2024 Presidential Excellence Award Winners
Each year the University of Louisville recognizes the incredible work of faculty and staff with the annual presidential excellence awards. Congratulations to our winners in 2024!
George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award | Trustees Award
Cardinal Principles Champions | Distinguished Faculty Awards | Outstanding Performance Awards | Outstanding Supervisor Award | Team Impact Award
George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award
The annual George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award recognizes the contributions of an extraordinary University of Louisville staff member who exemplifies the traits of its namesake George J. Howe (humility, generosity, and excellence in leadership) as well as the Cardinal Principles. This staff member's career has had an exceptional impact on the university and its vision to be a great place to learn, work, and in which to invest.
Angela Taylor | Student Affairs | Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Assistant Dean of Students
From the nomination:
"Angela is an exemplar, a role model, and a mentor for many. She is the go-to person for making difficult, tough decisions, and for consulting with, investing in, and sharing with others as they think through difficult, complex situations. She is an exceptionally effective and humble leader whose sphere of influence is broad and deep. Angela’s innovative leadership is a balanced blend of professionalism, work ethic, good humor, genuine care, and a future-oriented thoughtfulness that serves to unify and motivate. Her impact is wrapped in humility and grounded in the Cardinal Principles, particularly Respect, Integrity and Transparency, and Leadership. More than one student or staff member has indicated that Angela Taylor is their inspiration and the person they aspire to emulate.”
Trustees Award
The Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville established The Trustees Award in 1989 to honor faculty who individually impact the future of our students. The award is intended to recognize faculty who have had, currently or in the past, an extraordinary impact on students.
Jennifer Brueckner-Collins, Ph.D. | School of Medicine | Professor in Department of Anatomical Sciences & Neurobiology
From the nomination:
“Dr. B,” as she is affectionately called, possesses as remarkable ability to implement creative teaching techniques that not only capture the attention of her students but also ensure a deep understanding of complex anatomical concepts. Her innovative approach to instruction, such as incorporating real-life clinical cases, interactive multimedia resources and new classroom technology, and especially hands-on dissection experiences, has significantly contributed to the outstanding academic success rates of her students. Dr. B’s unwavering dedication to implementing creative teaching and advising techniques has left an indelible mark on the academic success, personal development, and professional development of her students. Dr. B exemplifies the qualities of a superb educator—passionate, dedicated, and innovative; she is beloved by both students and faculty alike and her impact on medical education is profound and far‐reaching. To quote Dr. Brueckner-Collins in her own words, “Teaching was as much about meeting the students where they were that day, as it was about skillfully explaining the content. I learned that one some days, they needed me as a cheerleader and supporter, while on others, they needed an academic disciplinarian. Sometimes, the best way to connect was simply to listen and help them identify their obstacles to learning, and to coach them through those challenges.” “Trust was an instrumental part of my work with students, including their faith in me as their teacher to coach and guide them appropriately, as well as instilling their confidence in their own abilities as students to overcome challenges in learning. I found that so long as I always acted as their teacher first and gatekeeper last, their trust in, respect for, and attention to me would follow. For me, acting as a “teacher first” means knowing my students: their names, their stories, their depth of knowledge along with their strengths and weaknesses. It takes dedicated time, effort, and energy to truly know your students well enough to teach them; it is, in fact, a profound act of professional love.”
Cardinal Principles Champions
The Cardinal Principles Champions award is designed to honor our faculty and staff who have demonstrated one of the Cardinal Principles at the highest level of impact.
Paige Shank | Early Learning Campus
From the nomination:
"Paige ensures that day-to-day operations continue to work seamlessly. Whether it is updating training records, training new employees after New Employee Orientation, providing families with details on the successes and opportunities for children at the ELC, or just being a listening ear to staff at the ELC, Paige simply cares about the mission of the ELC."
Elise Franklin | Arts & Sciences, History Department
From the nomination:
“In a matter of a few years, Elise Franklin has emerged as one of most widely respected leaders in the A&S faculty. Despite being a junior faculty, Elise has taken on significant service roles that ultimately exist to make UofL a better place to work, teach, learn, and exist. Beyond her departmental and college service, Elise has emerged as a driving figure within the United Campus Workers (UCW) organizing effort. Within the past two years, Elise has led meetings and rallies related to salary and compensation for faculty and staff. Outside of campus, Elise spearheaded phone banking and email campaigns to encourage the UofL community to contact Kentucky legislators concerning bills related to efforts to eliminate DEI efforts at Kentucky’s public universities, weaken tenure protections for faculty members, curb free speech on college campuses, and undermine the accurate teaching of American history in Kentucky schools.”
Lance Flint | College of Education and Human Development, Dean's Office
From the nomination:
"Lance’s title pretty much says it all – Human Resource Manager. The entirety of his work is managing people and the only way to be successful in such a role is through RESPECT. The CEHD has more than 200 full-time employees, and Lance knows each and every one of them. He knows their stories, their heartaches, and their accomplishments. In addition to providing that level of support for staff, Lance assumed the additional role of helping to streamline our hiring and onboarding systems for faculty and has helped to onboard and transition two new Associate Deans for Faculty Affairs. He approaches each day with enthusiasm and is one of the most caring and sincere people.”
Jennifer M. Porter| School of Medicine
From the nomination:
“Dr. Porter has been a passionate advocate for DEI since her arrival in 2016. She is the Chair of our Department's DEI committee and under her leadership, this committee has created a formal mistreatment reporting process and an anti-racism checklist for all Departmental educational conferences; and advocated at legislative levels for LGBTQ+ youth. She leads several DEI book clubs and podcast reviews -- creating a safe/open space for dialogue around racism in the medical community. As the recipient & PI of an NIH-funded grant evaluating the effects of racism on neurocognitive development of Black children, she is dedicated to DEI in the research realm. Her work includes topics of parent’s perceptions of encounters with medical providers with different race/ethnicity; the impact of Black men on children's literacy behaviors; and asthma treatment disparities in urban, Black youth. Additionally, she teaches on the role of systemic racism in pediatric research and epidemiology. ”
Jessica Belue Buckley | Educational Leadership, Evaluation and Organizational Development (ELEOD)
From the nomination:
“Dr. Buckley is deserving of this award due to her approach working with students and colleagues within and outside the university which provides ample evidence of how she embodies the university’s value of integrity as she continually seeks to make decisions with the best interests of UofL in mind. She is the model many of us aspire to emulate in her commitment to supporting students. Her dedication to promoting a healthy work culture extends beyond her role as a faculty member. In her role as the assistant chair of the LEAD department, she has steady changes that make our department have a greater sense of community, transparency, and value for every member. She demonstrates integrity in her commitment to not only the quality of her research scholarship, but also the topics she wishes to pursue and the ways in which she aims to disseminate the knowledge generated from her inquiry.”
Taylor L. Pratt, LEAD, SKILLS Collaborative
From the nomination:
Taylor exemplifies this Cardinal Principle in three distinct ways: 1. Fostering Skill Development: Taylor Pratt sees colleagues as individuals with unique contributions and value. To advance that perspective, she provides mentorship and support, beyond her job description, so she may help colleagues build skillsets aligned with their professional goals. 2. Building Collaborative Solutions: Taylor Pratt fosters collaboration and equity. Taylor actively seeks feedback from diverse stakeholders – from faculty, students, staff, community members, and Army personnel – to create processes that benefit everyone.. 3. Removing Barriers to Success: Taylor Pratt believes in removing obstacles for colleagues, students, and grant participants. She goes the extra mile by developing resources like accessible reading materials, equity-focused facilitation tips, and technology integration guides. By constantly asking "how can I reduce barriers?", she empowers others to thrive with an equity-centered lens.
Allysse Marie Stokes | Kent School of Social Work and Family Science
From the nomination:
“For about two years, Allysse was the Program Coordinator for the PhD in Social Work program. When the previous Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Program Coordinator last year resigned Allysse willingly stepped in and absorbed the duties of the DSW Program Coordinator, such that her workload has increased significantly. She quickly has gotten up to speed on the DSW Program, which has been a considerable feat, because the DSW Program is unlike our other graduate programs in that it is part-time, fully online, and operates on a 8-week course schedule. Yet, she is organized and works tirelessly to provide knowledgeable, helpful, clear guidance and support to both PhD and DSW students.”
Riece Hamilton | Health Promotion
From the nomination:
“I am nominating Riece Hamilton primarily related to her role as President of the Black Faculty/Staff Association, but also because of her passion for her work, representing voices that are often unheard and individuals who are often unseen. I believe her to be a champion of the Cardinal Principles in a variety of categories, but this particular nomination will focus on the principle of Leadership...Riece models these behaviors as President of the Black Faculty/Staff Association through her efforts to build community among not only Black faculty and staff, but to also engage other members of our campus.”
Distinguished Faculty Awards
Every year, the University honors faculty who bring distinction to the university through their commitment to the areas of service, teaching, and outstanding scholarship, research, and creative activity.
Outstanding Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity
From the nomination:
Dr. Srivastava has been at the University of Louisville since 1999 where he has served as Professor since 2011. During his tenure at the University, his research was continuously supported by the National Institutes of Health, allowing him and his team to publish over 140 manuscripts, with many of them in highly impactful journals, consistent with his outstanding contribution to the scientific community in the field of cardiovascular toxicology. Dr. Srivastava is an international leader in environmental toxicology research. Dr. Srivastava’s research has been continuously funded, bringing in more than $56M dollars to our university. His research eventually led to the establishment of the University of Louisville Superfund Research Center in 2017 (completely funded by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) through 2027), a well‐deserved honor, coveted by research universities across the nation and fiercely sought after. Several of his trainees have been recruited to various Universities and government agencies including Harvard University, University of Louisville, Center for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institute of health. This reflects Dr. Srivastava’s dedication towards training the next generation of Scientists. He is bridging the gap between academia and the broader community, demonstrating a commitment to foster collaboration and engagement here and beyond traditional academic boundaries.
From the nomination:
"Emily’s dedication to scholarship, research, and creative pursuits has been a consistent hallmark of her illustrious career. In April of 2023, Emily unveiled her debut album, "Force of Nature," on the Lexicon Classics label, an endeavor that quickly ascended to the #1 spot on the Classical Billboard Charts. Emily's mesmerizing performances of this work captivated audiences nationally and internationally, with notable appearances throughout the United States and France. Beyond her global performances, Emily consistently enriches the cultural fabric of our Louisville community through her roles with the Kentucky Opera. Emily's profound impact on the music community extends far and wide, showcasing her ability to make meaningful contributions at various levels. Whether through her innovative compositions, insightful research, or collaborative performances, she consistently exhibits excellence in her creative pursuits."
From the nomination:
The hallmark of Dr. Koenig’s career lies in his recognition as a leader, pioneer, and scholar in the field of biomedical device development for cardiovascular and neurological diseases, which have gained recognition both nationally and internationally. His expertise in developing and executing realistic research plans, timelines, and budgets as evidenced by service in leadership roles, including subcontract co‐PI or co‐I of 21 NIH SBIR Phase I, II, and I/II grants (current and completed) and 19 federal/state grants (worth more than $30M in funding) and 53 industry contracts (worth more than $26M in funding) in collaboration with research partners. He has coauthored 125 peer‐reviewed journal articles and is the co‐inventor on 18 patents and invention disclosures. His colleagues, learners, and all who collaborate with him attest to his acts of selflessness in teaching them and equipping them with the knowledge and tools to be successful. Dr. Koenig has been a leader and active on countless committees within the Bioengineering Department, the Engineering School, and the University. Additionally, beyond his individual accomplishments, he is literally passing the baton and preparing tomorrow’s scientific genius for “here and beyond.”
From the nomination:
Dr. Levinson was nominated due to her innovative, impactful, and prolific research, her unparalleled work ethic and devotion to her research and trainees, and her highly collaborative nature with colleagues locally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Levinson is a renowned expert in eating disorders, as well as related topics such as anxiety. She currently holds over $11 million in grant funding, including a highly competitive New Investigator Award from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Levinson is *the* expert in exposure therapy for eating disorders. She is consistently asked to talk about, publish, and train in this area. She also has PhD students in Clinical Psychology who have successfully procured grant funding under her guidance. Dr. Levinson is training some of our best and brightest researchers; her commitment to these individuals will serve our field so well for many years to come. She helped to found, and is part of, the Eating Disorders Council in Kentucky. Dr. Levinson is already a leading expert, and her work has made outstanding contributions across all of the content areas for this prestigious award: her work on eating disorders and anxiety, exposure therapy for eating disorders, network analytic methods, and digital and personalized treatment research for eating disorders have all been groundbreaking and innovative with highly impactful findings
From the nomination:
Very rarely do scholars in Philosophy come to the attention of non-academic outlets; it happens only when their work is relevant, interdisciplinary, and accessible. In just 10 years since the PhD and only 8 years on the tenure track, Dr. Andreas Elpidorou has rocketed to the top of his field. Andreas has published two scholarly books and has two more under contract and in preparation. The first was with Routledge, a notable scholarly press, and the second is with Oxford University Press, the most prestigious publishing house for Philosophy. Andreas has also been invited to be an external PhD examiner three times in three different countries and has given invited keynote and colloquium series presentations on both sides of the Atlantic. Finally, Andreas is that rarest of philosophers whose work is so captivating, relevant, and interdisciplinary that it gets picked up outside academia – a fact indicated by his staggering number of media interviews and appearances, as well as the non-academic notice taken of his work.
Distinguished Service
From the nomination:
Dr. Quesada is a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department in Speed School of Engineering and has been with the University of Louisville since 1995. He is nominated for his extraordinary service to the University due to his continued efforts as Chair of the Social/Behavioral/Educational Institutional Review Board (IRB). Dr. Quesada has provided nearly twenty years of service to the UofL IRBs and research community, serving as an IRB member of both of the university’s boards (Social, Behavioral, and Educational, or SBE, along with Biomedical) since 2005 and as Chair of the SBE IRB since 2010.
There is simply no one who has positively influenced the care of acutely ill and injured children in the Louisville region more than Dr. Ron Paul. As of 2023, he had completed 30 years of highly skilled clinical care to tens of thousands of children, sacrificing evenings, weekends, and holidays and working extra shifts when needed to serve his patients. His legacy to our area extends well beyond the bedside, through his role as Division Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine for 25 of those years, prior to his transition to School of Medicine Vice Dean of Faculty Affairs in 2016. Even after becoming Vice Dean, he provided outstanding mentorship to the new Division Chief, continuing to work clinical shifts on holidays, and providing highly effective teaching to trainees while serving as a master clinician. Throughout his tenure he trained, recruited, mentored, and sponsored faculty with expertise in clinical research, bedside ultrasonography, simulation, and education. Dr. Paul is a role model of humility, compassion and dedication, going above and beyond to help others, whether at the bedside of a critically ill patient, mentoring colleagues in PEM, or leading positive change in his field. He brings a calm sense of purpose as a leader, emphasizing the importance of consistency, fairness, and equity. Furthermore, in his role as Vice Dean Dr. Paul has fostered a culture of integrity, kindness, and service in the office environment. Faculty describe him as kind and considerate and always prepared. Finally, no description of Dr. Paul’s service to UofL would be complete without inclusion of his leadership in the triennial Pediatric Quiz Bowl (held 6 times since 2007). Dr. Paul serves as emcee, organizer, question writer, and host for this beloved event which positions faculty vs residents in a team‐jeopardy style event. He goes “all‐in” for these events, incorporating his keen sense of humor and extensive knowledge into these highly anticipated events held around the time of residency graduation.
From the nomination:
Dr. Karam has dedicated his entire career to the advancement, proliferation of knowledge about, and growth of the marriage/couple and family therapy (M/CFT) profession. Since beginning his faculty position at UofL in 2008, Dr. Karam has carried out this mission through serving in positions on M/CFT state and national professional associations, serving in editorial and peer review roles to help disseminate latest innovations and findings in M/CFT, and sharing important CFT-related topics through public education and media outlets. Dr. Karam is passionate about teaching, as evidenced by heartfelt testimonials from current and former students.“Dr. Karam’s greatest strength is his ability to push students to their limits without discouraging them. While his material can be tough to master, it leaves students with a sense of confidence in their ability to move forward as professionals. Another thing that sets him apart is his unwavering commitment to preserving the history of our field. This is obvious in his lectures as well as his podcasting project. Dr. Karam has left a huge mark on me and makes me proud to carry the MFT torch!”
From the nomination:
Dr. Brandon McCormack’s life is comprised of service - from his work as a teacher, to his engaged scholarship, to his dedicated participation in the life of the varied communities to which he belongs. One of the most notable areas in the community where Dr. McCormack has donated his time is public education. He was a member of the Muhammad Ali Center Curriculum Revision Committee which revised the curriculum for “Spirituality” unit used by K-12 schools across Kentucky. He has been a member of the JCPS Office of Diversity, Equity, and Poverty where he established and led a series of professional development workshops on the role of religion in DEI conversations. Moreover, he serves on a number of committees for our local public arts and culture institutions. For example, as a member of the Speed Art Museum Community Engagement Steering Committee, he participated in the development of a national exhibit honoring Breonna Taylor and engaging the broader community.
Distinguished Teaching Professor
From the nomination:
Dr. Aaron Calhoun's tireless dedication to education, his innovative approach to simulation‐ based learning, and his consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentorship, make him an exemplary candidate for one of the University’s esteemed Presidential Distinguished Teaching Professor Awards. At the core of his impact lies his role as the creator and director of the Simulation for Pediatric Assessment, Resuscitation, and Communication Program (SPARC), where he has innovatively integrated simulation into the curriculum with the overarching goal of improving the care of children and the abilities of clinicians to effectively communicate with their families. Dr. Calhoun's commitment to excellence in education is underscored by a myriad of awards over his career that highlight his impact on both students and colleagues not only locally in his large Department (over 200 faculty) but nationally as well; His leadership extends beyond traditional academic roles, including his current position as associate division chief of pediatric critical care medicine, shaping the future of pediatric critical care through his exceptional leadership and commitment “here and beyond.”
From the nomination:
Dr. Caroline Sheffield teaches a broad range of formal university courses, delivers professional development workshops for teachers, is s U.S. Fulbright Specialist teaching in Latvia, and offers a summer “camp” experience for children grades 4-8 focusing on writing history, and technology. Dr. Sheffield has established herself as an exceptional educator who emphasizes a constructive and experiential approach to learning. In course evaluations, students regularly comment on this relational aspect of teaching. Student comments include: “Wonderful, full of life, down to earth, personable…” “I loved the instructor [Dr. Sheffield] teaching methods and the way she engages in class.” “She always made her students feel reassured and supported in their learning, and her honesty was refreshing and extremely helpful.” Most recently, Dr. Sheffield encouraged a UofL undergraduate student, one of the camp instructors, to submit a proposal to present her work at the Kentucky Council for the Social Studies, a leading organization in the Commonwealth for Social Studies teaching and advocacy. The student’s presentation was well received and with Dr. Sheffield’s continued mentorship, a manuscript is now underway. This is a significant accomplishment for an undergraduate student and testament to Dr. Sheffield’s commitment to supporting student success.
From the nomination:
Dr. Siobhan Smith-Jones is a charismatic and highly effective teacher whose students flourish under her guidance. She is a media studies scholar whose current research interests include explorations of African American women as interpretive communities. Her combination of rigorous scholarship and popular culture interests stimulate students to insights and accomplishments that they did not imagine before enrolling in one of her classes. Dr. Smith-Jones inspires her students to high levels of personal academic accomplishment. She closely mentors her students for success, encourages their professional development and their engagement in their own research. Her mentorship has resulted in publications, conference presentations, and awards for her students. They emerge from her classes both empowered and excited to take on new challenges both within UofL and beyond.
From the nomination:
Professor Stuart Williams has shown great breadth and variety in the courses that he teaches. While at the University of Louisville, he has taught three different undergraduate courses and three different graduate courses. Two of these courses were brand new to the university and were developed and designed by Dr. Williams. Students are highly inspired by Professor Williams. Here is a quote from his teaching evaluation: “This course not only exceeded my expectation, it was indefinitely the best class I took throughout my entire speed school career. Going into my final semester of my master’s program, I did not want to be an engineer. Dr. Williams completely revitalized my love for design and engineering. He was the best teacher I have ever had, and he only wants to improve. I was extremely impressed by his teaching style and motivated to push myself and produce my best work. UofL needs more teachers like him.” Professor Williams is very flexible with his students. “If there is a question asked in class that he is unable to answer, within 15 minutes after class he announces the answer to the question on blackboard. He is always available during his office hours and then some after.
From the nomination:
Since 2014, Dr. Elizabeth Gentry has been teaching in the Engineering Management program at the Speed School of Engineering as a part-time instructor teaching multiple courses including Six Sigma, statistics, operations management, and communication. The unit committee selected Dr. Gentry as a nominee for this recognition based on the unit teaching criteria and because of the following comments received from former students: “One of Dr. Gentry’s greatest strengths is her innovative and student-centered teaching approach. She employs creative methods to make complex concepts easy to understand allowing her students to successfully learn Six Sigma methods. Her exceptional communication skills allowed her to connect with all students.” Dr. Gentry’s enthusiasm for her teaching is contagious. Her passion not only makes the material more engaging to the students but also helps them grasp the importance of these concepts in the real world. Whether through interactive games, case studies, or walk-through videos, she ensures that students understand how these principles are applied in practice. This approach fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for the topics among her students. Dr. Gentry goes above and beyond to support her students’ learning and success. She is always available to provide guidance, clarify doubts, and offer encouragement.
Outstanding Performance Award Winners
The Outstanding Performance Awards recognize university staff (both exempt and nonexempt) who inspire others through their outstanding dedication and commitment to UofL.
Debbie Aldi | Physical Plant
From the nomination:
“It is obvious that Debbie cares about doing her job to the highest standards. She goes above and beyond in many ways, such as leaving small bouquets of seasonal flowers around the third floor. She is dependable and meticulous. She is always on the job and responds immediately to any special requests from the office administrative staff. She seems to treat the building as she would her own home and it is obvious that she really cares about making our floor as clean and inviting as possible in an older building. Moreover, she is always gracious and kind to us, no matter what. We want her to know how much she is appreciated.”
Rebecca Barrett | School of Nursing
From the nomination:
“Rebecca is conscientious with her work, both in quality and turnaround time. Despite the many duties that Rebecca is carrying right now (we are down one staff member), Rebecca agreed to assist with the 50th Anniversary of the School of Nursing. She has made my life so much better because she is organized, keeps up with the details, follows through with tasks until they are completed, and is always pleasant. Because she has led many of our events at the SAC and outside venues, she has made many friends at these locations, making it even easier for her to arrange the necessary details and organize set-up and tear-down. Our events are now fun and give us an excellent way to connect with our students! Though Rebecca had no higher education experience before this job, she quickly acclimated, excelled, and made our department a much better place to work.”
Mary Ann Campbell | Center for Military Connected Students
From the nomination:
“Mary Ann was instrumental in refining the Tuition Assistance process at UofL. Her subject matter expertise and institutional knowledge was vital to creation of a process to streamline military Tuition Assistance (TA) processing, which resulted in 97% increased accuracy. Under Mary Ann’s new process, TA forms for Army and Air Force Students were downloaded and verified for accuracy. In just Spring 2024 Term 1, this process resulted in 414 TA forms being reviewed, 62 corrections being identified and 55 new Residency coding updated for students. Shen then worked with the Bursar, Registrar, and Student Financial Aid Office to ensure shared understanding for this process. These actions enabled the institution to receive more than $250,000 for one semester in TA remission from the Department of Defense. Over the course of a full year, they will result in the institution receiving more than $1,500,00 in TA remission from the DoD.”
Geeta Gulati | Student Affairs
From the nomination:
“Geeta has modeled outstanding performance and commitment to service for her staff and for the students she serves while exemplifying the Cardinal Principles in her day-to-day interactions. She does so with a wonderful mix of a high level of competency, good humor, caring thoughtfulness, and a commitment to serve. Through her demonstrated leadership qualities, sustained high-level of productivity, consistent quality of work, and commitment to serve, Dr. Gulati has moved through the administrative ranks of the Counseling Center during her tenure to now serve as the Interim Director. She has been a member of the Counseling Center staff since May of 2014 and has served as the Associate Director effective April 2020 and the Interim Director since July of 2023. She is the go-to person on campus for questions and concerns about student mental health and well-being.”
Jetta Hall | Office of Admissions
From the nomination:
“Without Jetta our office is not able to make just about anything related to recruitment and admissions happen. She supports me but also everyone in our office. She always is available and just makes things happen. She does this in a very humble, quiet manner.”
Paula T. Huffman | Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Sciences
From the nomination:
“Paula is wonderful. She carries out her myriad responsibilities with care and dedication and treats us all with warmth and consideration. For decades, she has “exceeded expectations,” formally, in annual evaluations, and in the experience of the members of our two departments. In the words of one Anthropology professor: Paula often does work that goes under the radar of awards like this - work that makes the university function but that can be overlooked because it isn’t flashy or high profile. I think that the quiet necessity of what Paula does, and the dependable, thorough, and effective way in which she does that work, makes her the ideal recipient of this award.”
Courtney Kerr | Graduate School
From the nomination:
“In addition to being excellent in all that she does, Courtney took on an additional project in 2023: overseeing the painting, carpeting and kitchen refresh in the graduate school, which since the pandemic was in serious need of remodeling. She handled the packing up of our offices and helped us prepare for physical plant's work over the winter holiday. She did this at the same time that she was organizing our December hooding ceremony. While others stress out, Courtney gets the work done.”
Troy Lamont Rice | Office of Admissions-Transfer and Adult Services
From the nomination:
“Troy continuously dedicates time and effort to students in the ULtra program. For two decades, Troy has been an impactful part of the transfer community by assisting students with their course choices and guiding them through career options at UofL. Troy inspires students to explore their options along with serves as a role model within the Cardinal community and to students in the Ultra program. Troy is an outstanding asset to the Cardinal community. Troy evolves as our student population evolves. Troy is an efficient employee that cares deeply for our students and their successes. Troy has a positive impact on ULtra students and his passion does not go unnoticed amongst his peers and students. Troy is always searching for ways to enhance the student experience with ULtra while holding students accountable for their individual tasks.”
Donnie Thomas | Physical Plant
From the nomination:
“For 25 remarkable years, Donnie has been the backbone of our department, contributing significantly to the University of Louisville with his unparalleled expertise and dedication. As Donnie approaches his well-deserved retirement... it's impossible to overlook the substantial void his departure will leave behind. His legacy is a benchmark of professionalism and dedication that will continue to inspire us all at the Physical Plant. His hard work, dedication, and positive influence on our team and the entire university community are truly commendable.”
Marissa Williams | Student Success Center
From the nomination:
“Marissa is a dedicated and passionate employee that consistently applies her love of learning and excellence to overperform her duties. The Student Success Center and all UofL are so fortunate to have Marissa continuously dedicating her creativity, excellence, and vision to our work to help all students succeed. All of our team members depend on her, and she comes through every single time. The work of curriculum design and instructor support allows Marissa to inspire instructors to implement an intentionally designed curriculum for our nearly 700 new first year exploratory and transitions students each year.”
Outstanding Supervisor Award Winner
Great supervisors create a culture of engagement that includes supporting the development of team members and sending a strong, consistent message of respect, compassion, and trustworthiness.
Brittany Blake | Speed School Undergraduate Affairs
From the nomination:
“Brittany’s approach to supervision is a huge factor in my success as an academic advisor and has allowed me to thrive and grow since she hired me in 2018. Beyond just my relationship with her, she is an outstanding supervisor all the time, but 2023 in particular was a challenging year for our team. Due to a few staff departures and some internal promotions that had to go through entire hiring processes, we were desperately short-staffed for nearly all of 2023, and Brittany led us through the year with agility, grace, and resourcefulness. We eventually hired and onboarded several new academic counselors (over 50% turnover) amidst a very challenging environment for the entire field of student affairs/student services, and are fully staffed for the first time in years. I am coordinating this nomination, but our entire team is supportive and would love to see Brittany receive this recognition.”
Team Impact Award Winners
Behind every great accomplishment at the University of Louisville is a team of dedicated employees who worked collaboratively to realize their vision. This exceptional team has had a great impact on the university. As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work.
Team members: Penny Howell, Kate Marin, Megan Shreffler, Katie Harman, Gin Presley, Greta Cesarz, Mike Jett
From the nomination:
“Two Summer Bridge teams, led by faculty members Drs. Howell and Marin (EMSTEd) and Drs.Shreffler and Harman (HSS) have truly made an impact in the lives of students, faculty and staff. The programming for Summer Bridge focuses on strategies for academic success, social and community connections, and overall well-being (emotional, health, mental). These are essential components for students to thrive in a college environment. The directors, Drs. Howell, Marin, Shreffler, and Harman, invited many faculty and staff to participate in the programming; thereby demonstrating for students the breadth of resources and support available as they transition into college. Data from these two summer bridge programs highlight positive student retention rates and positive experiences in “feeling connected” to the University of Louisville community. Through their excellent leadership, programming efforts, and dedication to student success and retention, Drs Howell, Marin, Shreffler, and Harman are most deserving of the Team Impact Award.”
Presidential Commission Awards
Commission on the Status of Women (COSW)
The Commission on the Status of Women recognizes the following winners for 2024.
Olfa Nasraoui | Speed School of Engineering
Baylee Pulliam | Office of Research and Innovation
Brian Buford | Employee Success Center
Rennie Davis | Metropolitan College
Cherie Dawson-Edwards | Faculty Affairs
Anita R. Hall | University Libraries
Commission on Diversity and Racial Equity (CODRE)
- Presidential Exemplary Multicultural Teaching Award: Luis Marsano
- Presidential Exemplary Multicultural Engagement Staff Award: Diane Whitlock
- CODRE Commissioner of the Year Award: Marian R. Vasser
