Employee of the Month Winners

Omar Safir

Omar Safir has been selected as the February 2025 Employee of the Month at the University of Kansas for his exceptional contributions to the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). As the Data and Assessment Coordinator, Omar's multifaceted role has had a profound impact on KU, as well as on numerous collaborating institutions. Often referred to as the "Swiss army knife" of the CTE, Omar performs a broad range of responsibilities that significantly enhance the work of the center and its programs.

Omar’s role includes planning, organizing, tracking, and analyzing data from faculty development programs that interact with hundreds of KU faculty each semester. He collaborates with academic departments to design and analyze surveys, focus groups, and exit interviews for students, alumni, and faculty. Additionally, Omar plays a crucial role in providing consultative support on assessing student learning outcomes for all undergraduate and graduate degree programs at KU. He also holds a leadership position in the CTE’s external collaborations, such as those through the Bay View Alliance and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).

Omar's exceptional ability to integrate his diverse professional experiences into his work is what sets him apart. Since joining KU, he has transformed the role he occupies, bringing "out of the box" solutions to longstanding practices and taking on leadership in projects that were initially beyond the scope of his position. Notably, Omar has co-led two major initiatives over the past year: a multi-million dollar cross-institutional grant on equitable teaching practices from HHMI, and the "Ideas to Action" program, which promotes community and student success in the classroom. In both cases, his leadership has been indispensable in steering the direction and depth of these projects.

What makes Omar truly stand out is his deep moral clarity and his ability to foster a sense of community and collaboration. He is deeply committed to ensuring that the welfare of students and faculty, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, is always a central focus. His contributions have been invaluable in helping teams move beyond traditional, deficit-based views of education, encouraging difficult but necessary conversations about historical biases in higher education.

Omar is also a remarkable team player. He is known for his ability to listen carefully and offer insights that move discussions forward. His colleagues respect him for his perceptive and empathetic nature. Whether working within small teams or large, cross-institutional collaborations, Omar is always eager to contribute, shoulder responsibilities, and offer support to others. His commitment to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and effective work environment extends beyond professional tasks; he is known for organizing office celebrations, checking in on colleagues, and creating an overall positive atmosphere within the CTE.

As a collaborator, Omar consistently strives to build community and trust among faculty and staff. His efforts to connect people and ensure they feel valued have had a lasting impact on the CTE and KU as a whole. He has earned the admiration and respect of faculty and colleagues, who consistently praise his ability to engage, support, and empower others in their work.

In the words of his colleague Joshua Potter, “With a technical competency borne of diverse professional experiences and a moral force borne of personal trials and successes, Omar labors with diligence and empathy to center students in the work of faculty. Plus, he is a charming and affably quirky fellow."

Omar’s remarkable contributions, leadership, and dedication make him a standout employee who truly embodies the values of KU. The CTE is proud to celebrate him as Employee of the Month for February 2025.

The University of Kansas congratulates Omar Safir 

on his selection as staff employee of the month for February 2025!