Award of Distinction
The Award of Distinction Program is the highest award for university staff which annually recognizes approximately 10-15 university employees who have made outstanding contributions to the Emory community. Honorees are recognized at a special event and also receive a monetary award.
About the Award of Distinction
Eligibility
All current, regular full-time and part-time staff or post-docs, who have been employed for at least one year are eligible to be nominated. Previous awardees are eligible.
Those not eligible for nomination include faculty, faculty equivalents, librarians, medical house residents, board approved principals, employees of Emory Healthcare, and Emory retirees.
Nomination Categories
Nominations should be based on consistent excellence in the performance of job duties and responsibilities and should cite examples of how the employee has demonstrated one or more of the following nomination categories below:
- Demonstrated commitment to the public good, which is a defining part of Emory’s character, through the use of one’s talents and abilities for personal and/or global goals.
- Exemplary contribution while serving on a university committee, task force or commission.
- Significant contribution to an innovation resulting in increased customer satisfaction for students, employees, visitors or alumni.
- Creative suggestion or initiative resulting in a new successful program or service for a department or for the university.
- Innovation resulting in increased efficiency or decreased costs in a department or for the university.
- Establishment of a program or procedure that has improved the safety and security of the Emory community.
- Exceptional contribution which advances and supports the quality of teaching or research.
- Demonstrated actions which have improved or advanced the university's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Long-time, exceptional service and dedication to Emory which has led to a legacy of achievement over the span of one’s career.
Nomination Process
The 2025 Award of Distinction program will open in January 2025. Nominations must include a completed written nomination form and up to three letters of support, with a minimum of one letter required.
Completed nomination packets are due by 5:00 pm on February 10, 2025.
Selection Process
All nominees will be reviewed by a selection committee of employees from a variety of roles across Emory. Each nomination will be scored on the following:
- How well the nominee demonstrates one or more of the Award of Distinction nomination categories.
- How effectively the nomination form demonstrates the nominee’s exceptional contributions beyond their regular job duties.
- The extent to which the nominee's contributions have an impactful effect on Emory.
- The degree to which the nominee has embodied and promoted the mission and principles of Emory University in their daily work.
- The extent to which the nominee has enhanced the atmosphere at Emory and positively influenced those around them.
- How the nominee engages with and contributes to the broader Emory community, both within and beyond their immediate department.
2024 Award of Distinction Honorees
The 2024 Award of Distinction honorees pose with President Gregory L. Fenves at an evening reception held in their honor April 17. Shown are (l-r) Michael Kloss, Gina Shannon, Roland C. Witter, Circe Tsui, Terez M. Whatley White, Emma Yarbrough, Annie Shanley, President Fenves, Freda Hall, Kate Grace, Betty J. Webb, David Carroll, Harriet Ruskin, Blaire Wilson and Lisa Nuñez.
Past award recipients
Note: Due to the pandemic, the Award of Distinction was not held in 2020 or 2021.
- David Carroll, PhD, The Carter Center
- Kate Grace, Campus Life
- Freda Hall, Campus Services
- Michael Kloss, Advancement and Alumni Engagement
- Lisa Nuñez, BS, MDP, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
- Harriet Ruskin, Goizueta Business School
- Annie Shanley, PhD, Michael C. Carlos Museum
- Gina Shannon, MAT, School of Medicine
- Circe Tsui, MS, Office of Information Technology
- Betty J. Webb, School of Medicine
- Terez M. Whatley White, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
- Blaire Wilson, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
- Roland C. Witter, Campus Life
- Emma Yarbrough, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
- Chris J. Alexander, Enterprise Messaging System Engineer, Office of Information Technology
