the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, received the 2021 President’s Award for Excellence in Service (Unclassified) for her dedication to students over the past 13 years. She has worked on multiple projects at the university and in the community that improved student life and increased retention by promoting safety and diversity.

Keucher has worked on a variety of university events and serves wherever she can to provide a valuable, positive experience to all Wright State students. Her focus on student success and retention is remarkable, as demonstrated by her hard work across multiple events and initiatives.

Since joining Wright State over 13 years ago, Keucher has participated in a large variety of projects. She advises Raiderthon, which is now in its 10th year. The event engages hundreds of students and has raised over $400,000 for Dayton Children’s Hospital. She also oversees Take Flight Leadership, which has become a starting point for student involvement and leadership development.

“The quality of the program is attractive and we plan to make it an integral part of training for resident assistance before they start their work,” said Dan Bertsos, who retired as director of Residence Life and Housing earlier this year.

Keucher was also a driving force to develop and construct the National Pan-Hellenic Council Memorial Plots that recognize the “Divine Nine” historically African American fraternities and sororities. The plots provide a physical demonstration of the university’s commitment to inclusive excellence and student organizations that fulfill an essential part of campus life.

Along with her work promoting student diversity and spearheading large campus events, Keucher is dedicated to protecting students and ensuring a safe student environment. She has worked to implement training requirements resulting from “Collin’s Law,” Hazing legislation passed by the Ohio Legislature in July. She organizes workshops for staff, faculty and Residence Life and Housing Staff. This training will enable many on campus to recognize the consequences of hazing and report it.

Keucher also takes a leadership role in the assessment efforts in the Division of Student Affairs to meet the requirements of the Higher Learning Commission.

“This will not only contribute to the ongoing accreditation of the university but also drive efforts to provide enhanced experiences for leaders in student organizations and those employed in Student Affairs offices,” Bertsos said.