Paul Didier (left) accepts his July Employee of the Month award from Mason President Ángel Cabrera. Photo by Lathan Goumas.
In his five years in George Mason University’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Paul Didier has gained a reputation as a level-headed, thoughtful and professional leader.
“He’s developed a high-performing team and established a can-do leadership culture,” said Frank Strike, vice president of facilities administration. “His exceptional professionalism, personal initiative and dedicated commitment to excellence reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest level of Mason’s core leadership values.”
In recognition, Didier, the director of environmental health and laboratory safety, is July Employee of the Month.
“It’s exciting to be working in such a challenging and vibrant environment,” Didier said. “The best parts of working at Mason are the people I work with, and having the ability to support Mason’s educational and research missions.”
Prior to coming to Mason in April 2014 as director of laboratory safety and environmental compliance, Didier worked in private industry around the Washington, D.C., metro area. Now, he is responsible for the biological safety, chemical safety, radiation safety, environmental compliance, industrial hygiene and occupational health programs on all of Mason’s campuses.
It is complicated, highly technical and stressful work, said Julie Zobel, assistant vice president of safety, emergency and enterprise risk management, and Didier’s supervisor.
“His work, always done without ego, demonstrates the Mason value of ‘we thrive together,’ ” Zobel said. “Paul’s hard work embodies many aspects of the university’s values, starting with his commitment to putting our students first and upholding the highest level of integrity as a careful steward of our most valuable resource, people.”
When he’s not working, Didier likes to play ultimate Frisbee and spend time with his family. He said he is a big fan of the NHL’s Washington Capitals and his daughter’s soccer team.