2024 Awards for Excellence
The 2024 Awards for Excellence Ceremony was held on May 3, 2024 in Bear Down Gym. Honoring employees for their achievements in furthering the missions of the University of Arizona, recipients are nominated by colleagues and peers and selected by a panel of volunteer judges made up 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.
Mary Portillo, Department of Spanish & Portuguese
Mary is currently in her 35th year working in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese.
Mary’s quiet and effective work allows faculty and graduate students to focus on research questions rather than on the technicalities. Mary serves the Tucson community in many ways, including actively participating and volunteering in local organizations. She is the primary contact for our very active alumni and donors.
“Mary Portillo is our heart.”
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.
Adrián Arroyo Pérez, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Faculty Programs
Nominated by Andrea Romero
Adrián has dramatically improved operational efficiency by developing excellent on-boarding activities for all new faculty. His humanistic approach and commitment to the University - to its faculty and students and the broader community -- is evident in everything he does. He is an active HSI Fellow where his leadership has fostered an HSI webinar series that reaches across the world, mentoring of future leaders, and development of new programs.
Sascha Binachi
Clinical Operations PrEP/PEP Program Manager
Department of Medicine
Nominated by Kristen Ellis
Sascha played an instrumental role in creating the HIV Prevention and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) program at the University of Arizona Petersen Clinics. Her efforts have ensured hundreds of individuals can access HIV prevention services and gained recognition for the Petersen HIV Clinic’s PEP program. Sascha is committed to teaching and mentoring others. Her positive impact translates into better care for patients.
Debbie Shon Buhler
Senior Program Coordinator
Second Language Acquisition and Teaching GIDP
SLAT faculty and are spread across 5 colleges, so “coordinating SLAT requires superpowers,” says one nominator. Debbie achieves this with professionalism, creativity, innovation, and compassion. The SLAT Student Association credits Debbie for positively shaping their Ph.D. journeys: “She has saved us all from various credit, immigration, scheduling, and resource-related disasters.”
Erin Chadd
Director of Special Projects & Chief of Staff
University of Arizona International Affairs
Nominated by Jenny Lee Erin is a talented project manager who gets tasks done efficiently while doing so with respect and compassion. Erin played the key role in the renovation of space for the Global Center, a 5-year project made even more challenging by staggered funding and the global pandemic. Erin kept our vision of a Global Center that welcomes international students and faculty.
Jocelyn Fisher, Ed.D.
Faculty Affairs Coordinator
College of Applied Science &Technology
Nominated by Linda Denno & Charles Walker
Dr. Fisher launched the college’s first faculty peer mentoring program which serves to partner new(er) faculty with senior level faculty with the targeted goal of fostering meaningful, creative relationships, maximizing service opportunities, and eliminating silos. Jocelyn’s unique ability to connect with people, her capacity for magnifying their efforts, and her undaunted positivity is the magic that makes it all work.
Kate Mackay
Associate Director
Center for Educational Resources in Culture
Language & Literacy
Kate’s most outstanding achievement has been the development and facilitation of CERCLL’s digital offerings. Owing to Kate’s ability to be organized, proactive (sometimes seemingly psychic) the outcomes of CERCLL’s innovations are consistently of high quality and high impact
Elizabeth Piña
Program Coordinator, Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies
Nominated by Rebecca Hartzell
Liz provides consistent and generous service to the faculty and graduate students in the College of Education. She is proactive and knowledgeable in helping students navigate the infrastructure of the University. Liz’s expertise is key to the success of the department’s training grant that has financially supported over 100 graduate students as they pursue degrees in rehabilitation counseling and vocational rehabilitation.
Clarisa Robles Parra
Chief of Staff, Office of the Provost
Nominated by Nina Bates
Clarisa approaches her demanding work with wisdom and empathy. She has ensured “smooth and effective workflow through a period of change.” Clarisa simplified complex and burdensome processes to support the growth and development of the University’s leadership. She applies these same organization skills to streamline management of student Code of Conduct cases. Her dedication, innovation and leadership have profound impact.
Tere Weiler
Executive Associate, Administrative and Academic Affairs, W.A. Franke Honors College
Nominated by Patrick Balliani
“No one was more instrumental in transitioning us from Slonaker House to the W.A. Franke Honors College Village. Tere was crucial to every aspect of the process.” Tere makes everyone feel respected and valued. She serves students and faculty in a collaborative way and is solution-oriented. She brings energy, thoughtfulness and cultural-competency to everything she does.
The team award is presented to a team primarily comprised of Classified University Staff and tasked with a specific project or function.
SILLC Business & Academic Services Support Team
Gennady Sare,
Manager, Business & Finance
Lindsey Fera,
Human Resources Coordinator
Frank Whitehead,
Graduate Services Coordinator
Adil Mohyuddin,
Financial Services Coordinator
Summer Witting,
Financial Services Coordinator
Stephanie Topete Estrella,
Business Coordinator
Leonora Escobar,
Curriculum Services Coordinator
Jessica Collins,
Curriculum & P-Card Coordinator
Gregorio Urquidez,
Events Coordinator & Building Manager
Marcela Thompson,
Administrative Assistant, Lead
Hector Silva,
Administrative Assistant, SILLC Director Assistant
Grace Cottrell,
Administrative Assistant
Julian Tran,
Administrative Assistant
Project FUTRE & PeerWorks
CCPA/UAHS
Alyssa Padilla, Assistant Director of Operations
Elena Cameron, Health Education Promotion Professional II
Stephanie Valencia, Project Manager, S, CCPA/UAHS
Victoria Silva, Student C, Student, CCPA/UAHS
COM-T/Department of Family & Community Medicine
Cheryl Glass, Director, Workforce Development Program
Kevin Phillips, Workforce Development Trainer
Victoria Molina, Workforce Development Assistant Trainer
Rita Romero, Workforce Development Training Coordinator
Veronica Lopez, Project Management Assistant
Jess Wallace, Scientific Analyst
Randa Kutob, Associate Professor/Director
Jennifer S. De La Rosa, Assistant Research Professor
Allison Huff, Assistant Professor
Todd Vanderah, Regents Professor, Department of Pharmacology
The Department Award recognizes a University of Arizona department for excellence in the management of its people and resources creating a culture of learning and a satisfying work environment.
Student Success & Retention Innovation
Anchored in the thriving Student Success District, SSRI is allied in a synergistic commitment to support undergraduate student.
This unit leads inclusively, strategically, and compassionately to advance the mission of the university. SSRI demonstrates a commitment to advancing employees’ careers and promoting from within. SSRI embodies employee-centric values such as flexible work when possible.