2026 Awards for Excellence
The 2026 Awards for Excellence Ceremony was held on April 23rd. Honoring employees for their achievements in furthering the University of Arizona's missions, recipients are nominated by colleagues and peers and selected by a panel of volunteer judges composed of staff and faculty.
This award recognizes a career of service to the University of Arizona and the community by someone who loves the UA and acts in the spirit of Billy Joe Varney.
Olivia A. Mendoza, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Olivia has dedicated more than three decades of service to the University of Arizona. Throughout her career, she has championed student success, advising, and community-building initiatives that shape the undergraduate experience. She is a living embodiment of the Wildcat Spirit, with a deep commitment to students and the university community. Through decades of leadership, service, and mentorship, Olivia continues to make a lasting impact on generations of Wildcat students.
Individual Awards are presented to approximately 9 members of the Classified and University Staff, regardless of their length of service, classification or pay grade. These awards are designed to recognize outstanding achievements.
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Craig Baker
Communications Lead
Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy
Nominated by Bridget Radcliffe
Colleagues describe Craig as an “exemplary unicorn,” noting his ability to combine creative communication with strategic outreach.
Craig’s creativity and collaborative spirit elevate the Udall Center’s impact and reach.
Brett Blum
Interim Director, Arizona Experiment Station
Nominated by: Jeff Ratje
Brett leads with “collaboration, calm resolve, and a dedication to advancing the AES.”
Through steady leadership and an unwavering commitment to the university’s mission, Brett guides the Arizona Experiment Station toward stability and future growth.
Shelly Braum
Senior Program Coordinator, The School of Music
Nominated by Elizabeth Schauer
Shelly has served the University of Arizona School of Music for nearly three decades, supporting student success through scholarship coordination, recruitment efforts, and academic program administration.
Through her dedication and care, Shelly creates a welcoming and supportive environment that helps students thrive.
Christopher Gast
Senior Director of Student Resources, College of Law
Nominated by Sylvia J. Canelos
Chris’ work strengthens student success initiatives and academic support programs.
Through mentorship, leadership, and deep commitment to student success, Chris helps shape a supportive and thriving law school community.
Deborah Reed
Program Coordinator, Senior
Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Debbie is the ultimate team player who continually delivers at an outstanding level.
She is widely respected for her ability to manage complex programs while supporting faculty, staff, and community partners with professionalism and care.
María Magdalena Rodríguez
Academics Program Lead, Department of Neuroscience
Nominated by: Sara Burke
Maria is described as the heart and soul of the department’s student experience.
Maria elevates the department's educational mission and strengthens the sense of community among students, faculty, and staff.
Gennady Sare
Manager, Business & Finance
School of International Languages, Literature & Cultures
Nominated by Karen Seat
Gennady answers complicated financial questions with wonderful kindness, patience and time generosity, resolving issues with speed, precision, and humanity.
Gennady plays a central role in helping the School and its programs thrive through thoughtful leadership, collaboration and a commitment to supporting others’ success.
Yazimin Vazquez
Administrative Associate, Confluence Center for Creative Inquiry
Nominated by Javier Duran
Yazmin is a pillar of the Confluence Center, with an ability to step forward during complex projects and guide teams through administrative processes.
Through professionalism, creativity, and care for her colleagues, Yazmin strengthens the effectiveness of her team and the programs they serve.
Ivonne L Corona-Wadleigh
Digital Marketing Manager, School of Nutritional Sciences & Wellness
Cooperative Extension
Nominated by Shea Austin Cantu
Ivonne built CNEP’s digital presence from the ground up, creating social media strategies and public-facing resources that reach thousands of families across the state.
Through her creativity and technical expertise, Ivonne advances the university’s land-grant mission of serving communities across Arizona.
The team award is presented to a team primarily comprised of Classified University Staff and tasked with a specific project or function.
Chemistry and Biochemistry Instructional Lab Support Group (ILSG)
German Andrade
Vanessa Sousa
John Mummert
Daniel Chavez
Wendy Beback
Mark Yanagihashi
The ILSG Team consistently finds ways to improve operations while maintaining a high-quality learning environment. Their innovative changes have streamlined lab operations, resulting in significant savings, while preserving the student experience.
Through teamwork, expertise, and dedication to teaching, the ILSG team plays an essential role in the university’s educational mission.
Faculty Affairs Team
Dalila Ayoun
Dr. Adrián Arroyo Pérez
Tara Chandler
Kate Osterholt
Kim Rogan
Dr. Andrea Romero
The University of Arizona Faculty Affairs Team provides critical support to faculty across the institution, guiding processes that range from hiring and onboarding to promotion, mentorship, and retirement.
Their initiatives—including improvements to promotion and tenure processes and faculty development programs—have transformed faculty support across campus. Through collaboration, expertise, and a commitment to kindness and professionalism, the Faculty Affairs Team exemplifies collective excellence.
The Department/Center/Unit Award recognizes a University of Arizona department, center, or unit for excellence in managing its people and resources, fostering a culture of learning and a satisfying work environment.
Center for Recruitment & Retention of Mathematics Teachers
The Center for Recruitment & Retention of Mathematics Teachers is built on a workplace culture centered on collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth.
This supportive culture drives the center’s statewide impact. In 2025 alone, CRR served nearly 2,000 educators and indirectly reached more than 20,000 students, advancing its vision of “an excellent mathematics teacher for every child.”