Staff Excellence Awards

Nominated by Jennifer Earl, Chairperson of Sociology with support from Jeffrey Rybicki and Ivet Tweedy

• Lynette co-developed 3 new department databases for faculty sabbaticals, leaves, reviews, teaching, service, and research. These tools help the department forecast needs, support more equitable service assignments, and enhance outreach about faculty accomplishments.

• Lynette has created new forward-looking budget forecasts and a robust staff performance rubric to support clear goals and to identify training and coaching opportunities for her BA colleagues.

• Lynette has also been a strong advocate for student success and inclusiveness, particularly students of color, supporting undergraduate and graduate students, organizing events like the Minority Mentor Lecture event, and leading fundraising efforts during Giving Tuesday.

• Lynette has been a strategic partner, a leader, and a role model for students.

Nominated by Leah Palm-Forster, Associate Professor of Applied Economics and Statistics

with support from Jeffrey Summerhays and Carl Nelson-Poteet

This project was designed to evaluate the energy savings that could be achieved by adjusting default thermostat settings in residence halls.

• The team worked with several campus units to secure implementation approvals, to develop an innovative energy use equation and to adjust the temperature settings of close to 600 residence hall rooms, many of which Brian adjusted manually every weekday morning during high use months.
• This work resulted in a 36% energy reduction, improving UD’s sustainability report metrics, and if scaled, could make a significant impact on UD’s carbon emissions.
• Brian and Joe have supported student success, advanced the university’s sustainability goals, and enabled research that advances our knowledge about strategies to tackle pressing global challenges related to climate change.

Nominated by Jessica Ryan, Director, Fraternity and Sorority Leadership & Learning

Learn more about Fraternity and Sorority Leadership & Learning

• Sara is actively involved in many campus engagement activities including the Student Voting and Civic Engagement committee where she integrated fraternities and sororities in get out the vote initiatives. She also supports the Student Life strategic plan working group which has leveraged Gallup Q12 survey results to support the division’s culture initiatives.

• As a supervisor and mentor, Sara creates a positive work environment with a focus on inclusion that is contagious. She can often be found actively assisting students in the Perkins Student Center, regardless of their affiliation with fraternities and sororities, making sure everyone feels welcome and cared for.

• Sara has been a steady leader through change and is always willing to support her team with the goal of creating a positive student experience for all Blue Hens.

Nominated by nominated by Annie Johnson, Library Assistant Director

Learn more about the Morris Library's Available Seats Solution

•  Using data from sensors placed around the library, Emma’s work lets students know what areas of the Morris Library are the busiest, and which are available for a quieter study session.
• This solution required a range of skills to translate raw data, including data from sunlight sensors, into a multi-colored, accessible and easy to understand map on the library’s website.
• By providing real-time information to the UD community, this innovative solution enhances the student experience and allows visitors to the Morris Library to select a location that best matches their needs.

Nominated by Carlos Asarta, Professor, Economics

With support from:

Bonnie Meszaros, Elementary School Program Coordinator and Associate Director (retired), Economics 
James Butkiewicz, Professor, Economics 
Sarah A. Long, President & CEO, Delaware Bankers Association

“By organizing programs like Teach Children to Save Day, [Jen] has helped tens of thousands of third- and fourth-grade students develop crucial financial literacy skills that will serve them throughout their lives. This program, which has seen year-over-year growth in participation, encourages young learners to begin saving early and often. The success of this program can be directly attributed to Jen’s ability to coordinate logistics, build partnerships, and deliver exceptional customer service to schools, teachers, and volunteers. Through her dedication, she has made a tangible difference in the lives of young learners, empowering them to be more financially responsible and confident." –Carlos Asarta

Learn more about the Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship

Specific work has included:

• Coordination of the financial literacy program, Teach Children to Save Day, which reached over 5,400 students across 214 Delaware classrooms. Communication with 180 teachers and 23 banking institutions ensured smooth logistics and fostered a spirit of collaboration.
• Event coordination for the Siegfried Youth Leadership Program which serves high school students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York City, providing access to leadership and economics training.
• Support of the Master of Arts in Economics & Entrepreneurship for Educators (MAEEE) degree program, supporting teachers from across the country and around the world. She assists students with everything from registration to housing to providing ongoing support to ensure they have a positive and successful experience. This program prepares educators to lead change in their own communities.

