(Vice Dean of Administration Bob Maruca and Executive Dean Juli Wade celebrate this year's award winners.)
Congratulations to the seven individual staffers and one team who were honored for their work in 2024
The 2025 recipients of the annual Arts and Sciences Staff Excellence Recognition Awards for Distinguished Service were honored at an event on Wednesday, February 12 at Winants Hall on the College Avenue campus. Executive Dean Juli Wade and Vice Dean of Administration Bob Maruca presented the awards to individuals for their work in 2024. They went above and beyond, demonstrating excellence in their roles, and making a significant impact within the School of Arts and Sciences.
This annual recognition program celebrates the outstanding achievements and dedication of our staff members who have gone above and beyond in their service to our school, faculty, staff, students, and constituents.
The recipients are recognized in three different categories: contributions to operational excellence, contributions to the staff culture, and contributions to the student experience. The Staff Excellence Awards Selection Committee reviewed a total of 36 eligible nominations.
Scroll down or click on a name to read the citation
2024 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Student Experience: Kristen Goodrich, Jerlene Rodriguez
2024 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Operational Excellence: Ashley Pavlis, Alisa Ray, Jacqueline Steadman
2024 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Staff Culture: Jim Bennett, Nancy Pamula
2024 Team Award for Outstanding Contributions to Staff Culture: Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Administration Team: Kandi Berryman, Aretha Oliver Crayton, Nimrah Saeed
2024 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Experience
Kristen Goodrich, Senior Program Manager and Staff Advisor for Cell Biology & Neuroscience
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, and Genetics, Division of Life Sciences, Office of Undergraduate Instruction
Kristen’s administrative experience, student-oriented nature, and enthusiasm to learn new skills have been instrumental in her ability to adapt to all aspects of her position. While she has truly excelled in many ways, it is her commitment to our students and her service to strengthening the DLS community where she shines. Kristen is eager to find systems to improve the departments' functioning, service, and effectiveness. To engage the students and create a sense of community, Kristen was tasked with developing a DLS Student Ambassador Program. The goal of the program was to create a sense of community for students and provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills, support their peers, and represent the DLS at various events, including staffing the Major/Minor Fair, the Admitted Open House, and a DLS Research Reels Party, among various other events throughout the year. Kristen initiated social media accounts for the majors and a DLS ambassador account for the students to share their stories and highlight all the DLS students’ successes. She has spent endless hours creating Canva posts to celebrate our seniors, honors, and award winners. Kristen is well deserving of this award based on her kindness, dedication, and support of students and her efforts to build a vibrant student community within the DLS.
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Jerlene Rodriguez, Undergraduate Program and Study Abroad Coordinator
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Jerlene is an exemplary candidate for recognition due to her outstanding contributions as both the Undergraduate Program and Study Abroad Coordinator. She consistently goes beyond her responsibilities to ensure that both students and faculty receive the support they need. Her contributions have been especially crucial to the success of the department’s programs, particularly in her work on the department’s Summer Study Abroad programs in Spain and Peru. Jerlene’s commitment was on full display during the development and launching of the 2024 Study Abroad Program in Spain, where she played a pivotal role in ensuring its success. She approached the project with extraordinary dedication, investing significant time and effort to prepare the program for its launch. Her work is characterized by a proactive, problem-solving attitude. Her personal investment in student success reflects her strong commitment to fostering international educational experiences and creates a welcoming atmosphere in the department, ensuring that students feel comfortable approaching her with their questions and concerns. Her work has contributed to the success of department programs and enriched the experiences of countless students, making her an indispensable team member.
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2024 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Operational Excellence
Ashley Pavlis, Senior Department Administrator
Department of Economics
Ashley is an amazing leader who actively encourages and motivates staff and can easily handle any situation that presents itself. During the last year, Ashley was deftly able to handle the new budget reporting requirements and took a leadership role in helping other department administrators within the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Since Ashley's arrival in the department, the total grant funding has nearly tripled. Almost all of the increase in funding can be attributed to Ashley's presence in the department. She makes the difficult job of disentangling the myriads of hurdles placed on researchers within the grant application process at Rutgers much easier. In addition to developing effective budget tools for her chair, Ashley is a fantastic team leader within the department. Her leadership allows the team to thrive and grow. Ashley is also a great mentor, both within the department and to other administrators outside the department. Ashley is a fantastic member who can handle the most complicated and technologically difficult tasks while managing a team, leading to an efficiently run department. The Department of Economics is all the better because of Ashley's presence leading the administrative team.
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Alisa Ray, Laboratory Researcher
Department of Psychology
Alisa plays an indispensable role that far exceeds her title. Her multifaceted contributions, especially her steadfast support of graduate and undergraduate students, are vital to the Department’s research success and smooth operation. Her warm and friendly demeanor is an invaluable asset, easing students’ transition into the complexities of university protocols and regulations while making the lab feel more accessible and welcoming. A critical part of Alisa’s role is the initiative she brings to student training and mentoring, which she approaches with both humor and structure. One of her greatest strengths is her proactive approach to guiding students toward independence. Many students, particularly undergraduates in a new environment, often expect mentors to manage every aspect of their responsibilities, but Alisa has developed an engaging and highly effective method of instilling self-sufficiency. She not only trains students on the technical aspects of lab protocols but also educates them on the importance of adherence to these guidelines. Her detailed explanations, often paired with humor, reinforce the significance of compliance and careful handling, making her training sessions memorable and impactful. She makes it possible for research to proceed smoothly and without interruption, which is an invaluable contribution given the critical timing required for much of the work. Alisa is truly the backbone of the Department.
