University of Rochester honors 2026 President’s Staff Award recipients

The University of Rochester recognized this year’s President’s Staff Award recipients at a reception last month, honoring their exceptional service, leadership, innovation, and community impact. These awards celebrate staff members and teams whose work reflects the University’s Meliora values and helps strengthen the University community.

Witmer Award for Distinguished Service

Recognizes outstanding career contributions from staff who exemplify URochester values in their daily work through clinical, research, or service endeavors.

Emily Cihon-Fehnel

For 25 years, Emily Cihon-Fehnel has been a steady and strategic leader at the University of Rochester. As interim assistant vice provost for strategy and operations in Academic Excellence, she is known for her deep institutional knowledge, thoughtful leadership, and ability to help guide complex work through periods of change.

Her impact can be seen across initiatives focused on improving the student experience. She played a key role in launching UR Essentials, coordinating efforts across finance, financial aid, and the bookstore to make course materials more accessible.

Colleagues describe Cihon-Fehnel as calm and seemingly unflappable, during major operational change. Through periods including the COVID-19 pandemic, organizational restructuring, and the dissolution of the College, she consistently brought clarity, consistency, and a strong commitment to the University’s mission.

Martha “Marti” Preston

Martha “Marti” Preston’s University of Rochester career spans more than six decades, including 64 years of service in Pediatrics. As a grants and contracts administrator, she has provided remarkable continuity, expertise, and institutional memory across eight department chairs.

Preston’s work has been central to the University’s research enterprise. Her command of pre-award and post-award processes has supported complex, multimillion-dollar research portfolios, including major NIH initiatives.

Beyond her technical expertise, Preston has mentored generations of research administrators and faculty. Her influence has strengthened a culture of rigor, accountability, and professionalism, making her an indispensable resource and trusted problem solver.

David Garcia

David Garcia has spent nearly 20 years transforming technology and operations at the Warner School of Education. As assistant director of IT, he helped turn the school’s technology infrastructure into a strategic resource for faculty, staff, students, and leadership.

Garcia led the development of Warner’s electronic Programs of Study system, replacing a manual process with digital tools that improved curriculum tracking and reduced administrative burden. He also contributed to creating reporting and dashboard tools that support enrollment, student progress, and program planning.

Known for his responsiveness and collaborative spirit, Garcia has supported major school and University initiatives, including the UR Student project and the planning of LeChase Hall. His work has left a lasting mark on the Warner School and the broader University community.

Meliora Award

Recognizes outstanding achievements over the past several years that improve service, enhance processes, reduce costs, or advance excellence across the University.

Lisa Altman

Lisa Altman has played a central role in building community at the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Over eight years, she has strengthened connections among students, alumni, and faculty, helping create a more engaged and supportive institute culture.

Her work has expanded opportunities for students through initiatives such as an annual internship panel and a dedicated December diploma ceremony. These programs provide practical career insight while making student milestones feel more personal and meaningful.

Altman also helped develop a seven-week career course for master’s students, incorporating alumni perspectives on job searches, interviews, and career paths. Her work continues to connect students with mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities beyond the classroom.

Lactation-Friendly Worksite Workgroup

The Lactation-Friendly Worksite Workgroup led a University-wide effort to better support lactating employees returning to work. The team helped implement an updated lactation accommodation policy aligning with evolving state requirements and advanced the University’s commitment to workplace wellbeing by translating that policy into practical resources for employees and managers.

The workgroup, made up of staff from Pediatrics, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health Sciences, and Human Resources assessed lactation spaces across the University of Rochester, identified gaps, and helped standardize access, equipment, and information. Their efforts led to a centralized database and interactive map identifying 39 sites and 50 spaces across campus and clinical locations. The team also redesigned pregnancy and parenting resources to make information clearer and easier to find.

Medallion Program Team

The Medallion Leadership Program team has expanded one of the University’s most accessible student leadership development programs. Now serving 876 students, the program uses a flexible three-tier model that supports leadership learning alongside demanding academic schedules.

Over the past two years, the team increased workshop offerings by 25 percent, delivering 151 sessions with consistently strong student satisfaction.

The team has also strengthened alumni involvement by inviting alumni to serve as workshop facilitators, mentors, and career resources. The program’s assessment model was recognized during the University’s 2024 Middle States accreditation review, and the team earned national recognition through the ACUI Excellence in Student Trainings Award.

Lamar Riley Murphy Leadership Award

Recognizes an exemplary role model of innovative, proactive leadership impacting their immediate department, division, or the University community as a whole.

John Clark

John Clark has helped guide the growth and direction of the Primary Care Network through more than a decade. As Senior Director for Program Administration, he has supported significant expansion, including the addition of 100 FTE clinicians, 100,000 lives, and 160,000 visits.

Clark has led innovative efforts to improve access and care delivery, including the expansion of Virtual Urgent Care and the RN Triage program. He also helped redesign compensation for advanced practice providers to support broader access to primary care.

Colleagues point to Clark’s mentorship, communication, and collaborative leadership style as defining strengths. Through initiatives such as monthly Lunch and Learn sessions, acquisitions, and compensation redesign efforts, he has built trust and helped teams move complex work forward.

Staff Community Service Award

Recognizes outstanding volunteer contributions to the University of Rochester community or another non-profit in the greater Rochester community. Can recognize a singular outstanding event or continuous outstanding and dedicated service.

Kania Williams

Kania Williams, an optician at the Flaum Eye Institute, is recognized for her extensive service to the Greater Rochester community. Outside of her full-time role, she volunteers weekly in emergency response and food pantry support.

As a lieutenant with the Rochester Protectives, a volunteer unit of the Rochester Fire Department, Williams assists at emergency scenes, supports evacuations, protects property, and helps first responders during crises. She has completed CPR, emergency medical training, and Firefighter 1 certification to strengthen her ability to serve.

Williams also volunteers at Glory House International Food Pantry, helping provide food, sanitary products, and essential supplies to local families. Her service reflects discipline, compassion, and a deep commitment to the safety and well-being of others.