Nominated by Latoya Watson, Sr. Assistant Dean, Co-Curricular Coaching

with support from:
Eve Buckley, Assoc. Professor, History and Latin American & Iberian Studies
John Gaul, Founder and President Emeritus, UD HenLaw Society
Carla Guerrón Montero, Professor, Anthropology and Director, Center for Material Culture Studies
Georgiann Walker, UD Alum, Psychology 2024
Kami Silk, Professor and Chair, Department of Communication
Jessica Cincotta Moore, Founder, ThriveWise Solutions

"As an undergraduate student... I found myself navigating an unfamiliar terrain, trying to balance multiple responsiblities while seeking direction. I turned to the CCC team during my last 3 years, and their guidance became an instrumental beacon of hope and empowerment. They genuinely equipped me with the confidence and resources to thrive academically and professionally" - Georgiann Walker

The CAS Co-Curricular Coaching team helps students succeed by connecting them with research opportunities, internships and academic resources. Learn more about their work.

Specific accomplishments have included: 

• Increase in 1:1 coaching and large-scale engagement through New Student Orientations, classroom presentations, student organization meetings and workshops.
• Disbursement of ~$196,000 for annual experiential learning via a wide variety of internship and undergraduate research programs.
• Revitalization of the Legal Professional Preparatory Program (LP3), which equips aspiring legal professionals with the tools, guidance, and support—such as networking events, workshops, mentorship, and financial assistance—needed to excel in law school and related fields.
• In partnership with the HenLaw Student and Alumni Societies, a re-establishment of the Gaul Family Fund for LSAT prep.
• Launch of the Internship Symposium, a peer-to-peer showcase of internship opportunities featuring multiple campus and local partners including the Career Center, World Scholars, State Police and more.
• The support of many additional departmental opportunities including; the inaugural US Department of State Visit, Pathways in Career Success in Anthropology Program, Empower Fellows at Fox Chase and design of ARSC167: Career Readiness Seminar.

Nominated by Leah Palm-Forster, Associate Professor, Applied Economics & Statistics and Director, Center for Experimental & Applied Economics

With support from:
Martin Heintzelman, Chair, Applied Economics & Statistics 
Kelly Davidson, Assistant Professor, Applied Economics & Statistics 
Wanning Wang, Research Assistant, Center for Experimental & Applied Economics 

“Aisha is the face of CEAE. Her ambitious productivity, reliability and can-do attitude coupled with her warm, supportive personality, make her a cornerstone in our academic community. In the past year alone, Aisha has supported 12 economic experiments: 8 on-campus and 4 in the field. This year, she engaged 2,258 research participants, including both UD students, staff, and community members, and she has distributed over $50,000 in participant incentives.” –Leah Palm-Forster

Learn more about the Center for Experimental & Applied Economics.

Specific accomplishments include:

• Lead of CEAE's largest on-campus data collection event at CANR’s 2024 Ag Day where she engaged over 600 participants in a single day.
• Coordination of an incredible “Call-a-Thon” recruitment effort, involving twelve new student research assistants. This effort supported a research study funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and created a unique educational opportunity for students in the Food & Agribusiness Marketing & Management B.S. Program.
• Supervision and mentorship of high school and undergraduate interns via the CEAE Research Pipeline and Mentoring Metwork programs.
• Cultivation of a welcoming and respectful research community that encourages the supportive exchange of ideas. For example, Aisha's organization of 10 Experimental Design Workshops resulted in actionable recommendations that researchers could use to strengthen their studies. 
  

Nominated by Helen Ann Lawless, Director, Strategic Wellbeing and Training, Wellbeing Operations

“Together, this team found an innovative way to lower barriers and increase students' access to over-the-counter medication and supplies, especially emergency contraception. We wanted to make sure that our community could proactively take control of their own sexual and reproductive health through a private, highly accessible format, and our vending machine located in Perkins Student Center is the perfect platform for that.” –Helen Ann Lawless

Learn more about the Student Wellbeing Vending Machine.

Specific accomplishments include:

• Collaboration with UD's Graduate Student Government (GSG) to realize their vision for the Student Wellbeing Vending Machine. This project was initiated thanks to the support and advocacy of the GSG.
• Partnership with K&R vending to secure a vending machine at no-cost by way of donation. 
• Procurement and sale of reduced cost wellbeing supplies including; Covid Tests, pregnancy tests, condoms, generic brand Monistat, generic brand Tylenol, allergy medication, Mucinex, cough drops, first aid kits, and thermometers. Menstrual pads, naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal agent), fentanyl test strips, and xylazine test strips are offered to students at no cost.
  
• Development of QR codes and informational resources to connect students with follow-up to discuss options for birth control, STI testing, victim advocacy, substance use and more.
  
• The Student Wellbeing Vending Machine has attracted interest from representatives of peer educational institutions, national organizations, and local hospitals seeking to initatiate similar projects, positioning UD as a model in the greater public health community.