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Jacqueline Steadman, Senior Division Coordinator
Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Jackie is the anchor of the SBS Division Office. Her diverse skill set, adaptability, and overall positive attitude create an environment that promotes creative problem-solving and teamwork. The expertise she gained from prior positions at Rutgers has improved and informed many key aspects of operations. Jackie’s specialized enrollment management skills and keen understanding of this area have greatly enhanced the ability to support departments and make informed decisions regarding course enrollment. She consistently provides invaluable assistance and support to the various SBS units. During the past year, she played a crucial role in maintaining operations in the Department of Anthropology. Although Jackie serves as the business approver for the Department of Africana Studies, her contributions extend well beyond these administrative duties. She mentors their Program Coordinator and only staff member and has successfully integrated the department into the larger SBS community. Jackie’s outstanding support is pivotal for the department's successful functioning. Jackie’s wonderful sense of humor makes coming to work a pleasure and helps to navigate stressful days with a bit more fun.
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2024 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Staff Culture
Jim Bennett, Program Coordinator
W. M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Jim has been a stellar part of the W. M. Keck Center for many years. He has constantly adapted to the changing circumstances in ways that continue to enhance the operations of the Center and department while maintaining his critical role in broadening students' experiences and expanding the Center's outreach to the community. With the expansion of the Center, Jim has been essential to its smooth operation, including coordinating the integration of new people and teams, organizing and processing their paperwork, and providing logistical support. If you have a question, ask Jim. If you can't find something, ask Jim. If you need to fill out and file a form, ask Jim. And if the printer is jammed ... you know who is always willing to help. He is completely service-oriented and always goes beyond the requirements of his job. Jim doesn't limit his help to members of the Center but welcomes and assists anyone and everyone who comes to the Center or uses its facilities. Jim does his job with excellence that contributes significantly to the efficient operation of the Keck Center, to the Center's research, education, and service, and to the Center's contributions to the broader work of SAS and of the University.
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Nancy Pamula, Senior Administrator
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Nancy provides exceptional support across the missions of the Physics and Astronomy Department – teaching, research, and service. Nancy has been indispensable for the functioning of the department for years. She is highly professional, devoted, and always approachable and helpful. Nancy’s devotion to work far exceeds anything that could be expected. For many years, Nancy has served the Physics and Astronomy department with great professionalism and warmth. She is a big part of the bedrock of the department. Nancy has a marvelous ability to recall key departmental issues or decisions from years ago. She set up an archive and storage system for her administrative unit that allows her to retrieve relevant documentation quickly. She has assumed with infinite patience all aspects of hiring the lecturers every semester that serve thousands of undergraduate students across the New Brunswick campus and about 100 of the department’s majors. Nancy is a pleasure to work with, always encouraging and supportive, and is the pinnacle of the positive work environment in the department.
2024 Team Award for Outstanding Contributions to Staff Culture
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Administration Team: Kandi Berryman, Aretha Oliver Crayton, Nimrah Saeed
The administrative team, composed of Kandi Berryman, Aretha Oliver Crayton, and Nimrah Saeed, demonstrates excellence and creativity in their daily support of the students, faculty, and staff of the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. The team has helped rebuild the administrative structure into a highly efficient and responsive team.
Their willingness to learn the best ways to advance the department culture as well as to innovate new processes for supporting and encouraging faculty teaching and research has been exemplary. Because these team members work incredibly well together and do so affably and with great mutual respect, the office has become a welcoming hub for the department’s community. The team has fostered a culture of transparency, teamwork, and efficiency.
Kandi took the initiative to institute weekly meetings with the Department Chair and the Undergraduate and Graduate Directors, which led to a more streamlined and productive working relationship between faculty and staff. Kandi has been indefatigable in clearing up department accounts and has shared the available resources with the faculty administrative team.
Nimrah serves as support staff for both the undergraduate and graduate director, coordinating scheduling, collating course descriptions, and helping students with enrollment so they can complete their degrees on time. She also supervises the department’s digital communication by updating the website to reflect the department and faculty accomplishments, running the social media accounts, and publicizing events with highly artful invitations.
Aretha has taken the lead to ensure that the complex planning and implementation required to renovate the WGSS’ physical plant has gone smoothly and without a hitch. She liaised with Building Management, faculty, and staff to ensure all needs and concerns have been communicated clearly across the board.
The team is exceedingly worthy of recognition for their daily commitment to ensuring an excellent educational and employee experience for the students, staff, and faculty of WGSS.
(left to right: Aretha Oliver Crayton, Nimrah Saeed, Kandi Berryman)
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