Employee Recognition Special Awards

President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution

Individual and/or Team - FT & PT Faculty/Staff

This award presents an opportunity to link outstanding performance to the achievement of the University’s mission and strategic priorities. When nominating individuals or teams, please elaborate how their contributions to the mission and/or goals of the Strategic Priorities enhance the University's learning and working environment.

To be eligible, the candidate(s) must demonstrate one or more of the below-listed criteria:

• Developed an initiative, program and/or service that leads to increased enrollment, student success, retention and/or persistence to graduation.
• Demonstrated an extraordinary initiative in strengthening the student academic experience. Promoted a campus environment that is inclusive, welcoming, supportive and nurturing of cultural, ethnic, racial, class, gender, sexual orientation, language and other human differences.
• Supported the University’s strategic goals by improving and/or modernizing current practices resulting in a measurable gain in efficiency, effectiveness, or service.
• Participated on committees, mentored others, served as a role model and/or use originality and creativity to enthusiastically and collaboratively develop strategies.
• Made an innovative and significant contribution to the wellness and well-being of Pace faculty and staff.

STAR Award

Individual FT & PT Faculty/Staff to include Contract Services Members

The STAR Award presents an opportunity to allow members of the Pace Community to shine a well-deserved spotlight on a colleague who consistently makes a significant contribution within our community. This individual’s positive impact contributes to supporting the overall success of the University’s mission with a willingness to go above and beyond, even outside the scope of their role, while demonstrating a commitment to excellence.

To be eligible, the candidate must demonstrate one or more of the below-listed criteria:

• This individual completed work on a specific project, initiative or event that is above and beyond normal expectations and the normal scope of the individual’s regular job responsibilities.
• This individual consistently demonstrated one or more the following competencies: exceptional performance, creativity, organizational abilities, work success, leadership, teamwork, and collaboration.
• This individual exhibited consistent reliability, dependability and timeliness in their work within their own unit and/or cross-functionally.
• This individual produced high quality work that makes it possible for the University to run smoothly and effectively.
• This individual what would be called an “Unsung Hero”: a behind-the-scenes, go-to person, a problem solver, and always ready to save the day.

2023 Employee Special Award Winners

President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution Individuals

• Elizabeth Berro, Assistant Professor, College of Health Professions, Pleasantville
• Jason Czarnezki, Professor, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, White Plains
• Elyse Diamond, Director, Public Service Careers/Adjunct Professor, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, White Plains
• Jemima Fortune, Senior Associate Director, Student Engagement, NYC
• Jennifer Holmes, Associate Professor/Executive Director, Sands College of Performing Arts, NYC
• Wen Xi Piombino, Assistant Director, Residential Life, Pleasantville

President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution Team

Food Insecurity Taskforce

• Sue Maxam, Office of the Provost (Co-Chair)
• Todd Smith-Bergollo, Dean for Students (Co-Chair)
• Matthew Anthony, Athletics
• Floralis Artiles, Honors College
• Nori Barnes, Honors College
• Jeff Barnett, Dean for Students
• Nick Bellucci, Annual and Reunion Giving
• Sabrina Boyd, Student
• Ana Sophia Candelot, Student
• Katie Chase, University Operations
• David Chavira, Admission
• Maureen Colgan, English, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
• Shynae Davis, Auxiliary Services
• Nancy DeRiggi, Office of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research
• Karen Desantis, Office of Planning, Assessment and Institutional Research
• Ana Donner Gonzalez, University Relations
• Kendra Free, University Relations
• Kellyann Galimi, Human Resources
• Kevin Henriquez, Chartwells Dining Services
• Christina Heredia, Residential Life
• Janice Hilbrink, Financial Aid
• Cindy Jemas, Student
• Allyson King, New Student Experience
• Darrell Lee, Financial Aid
• Maria Lemus, Student Engagement
• Kimberly Mars, Student
• Siobhan Mcloughlin, Centralized Advising
• Clifford Mondesir, Auxiliary Services
• Monisha Moore, Residential Life
• Traci Moyer, Dean for Students
• Heather Novak, Center for Community Action and Research
• John Olsson, Chartwells Dining Services
• Mary Opfer, Nutrition, College of Health Professions
• Wen Xi Piombino, Residential Life
• Regina K. Robinson, Financial Aid
• Patrick Roger Gordon, Housing Operations
• Jennifer Rosenstein, Library
• Ally Sansone, Financial Aid
• Denise Santiago, Multicultural Affairs
• Sheryl Scalzo, Health Sciences
• Carrie Sena, Seidenberg School of CSIS
• Claudia Stabile, Athletics
• Lyric Thomas, Student
• Joanna Verlezza, Residential Life
• P.V. Viswanath, Finance and Economics
• Sam Weisz, Student
• Jimmy Woods-Corwin, Student Engagement

YES I Make It Happen Annual Winners

Staff Members

• Sara Hukkanen, Coordinator, Student Affairs, Pleasantville
• Traci Moyer, Associate Director, Student Support, New York City
• Ness Wright, IT Support Specialist, White Plains

Student Assistants/Interns

• Jaida-Lee Colley, Student Assistant, Help Desk/ITS, White Plains
• Jill Pathak, Student Assistant, Career Services, New York City
• Stephanie Spruck, Student Assistant, Office of the Associate Provost for Wellness, Pleasantville

A Special Thanks to the 2023 Special Awards Nomination Committee Members

• Milton David Almodóvar, Head of Research/Circulation Services, Mortola Library, Pleasantville
• Michael Fazzino, Admission Counselor, Undergraduate Admissions, New York City
• Iuliana Ismailescu, Professor, Finance, Lubin School of Business, New York City
• Kapila Juthani, Assistant Dean, Career/Professional Development, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, White Plains
• Joshua Mendelsohn, Associate Professor/Program Director MPH, College of Health Professions, New York City
• Teresa Petrilli, Manager, Admin/Planning, Office of the VP/CIO, Information Technology Services, Valhalla
• Deborah Stromes, Senior Staff Clinician, Counseling Center, Pleasantville

Pace Awards Committee

Volunteering is an impactful way to serve our community. We are more connected, engaged, and vibrant because of volunteerism. Serving on the Pace Awards Committee is a great way to gain experience, recognize your outstanding colleagues, and learn more about some of the great campus initiatives taking place at Pace. It also provides an excellent networking opportunity as you and your fellow committee members evaluate the nominations and review the impactful contributions being made throughout the campuses.

What you will be expected to do:

• Evaluate nominations and recommend award recipients.
• Discuss and recommend the creation of additional awards and ways of recognition.

What you will get out of this experience:

• Gaining visibility and interacting with peers and senior leaders.
• Recognizing colleagues for meaningful work and drawing satisfaction from contributing to their recognition.
• Discovering new ideas to which you would have not otherwise been exposed.
• Working with people you would not have otherwise met, expanding, and increasing your visibility in the community.

In addition:

• Committee members are recognized publicly at the annual recognition events and online.
• Committee members are recognized through the YES recognition program.
• Committee members will be rewarded.

To apply for the annual standing Pace Awards Committee volunteering pool, email employeerelations@pace.edu. Human Resources will contact you with details at the time the annual committee is formed, should you be selected to serve on this committee.