Inspiring Excellence Student Affairs' Staff Awards
Nominations are now closed for 2024.
Each spring Student Affairs recognizes professional staff for their contributions to providing a safe and inclusive living and learning experience that inspires students to recognize and achieve their aspirations.
The six award categories that represent our values, integral principles that guide our daily operations and interactions. Those categories are:
- Collaborate
An award to recognize outstanding campus partners outside of Student Affairs who help to advance student learning and maximize resources. - Connect
An award to recognize individuals who build relationships that connect faculty, staff and students and promote a sense of belonging through programs, words, and behaviors. - Cultivate
An award to recognize individuals who nurture growth, learning and well-being and help develop a campus environment that encourages kindness, offers support, and honors compassion. - Innovate
An award to recognize individuals and units who seek new and creative solutions to challenges facing our campus and community. - Include
An award to recognize individuals who help foster diverse, accessible and caring communities that promote full and equal participation and respect everyone's personal stories. - Lead
An award to recognize individuals who contribute to and demonstrate a commitment to the University’s mission by exhibiting strong leadership qualities, developing future leaders, and creating a culture of excellence in their team.
Colleagues can nominate staff for awards by detailing how this individual demonstrates this award category in the form below. Nominations should be submitted no later than 12 p.m. April 5, 2024. Awardees will be recognized during a reception on May 16, 2024.
Directors and AVC roles are ineligible to receive these awards.
Past Awardees
Collaborate
2023
- Agustin Champion, UNLPD
2022
- Jenni Brost, New Student Enrollment
2021
- Public Health Advocacy Team
2020
- Facilities Planning & Construction
- Facilities Maintenance & Operations
2019
- Marnee Nelson, Education Abroad
Connect
2023
- Kyle Minchow, Campus Recreation
- Olyvia Nguyen, Residence Life
2022
- Dan Hudson, Residence Life
- Brittany Meiners, Student Affairs Marketing & Communications
2021
- COVID Care Team
- Pat Tetreault, Women's Center & LGBTQA+ Center
2020
- Cory Densberger, Nebraska Unions
2019
- Zac Brost, Campus Recreation
- John Goldrich, Counseling & Psychological Services
Cultivate
2023
- Sharity Czolgos, Residence Life
- Mariah Johnson, Counseling & Psychological Services
2022
- Kenji Madison, Big Red Resilience & Well-being
- Deb McConahie, Residence Life
2021
- Isolation Housing Team
- Lanie Stutz, Center for Advocacy, Response & Education
- Melissa Wilkerson, Center for Advocacy, Response & Education
2020
- Elizabeth Arthur, University Housing
- Christopher Dulak, Student Affairs Marketing & Communication
2019
- Joan Mendoza-Gorham, TRIO Upward Bound
- Laura Shell, Big Red Resilience & Well-being
Include
2023
- Cindy Agee, Housing
- Quinna Hogan, Fraternity & Sorority Life
2022
- SA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council
2021
- Racial Justice Action Teams
- Katherine Montoya, Residence Life
- Melanie Skocy, Residence Life
2020
- Sally Pfeiffer, Campus Recreation
2019
- Kate Burger, University Housing
- Marcus Gonzales, University Housing
- Andrea Lopez, University Housing
Innovate
2023
- Andrew Brown, Student Leadership, Involvement, & Community Engagement
- Mollie Rappl, Residence Life
2022
- Jeff Filbert, Student Affairs Business Services
- Karen Standley, Student Affairs Business Services
- Student Conduct & Community Standards
2021
- Events Committee
- Sharleen Roth, University Housing
2020
- Campus Recreation
- Center for Advocacy, Response & Education
2019
- Linda Moody, Center for Civic Engagement
- Dining Services
Lead
2023
- Joan Mendoza-Gorham, TRIO
- Brad Roberts, Dining
2022
- Selma De Anda, TRIO
- Abby Groth, Learning Communities
2021
- Tony Rathgeber, University Housing
- Callie Wilhite, UNL Children's Center
2020
- Brent Freeman, Nebraska Unions
- Kathryn Grier, Student Involvement
2019
- Rob Andrews, Residence Life
- Jordan Messerer, Campus Recreation
Vice Chancellor's Award for Campus Impact
2023
- Center for Advocacy, Response & Education (CARE)
2022
- Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
2021
- Student Leadership, Involvement & Community Engagement
2020
- Residence Life
2019
- Services for Students with Disabilities