Michael Sermersheim - 2007
Michael Sermersheim has spent nearly his entire professional career in the General Counsel’s office at the University of Akron. He first joined the Office in 1976 as Director of Student Legal Programs, and was appointed Associate Director of Legal Affairs in 1983, Associate Director of Legal Affairs and Director of Contract Administration in 1988, and Deputy General Counsel in 1996. He assumed his current position, Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, in 1998. Mr. Sermersheim received his B.A. from the University of Akron and his J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law.
Mr. Sermersheim’s involvement in NACUA spans nearly the same 31 years. He has attended numerous CLE workshops and annual conferences, and has been a frequent speaker for both. He has been an active and well-respected member of many committees, and was a member of the Board of Directors from 1997-2000. Among Mr. Sermersheim’s many contributions to the Association is his long tenure on the Publications Committee and ensuring that the Association’s publications grew and expanded as the needs of members grew and expanded. He served a total of 10 years on the Committee, including two as Vice Chair and four as Chair. During Mr. Sermersheim’s tenure, he wrote the best-selling pamphlet on Computer Access; the special publication on Environmental Law Issues; assisted in the 1994 update of the NACUA Contract Formbook, which was the first NACUA publication to be offered both in hard copy and electronically on diskettes; and then served as the sole editor of the 2003 updated NACUA Contract Formbook – the first publication to be offered exclusively on CD-ROM. In short, Mr. Sermersheim was the first champion of electronic publications for NACUA.
The NACUA Distinguished Service Award is being given to Michael Sermersheim for his extraordinary service and his outstanding contributions to NACUA. His achievements, accomplishments, dedication, and long and faithful service have brought distinction to our profession and to our Association