From introducing reusable takeout containers to Cornell’s dining facilities to reducing laboratory dependence on fossil fuels, the President’s Awards for Employee Excellence celebrated these and other achievements Nov. 19 in Barton Hall.

The annual ceremony honored 20 staff members and four teams across eight award categories, highlighting the exceptional contributions of Cornell staff and faculty to the university. With more than 150 nominations recognizing nearly 250 people, the program set a record for participation and recognition.

Credit: Ryan Young/Cornell University

“I take great pride in knowing that Cornell celebrates so many employees for their dedication to the university and its programs,” said Christine Lovely, vice president and chief human resources officer, as she welcomed around 200 honorees, nominators, supervisors and senior leaders. “Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. It is inspiring to hear about the amazing accomplishments of all our employees.”

Established in 2011, the program highlights the transformative contributions of employees to the Cornell community and beyond.

“Every year, this program’s nominations bring to light just how diverse our community, staff and faculty are and the breadth of projects they undertake to put Cornell on the map,” said Interim President Michael I. Kotlikoff. “Thank you to the nominators for taking the time to recognize your peers for their dedication to create a sustainable campus and mission. And to the nominees and awardees, your actions inspire others to do better, be better and push Cornell forward.”

This year also marked the introduction of a new category: the Health Promoting Campus Award, which recognized three recipients for exemplifying the vision of “People, Places and Planet,” part of the Okanagan Charter, a formal pledge that Cornell administrators have signed to promote health and well-being across all facets of university life. This award joined the program’s six primary categories along with the Trustee Award, which was presented by Trustee Ezra Cornell ’70 on behalf of the Cornell Board of Trustees.

“Our community is a powerhouse of ingenuity, creativity and innovation, driven by our shared values and mission. It is what distinguishes Cornell – the relationships that we build and the work we do together to make the university better,” said Kotlikoff. Quoting Frank H.T. Rhodes, Cornell’s ninth president, he added: “Cornell is an engine that drives humanity forward. All of you are part of that, and I thank you so much for what you do.”

The awards and winners:

The Culture of Belonging Award, for creating and supporting an open, inclusive, welcoming and equitable workplace environment:

• Carl Cornell, assistant director of undergraduate advising for Cornell Bowers CIS;
• Tony Roach, director of administration for the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering; and 
• Alison McCauley, web developer for CIO – CIT Enterprise Services.

The Game Changer Award, for developing or implementing a new approach:

• Cassandre Pierre Joseph, director of workforce engagement for Analytics and Work Life in the Division of Human Resources;
• Alan Joffrey, director of administration for the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS); and
• Jenny Leijonhufvud, outreach spaces & exhibits coordinator for Mann Library.

The Culture of Sustainability Award, for making contributions to the sustainable development and social equity of the Cornell campus:

• Ross Hansen, director of facilities and planning for CALS Shoals Marine Laboratory;
• Anna Ben-Schlomo, sustainability coordinator for Cornell Dining; and
• Allison Hutchison, senior lecturer in the Engineering Communications Program for Cornell Engineering.

The Thoughtful Leader Award, for bringing out the best in others:

• Kathryn Burkgren, associate vice president of organizational development and effectiveness for the Division of Human Resources;
• Bill Loftus, director of administration for Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology; and 
• Andrew Heist, assistant front office manager for The Statler Hotel.

The Mission-Possible Award, for supporting the university’s core mission to learning, discovery and engagement:

• Meghan Reiser, interim assistant director of undergraduate admissions, College of Architecture, Art and Planning;
• Angela Downing, finance specialist and team lead for Public and Ecosystem Health in the College of Veterinary Medicine; and
• Lynda Sovocool, interim associate director/department manager for Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science.

The ONE Cornell Award, for a group that implements a project or solves a problem to positively impact Cornell and the community:

• The Worker Institute Administrative team in the ILR School;
• The Unit Coordination team, Cornell Engineering’s Office of Marketing and Communications; and
• The Certified Desktop and Endpoint Data Dashboards Project team.

The Health Promoting Campus Award, for embodying the tagline of the Okanagan Charter, “People, Places and Planet”:

• Allison Chatrchyan, research associate in CALS;
• C. Lucas, wellness community outreach specialist, for Student and Campus Life; and
• Jen Grenier, director of the Biotech Resource Center’s Genomics Facility.

The Trustee Award, for overall excellence:

• Tracy Chapman, assistant director for finance and budget in CALS;
• Connie Mabry, director of university commencement events; and
• The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

Grace DePaull is communications assistant in the Department of Inclusion and Belonging in the Division of Human Resources.