Most people will agree that the first impression is the most important. The beauty that Southwestern’s visitors and prospective students come across upon their arrival to campus is a testament to Tim Fisher and his department’s dedication to the University. As supervisor of grounds, Fisher is responsible for the maintenance of all campus grounds, special event setups, pest control and labor support for the Physical Plant Department.

Working with one of the most unpredictable elements, Mother Nature, Fisher must be prepared for even the best laid plans to go awry. Every day he must work with factors such as stormy weather, sunny skies, ice storms, birds roosting in campus trees or a sudden change in plans for a special event. However, these obstacles are what Fisher enjoys most about his job. “Occasionally, I get called to campus at 2 a.m. when there’s been an ice storm, and sometimes this is the fun part about my job,” Fisher says. “I’ve always been an outdoors type of person, so even if it’s raining, I prefer to be outside.”

Since beginning his tenure at Southwestern on Jan. 2, 1985, Fisher has served above and beyond the call of duty. Joe LePage, director of Physical Plant, calls Fisher “the poster boy for dedicated employees,” as he is the first to the school during a snow storm and, to date, has only missed two major campus events. “Tim is the ultimate team player,” says Jaime Woody, associate dean for student life. “He doesn’t want accolades, preferring to work diligently behind the scenes to make sure your event is a success. Tim has been an asset to me, my department, and to Southwestern during his tenure. He has gone far beyond any professional expectations and has ‘saved the day’ too many times to count.”