Distinguished Service Award Given to Mike Bigbie

The Stan and Paula Warmath Distinguished Service Award is given on an annual basis and recognizes a staff member or specialized faculty member for their dedicated service to the department. Mike Bigbie is the recipient of the 2017-2018 award. This award is made possible by a gift from a generous donor and friend of the department, who wishes to remain anonymous.

Mike was selected as the recipient of this award for his exceptional support over the years and his contributions to the service, teaching, and research missions of our department. Mike has always been generous with his time and resources, and has always made himself available to help in any way he can. On a given day, you might find Mike giving a building or lab tour to a job candidate, assisting with a lab or classroom equipment problem, or helping to accommodate a space request. Events ranging from FSU Day at the Capitol, Graduate and Undergraduate Research Day, colloquia, job talks, receptions, and many more, could not happen without Mike working behind the scenes, anticipating our needs, and keeping track of all the important details that determine an event's success. Without Mike Bigbie performing his magic seamlessly, this department would not be what it is today.

The Stan and Paula Warmath Distinguished Service Award was established as a lasting tribute to the vision and commitment of Stan and Paula Warmath and their loyalty and service to the department. Paula earned her BS in psychology at FSU in 1980. She worked for the department for two years after graduation and it was during this time that she and Stan met.

Stan earned his BS in psychology at FSU in 1969 and an MS in experimental psychology in 1978. He became labs manager in 1980 and ended his time in the department as the Director of Facilities and Operations. In that position, Stan played a significant role in the planning of and move to the new Psychology Department Building. In the two years prior to his retirement in 2011, Stan served as the renovation and building coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences.