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Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.Nine staff members have earned 2024 Chancellor’s Awards for Staff Excellence for their exceptional contributions to the University of Pittsburgh. Chancellor Joan Gabel and James W. Gallaher Jr., vice chancellor for human resources, presented the honorees with certificates at a reception on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
“The University of Pittsburgh is a special place and, as James noted, and as I have seen firsthand over the past year and a half, it’s the people who make it that way,” said Gabel.
Each honoree will also receive a $2,500 prize and see their name added to a plaque for recipients of the Chancellor’s Staff Awards that is on display in the William Pitt Union.
Read on to see who won and what the chancellor said in their nomination letters.
Community Engagement
Kelly Gilliam
Division of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement
Recognized for “serving as the University’s United Way campaign manager and overseeing a record-breaking campaign in 2023-24”; “volunteering with Pitt’s Civic Action Week”; and “supporting the community as pastor at Shiloh Church, community mediator for Just Mediation Pittsburgh and founding board member and executive director of Life Builders.”
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Anastasia White
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Recognized for “helping to mobilize SHRS’ equity, diversity and inclusion goals,” “provide free clinical therapy rehabilitation services at the SHRS Wellness Pavilion at the Community Engagement Center in Homewood,” “launch a dedicated space for the school’s affinity groups,” and “develop an interdisciplinary global learning experience course.”
Excellent Mentor
Laura Kingsley
Office of Sponsored Programs
Recognized for “ensuring colleagues have access to industry best practices through [her] participation in the National Council of University Research Administrators and Federal Demonstration Partnership” and “securing recognition and professional development for colleagues.”
Exceptional Early Career Achievement
Miranda Acosta
School of Computing and Information
Recognized for “performing beyond [her] roles’ responsibilities” and “improving the operations of an incredibly dynamic workplace.”
Innovation in Advancing Administrative and Operational Efficiency
Christine Jackson
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Recognized for “helping SHRS grow into the University’s largest health sciences school (gross tuition revenue and enrollment),” “creating the business and finance team within the dean’s office and a cost savings plan worth several million dollars,” and “playing a significant role in the development of Pitt EDGE (the Center for Excellence in Digital Education).”
Outstanding Career Achievement
Pat Cercone
Communications and Marketing, Pitt-Bradford
Recognized for “spearheading the growth of the communications function at Pitt-Bradford” and “performing ‘beyond expectations’ in [her] leadership roles.”
Research Support
Jean Barone
Office of Research Protections
Recognized for “improving protections for human research subjects” and “diversifying Pitt’s Institutional Review Board.”
Student Impact
Brandon Barber
Swanson School of Engineering
Recognized for “leading the Swanson School’s Makerspace in partnership with students” and “co-developing the Innovation and Design Engineering Accelerator (IDEA) Lab.”
University Engagement
Doreen Hernandez
University Center for International Studies
Recognized for “co-founding the University’s Hispanic/Latinx Professional Association,” “co-creating and co-leading the Latinx Connect Conference,” and “serving on the Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month Planning Committee and as GSPIA representative in the Latinx Faculty Cluster Hire Initiative.”
Photography by Aimee Obidzinski