Gwen Holm honored as 2012 Wright Alumnus of the Year Recipient

PROVO, Utah – Jan 08, 2013 – The Romney Institute of Public Management at Brigham Young University honored Gwen Holm, director of mission support at NASA’s Dryden Flight Center, with its 2012 N. Dale Wright Distinguished Alumni Award.

“Holm embodies the personal and professional qualities expected of our graduates,” says David Hart, director of the Romney Institute. “We celebrate her dedication to commitments as well as years of her untiring public service.”

Holm received the award last fall at a ceremony held in the Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center. She was chosen by her colleagues for her commitment to high standards of excellence and to service at work and in the community.

At the program, N. Dale Wright, former Romney Institute director, presented Holm with a painting he created. Several emeritus MPA professors also attended the ceremony, including Doyle Buckwalter, Gloria Wheeler and James McDonald.

“I remember teaching Gwen in my econometrics class many years ago,” McDonald says. “She had an enthusiasm for learning and was undaunted with difficult material. It’s very exciting to see how well she’s doing in her profession.”

The 1983 MPA graduate is responsible for the flight center's offices of acquisition, finance, facilities and protective services. Holm was selected for senior executive service in December 2000 and assumed her present position of mission support director in 2001. In 2005 and 2010 she received the rank of Meritorious Executive for her accomplishments in NASA programs.

When accepting this award, Holm shared her vision for public service.

“Public service is an honor and a great responsibility — we are stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Holm said. “Our jobs may seem thankless at times, but we should take great pride in the knowledge that we can make bad things good and good things better.”

The Romney Institute of Public Management was named in 1998 for three-term Michigan governor George W. Romney. Part of Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management, the Romney Institute offers a master's degree in public administration through both pre-service and executive programs. The Romney Institute has a long tradition of preparing young people for careers in public service and is dedicated to educating men and women of faith, character and professional ability who will become outstanding managers and leaders in public and nonprofit institutions worldwide.