- Willie Brokenburr, Crew Leader, Roads & Grounds, Campus Services
- Mark Burell, Manager, Carlos Museum Bookshop, Provost’s Office
- Zachary Cole, Chief of Staff, Office of Spiritual and Religious Life, President’s Office
- Susan D. Cook, BA, Sr. Academic Degree Program Coordinator, Physics, Emory College
- Priya E. D’Souza, MPH, Lead Public Health Specialist, Rollins School of Public Health
- Rachel E. Fest, Director, Business Services, EVP Business & Administration
- Dawn Francis-Chewning, Educational Analyst III, Student Digital Life, Emory University Libraries
- Hannah Joy Gebresilassie, BSBA, MSJ, Program Coordinator, Emory Votes Initiative, Center for Civic and Community Engagement, Campus Life
- Carol Kelly, MA, RDN, CSSD, CHES, Associate Director, Nutrition Services, Campus Life
- Thomas Manns, Captain, Emory Police Department, EVP Business & Administration
- Emily Staub, Associate Director, Communications, The Carter Center
- Elaine Turner, Sr. Director, Housing Operations, Campus Life
- Channelva Young, RVT, RLATg, Veterinary Technician Supervisor, School of Medicine
- Maggie Beker, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
- Shelle Wilson Bryant, MTS, Rollins School of Public Health
- Rhonda E. Burke, Rollins School of Public Health
- Megan E. Friddle, PhD, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
- Josh Gilbert, Campus Services
- Gary D. Glass, PhD, Oxford College
- Geoff Huitt, Office of Information Technology
- Randall Howell Lucius, PhD, Human Resources
- Rob Manchester, P.E., Campus Services
- Sumon Ray, Task Force for Global Health
- Kalpana Rengarajan, PhD, MPH, JM, Office of Research Administration
- Samuel E. Shartar, Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response
- Julie Sullivan, School of Medicine
- Toni Thomas, School of Medicine
- Sara Jackson Wade, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
- Kira Walsh, PhD, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
- Jeffrey Weaver, MBA, Office of Information Technology
- Neville L. Whitehead, School of Medicine
- Andrea Williams, RN, Campus Life
- Janelle Clark, School of Medicine
- Frank Gaertner, Emory College
- Peggy Goedken, School of Medicine
- Michele Hempfling, PhD, Oxford College
- Vanda Palmer Hudson, Rollins School of Public Health
- Jennifer Crabb Kyles, Advancement and Alumni Engagement
- Heather Mugg, Provost’s Office
- Dattatraya Hari Patil, MBBS, MPH, School of Medicine
- Deepa V. Pawate, Internal Audit
- Cara L. Smith, Advancement and Alumni Engagement
- Timothy Glenn Stephens, Emory College
- Craig T. Watson, Campus Services/Public Safety
- Julie R. Barefoot, Goizueta Business School
- Tammyjo Best, School of Medicine
- Danielle M. Bruce-Steele, Campus Life
- Jennifer T. Daly, Advancement and Alumni Engagement, Winship Cancer Institute
- Michelle B. James, Advancement and Alumni Engagement, Rollins School of Public Health
- Tamika Kendrick, Campus Service/Department of Public Safety
- Bill Lambert, Finance Division
- Marilyn Hazzard Lineberger, Ph.D., Human Resources/Faculty Staff Assistance Program
- Maya Encantada Meeks, CVT, RLAT, Division of Animal Resources
- Susan Newborn, Oxford College
- Donna Troka, Ph.D., Office of the Provost
- Anjulet V. Tucker, Ph.D., Office of the President
- Jena Black, Rollins School of Public Health
- Amy Dryman, M.Ed., Division of Animal Resources
- Wanda J. Hayes, PhD, Human Resources
- Rhiannon Hubert, Oxford College
- Denese Jester, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
- Kimberly F. Kerstann, PhD, Winship Cancer Institute
- Joan D. Kowal, Campus Services
- Maurice L. Middleton, Office of the Provost
- Courtnay N. Oddman, Campus Life
- Kathy Siemon, Office of the General Counsel
- Adrienne G. Slaughter, LCSW, Campus Life
- Derek Spransy, Library & Information Technology Services
- Marcus Urquiaga, School of Medicine
- Glenn Williams, Development & Alumni Relations
- Sonia Bell, School of Medicine
- Katherine F. Egan, BSN, RN, CCRC, School of Medicine
- Sharmyn Amos Gipson, Division of Animal Resources
- Andrea Elizabeth Grant, Office of Multicultural Programs and Services
- Stephanie J. Gray, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
- Eric Gregory, Campus Services
- Marie M. Hansen, Library & Information Technology Services
- Ginger Kane, Development & Alumni Relations
- Adam R. Malm, School of Nursing
- Jimmy Powell, Campus Services
- Catherine Howett Smith, Michael C. Carlos Museum
- Roderick Stubbs, Oxford College
