A mainstay of the Kohlberg Coffee Bar, Anne Dortone is equal parts barista and beacon. She remembers community members’ names, their usual orders, and what’s going on in their lives.

“She has a way of making everyone feel important and valued,” says Linda McDougall, director of Dining Services, who has worked with Dortone for more than 20 years.

“Anne’s mission seems to be to meet everyone wherever they are that day, in that moment, as an equal and a friend,” adds Patti Woods, assistant administrative services manager.

In recognition of this supportiveness and her consummate professionalism, Dortone received the Greg Brown Award at an all-staff meeting on Oct. 23. The award, named in honor of former Vice President for Finance and Administration Greg Brown, pays tribute to the extraordinary contributions staff members from the areas of Campus Services, Facilities Management, and Public Safety make to the life of the College.

In a tribute video produced by the Communications Office, Dortone’s colleagues from Dining Services lauded her dedication to the College community since she arrived in 2001.

“Everyone who knows Anne can attest to her amazing work ethic, selflessness, and ability to remain calm in the middle of chaos,” says Krystal Wallen, food and service associate, retail operations.

McDougall refers to Dortone as a “chameleon” in light of the many hats she has worn for Dining Services. She started as a line server, checker, and grill cook in Sharples Dining Hall, and then moved to Essie Mae’s Snack Bar, where Dortone was “literally everywhere and doing everything,” says her current supervisor, Retail Manager Tim Smith.

“No job is too big for Anne,” Smith adds, “and she’s always looking for ways to enhance the experience our community members receive.”

Embraced by three generations of her family after receiving the award, Dortone beamed.

“I’m just touched,” she said. “I truly love my job, and to know that others are appreciative of my work makes me really happy. I’m just really honored and grateful.”

The Greg Brown Award, first bestowed in 2022, recognizes the impact that staff members have in making campus “a welcoming, beautiful, safe, and productive environment for students, staff, and faculty,” President Valerie Smith noted at the all-staff meeting. Awardees receive a $1,000 prize and have their name engraved on a plaque in the Dining and Community Commons.

The award Dortone received was crafted from reclaimed cherry wood and a repurposed oak tree by MakerSpace Manager Josh Jordan. 

“When I’m having a bad day, I go for coffee and make a point of passing through Kohlberg in hopes of catching Anne in a not-too-busy moment,” says Associate Professor of Music James Blasina, who nominated Dortone for the award. “Her smile, laughter, and kindness are contagious, and she gives me a boost to make it through the day.

“Anne’s genuine care is exemplary,” he adds, “and it’s making a difference every day.”