The University of Rochester recently honored the 2024 recipients of the President’s Staff Awards at a reception at Helen Wood Hall on June 27. The annual President’s Staff Awards—the Meliora Award, Witmer Award for Distinguished Service, Lamar Riley Murphy Leadership Award, and the Staff Community Service Award—recognize employees whose innovative leadership, dedication, and sustained contributions have had a positive impact on the University of Rochester and the community. A new digital display on the River Campus and at the Medical Center will also recognize the winners.
Meliora Award
The Meliora Award recognizes staff members whose work performance and dedication during the preceding years exemplify the University’s motto, Meliora.
Chief Patient Experience Officer and Senior Director of ICARE Commitment
Jackie Beckerman earned praise as a leader who has spearheaded complex patient care initiatives with a high degree of administrative acumen and personal compassion. Thanks to Jackie’s engagement with patients, families, and staff across the University of Rochester Medical Center, the patient experience program has grown to be a recognized model for how a major academic medical center can ensure that every individual feels valued. In his nomination, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael J. Apostolakos, articulated Jackie’s positive impact, writing, “She spends countless hours giving of herself to others to ensure that everyone is welcomed, respected, and heard. She leads her staff, as well as the rest of the Medical Center, through her words and, more importantly, her actions. She is truly a remarkable individual that has done so much for our patients, family, faculty, and staff.”
Jackie’s work with the ICARE Commitment has helped to create a positive culture in the Medical Center, where faculty and staff strive to live our values each and every day. The work of Jackie and her team is an amazing example of Meliora in action.
YoUR Support Team
The YoUR Support Team was recognized as a group of dedicated professionals who balance delicate emotional support with administrative strategy and personal empathy.
Committed to helping healthcare professionals who are often overlooked in terms of their own emotional needs, the team has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the idea that individual and collective action can make the world ‘ever better.’ In her glowing nomination of the team, URMC’s Associate Chief Wellbeing Officer Jessica C. Shand, MD, wrote, “The ability of their team members to rapidly assess local needs and identify collaborators to expand awareness of, and access to, their services is unparalleled. Their commitment to equity and inclusion in the debriefing space—through specific recognition that each staff member involved in a critical incident may experience that incident differently—has made their program a role model for other programs that seek to improve cohesion, communication, and inclusion in clinical teams.”
The YoUR Support Team’s tripartite approach of “demobilize, defuse, and debrief” has proven invaluable in addressing the unique emotional challenges faced by healthcare workers. By providing compassionate support and guidance in the aftermath of critical incidents and traumatic events, the team has helped countless staff members regain trust in themselves and their colleagues.
Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network
The Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network (FLDRN) has distinguished itself as a supportive and innovative organization for a dedicated team of professionals who play key roles in saving lives through organ and tissue donation. Across all levels of the organization, the network is known for its compassionate approach and readiness to implement ideas that improve organ donation processes in effective and life-saving ways.
Dr. Debra Roberts, PhD, highlighted their amazing work in her award nomination for the group, writing, “Just this year, FLDRN helped lead great collaboration with Transplant and Critical Care Services, which resulted in approval of new organ recovery methodology which will allow us to offer donation to more families and recover more organs for transplant. This is a great example of how, with FLDRN’s forward-thinking leadership and committed staff, we can leverage technology and innovation with the humanity of organ donation to better serve our community.”
The impact of the Network’s important role as the leading organ procurement organization for Western New York is also reflected by in the unprecedented 87 organ donors coordinated by staff in 2023, resulting in 227 life-saving organ transplants – a remarkable 43% increase from the previous year. This achievement has become a hallmark for how the network continues to show their commitment to maximizing every opportunity to save lives through organ donation.
Witmer Award for Distinguished Service
The Witmer Award for Distinguished Service is presented to staff members whose careers have been characterized by outstanding and sustained contributions to the University.
Director of the Office of Research and Project Administration
For nearly three and a half decades, Brenda Kavanaugh has distinguished herself as a research administration professional who is regularly sought out for her expertise, problem-solving abilities, and mentorship. A true leader in her field, Brenda is always ready to tackle complex research administration challenges as a knowledgeable and accessible guide. As an example, Martin Zand, MD, PhD, dean’s professor of Medicine and senior associate dean for Clinical Research at URMC wrote, “Brenda exemplifies the highest level of commitment to enhancing the quality of work life in ways that make a significant difference for colleagues or constituents at the University. Her leadership of the Office of Research Project Administration has had incredible impact across the University, and her staff have followed her leadership example, providing the highest level of support for sponsored research to faculty and staff.”
Throughout Brenda’s career at the University of Rochester, she has deeply influenced and continues to inspire countless faculty members, researchers, and administrators who have worked with her through the Office of Research Project Administration and many national initiatives. At every level, Brenda has distinguished herself as someone who opens doors to anyone who seeks out the opportunity to advance research, streamline processes, and contribute to the University’s mission.
Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Research (Retired May 2024)
John Podvin has distinguished himself as a leader in institutional research and data management at the University of Rochester. A true data expert, John has consistently demonstrated his ability to navigate complex challenges and provide invaluable insights that have shaped the University’s decision-making processes.
Of John’s ability, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer Julie Myers wrote, “Throughout his career, he has provided quality data and analytics support which allows the University to make many key operational and strategic decisions. Most recently, his leadership and attention to detail were critical to the validation of our new student data warehouse and implementation of UR Student, allowing the institution to capitalize on this key transformation.”
From his early days in the Career Center to his role as Associate Vice Provost for Institutional Research, John has been instrumental in transforming how the University handles data and analytics. For example, John spearheaded systematic efforts to create organized and comprehensive reporting on faculty and student activities and outcomes, developing highly functional databases to support key academic operations. During John’s 33-year tenure at the University of Rochester, he has left a lasting influence on countless colleagues, students, and administrators across many departments.
Jill Morris
Manager of Academic Finance & Operations for Mechanical Engineering
As an extraordinary resource to the members of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE), Jill Morris has distinguished herself as a compassionate, engaged, and forward-looking administrator who never loses sight of the people behind the academic titles. Known as the “pillar that supports the MechE community,” she often serves as a key member of the department, providing invaluable support in various capacities. Jill shares a masterful command of policies and procedures to help faculty navigate complex processes, from research proposal submissions to organizing conferences and events.
In her award nomination, Department of Mechanical Engineering Chair Renato Perucchio wrote, “Jill is a superb organizer and team leader. She manages the office with great skill, guiding each staff member to develop their professional strength. She knows how to motivate people.”
Jill’s dedication to enhancing the student experience reflects this in every sense. From coordinating department picnics and faculty roasts to ensuring the smooth execution of graduation ceremonies, she has consistently gone above and beyond to create a warm and inclusive environment. Her attention to detail, from sizing rings for the Order of the Engineer ceremony to supporting student organizations, demonstrates her unwavering commitment to student success.
Lamar Riley Murphy Leadership Award
The Lamar Riley Murphy Leadership Award recognizes an individual who is an exemplary role model and demonstrates innovative and proactive leadership.
Associate Director for Social Work and Clinical Case Management
Felicia Reed-Watt is recognized as an innovator, bridge-builder, role model, and outstanding colleague at the University of Rochester. As the Associate Director for Social Work and Clinical Case Management at the University Counseling Center (UCC), Felicia exemplifies our shared Meliora values through her unwavering commitment to student well-being and professional development. Her innovative leadership is evident in the creation and expansion of the social work internship and fellowship program, as well as the co-creation of the Counselor-in-Residence Program, one of the first co-responder programs at a university in the nation.
In her recommendation, Director of Training Katy Dorsheimer, PhD, highlighted Felicia’s positive impact, stating, “When a student is in distress, she is the first to volunteer to help meet the need and utilize her connections within UCC, UHS (University Health Services), and the greater campus to truly attend to the wellbeing of the student.”
Felicia’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion shines through her work in offering identity-based therapy groups and addressing racial and identity-based traumas. Her impact extends beyond the University, as she actively engages with the greater Rochester community through initiatives like emancipation circles and support for the Person-in-Crisis team. Felicia’s exceptional mentorship, twice recognized with Field Supervisor of the Year awards, and her commitment to fostering a supportive environment for students and trainees alike make her a deserving recipient of the Lamar Riley Murphy Leadership Award.
Staff Community Service Award
The Staff Community Service Award honors a non-management staff member whose commitment best exemplifies service to the University and the Greater Rochester community.
Senior Laboratory Engineer
Veena Ganeshan earned high praise as a dedicated community servant who balances her academic responsibilities with extensive volunteer work and personal empathy. Thanks to Veena’s engagement with community initiatives, particularly at the Sri Vidya Temple Society and local homeless shelters, she has become a recognized model for how a University staff member can make a significant impact on the lives of those in need. Her tireless efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to support frontline workers, the elderly, and the homeless are a moving example of Meliora-in-action. Highlighting her amazing character, President of the Srividya Temple Society KK Natarajan wrote, “She is constantly searching for opportunities to make the world a better place.”
Committed to helping populations that are often overlooked or underserved, Veena has demonstrated an unwavering diligence to the idea that individual and collective action can make the world ‘ever better.’ From organizing large-scale events like music festivals to providing meals for hundreds of people, she consistently goes above and beyond to serve her community. Her work in teaching human values to children and helping others in the community learn about the Hindu faith tradition at interfaith events further showcases her dedication to fostering understanding and inclusivity.