- Carolyn B. Aidman, PhD, School of Medicine
- Barbara C. Ballisty, EVP Academic Affairs & Provost
- Carolyn Bregman, Development & Alumni Relations
- Yoko Hammond, MS, CRA, Yerkes National Primate Research Center
- Stacy Heilman, PhD, School of Medicine
- Darrell F. Johnson, Emory Police
- Mollie Korski, Emory College of Arts & Sciences
- Stephanie Parisi, Library & Information Technology Services
- Seth Tepfer, Oxford College
- Joel Tingle, Emory College of Arts & Sciences
- Amy Wheeler, School of Law
- Dona Yarbrough, PhD, Campus Life
- Audrey Adelson, Human Resources
- Lynell Cadray, School of Nursing
- Annie Carey, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
- Ciannat M. Howett, Office of Sustainability Initiatives
- Deena Keeler, Campus Services
- Jane A. Lawson, School of Medicine
- Sue McAvoy, School of Law
- Sandra A. Schein, Oxford College
- Sam Shartar, Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response
- Mindy Simon, Office of the General Counsel
- Sherry M. Stodghill, Human Resources
- Thomas H. Bornemann, The Carter Center
- Kathleen Carroll, Emory College
- Courtenay Dusenbury, Rollins School of Public Health
- Jasmine Hoffman, School of Nursing
- Jack Kearse, Office of EVP Health Affairs
- Carlton Mackey, Office of EVP Academic Affairs & Provost
- Wayne H. Morse, Jr, Office of Information Technology
- Avril Y. Occilien-Similien, Campus Services
- Michael D. Shutt, Campus Life
- L. Shakiyla Smith, School of Medicine
- Dana Wyner, Campus Life
- Brent Zern, Campus Services
- Michelle Boone, Office of the EVP for Health Affairs
- Holley Butkovich, Office of Critical Event Preparedness & Response
- Julie Delliquanti, University Libraries
- Allison Kay Dykes, Officof Development & Alumni Relations
- Kara Grant, Campus Life
- Herman Howard, Campus Services
- Marsha Howard, Division of Animal Resources
- Nicole Kruse, The Carter Center
- Charlie Raudonis, Campus Services
- Sasha A. Smith, Center for Women
- Cameron Van Tran, School of Medicine
- Maria Wackerly, International Student & Scholar Services
- Clifton Clarno, II, Campus Services
- Alexa DeVetter, Emory College
- Steve Ellwood, School of Nursing
- Kenneth P. House, Campus Services
- Elizabeth G. Kimberl, School of Medicine
- Karen A. Lieber, Division of Animal Resources
- Tim Morris, Office of Information Technology
- Andrea D. Neal, Emory College
- Marvin Quinn Poulson, Emory Police
- Julie A. Shaffer, Campus Life
- Kathy A. Smith, Laney Graduate School
- Kristin M. Unzicker, Rollins School of Public Health
- Lee Clontz, University Technology Services
- Sue Dale, Oxford College
- Morris Durham, Campus Services
- Maggie M. Hassan, Emory College
- Kathryn Kite, School of Nursing
- Edward Lee, Campus Life
- Paula Londe, University Communications & Marketing
- Liz McCarty, School of Medicine
- Nancy L. Miller, MS, RLATG, Division of Animal Resources
- Michael Poole, Emory Police
- Joy S. Budensiek, Oxford College
- Francisco Calderon, School of Medicine
- Katie Chace, Yerkes National Primate Research Center
- Tracy Anne Clark, Emory College
- Adele Clements, Campus Services
- Michael Derry, Emory College
- Kelly Ferguson, School of Medicine
- Larry D. Frederick, University Libraries
- John Mills, University Communications & Marketing
- Nathaniel Poon, Goizueta Business School
- Mary L. Secrest, University Technology Services
- Fie-Jiuan Joan Wang, Campus Services
- Tim P. Ariail, Student Financial Services
- Toni M. Avery, Emory College
- Barbara Brandt, University Technology Services
- Jen Fabrick, Campus Services
- Lewis Fuller, Emory College
- Carol L. Gee, Goizueta Business School
- Dr. Paula G. Gomes, Human Resources, Faculty Staff Assistance Program
- Iruka A. Ndubuizu, Research Administration
- Stephanie Roberts, Office of International Affairs
- James Roland, Campus Life
- Linda Sheldon, Campus Services
- Wesley Thompson, School of Medicine
- Felicia Bianchi, Academic & Administrative IT
- Beth H. Broyles, Office of the Registrar
- Louis Burton, Sr., School of Medicine
- Robert N. (Nick) Fabian, Emory College
- Rosemary Hynes, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
- James R. Johnson, Campus Services
- Gary Robert Morris, Campus Services
- Lisa M. Newbern, Yerkes National Primate Research Center
- Stephen Pittard, School Of Medicine
- Kathy Summers, Emory College
- Kathy S. Vaughn, School of Medicine
- Darlene A. Wyche-Alha-De, School of Medicine
Contact
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