Alice A. Goddard, Assistant Administrator, Department of Pediatrics

Alice is the recipient of this year's Billy Joe Varney Award for Excellence. Goddard, who began working at the UA nearly 24 years ago, rose rapidly from the role of administrative secretary to business manager to business manager senior to her current position, in which she supports nearly 70 faculty, 21 appointed personnel, 42 classified staff and 48 resident physicians. Goddard's achievements include assisting with the development of a $500,000 Angel Charity proposal to renovate clinical and basic science research space for juvenile diabetes, developing a departmental administrative staff organizational plan that reduced administrative staffing by nearly 15 percent, and more. She is also an active and dedicated community member, volunteering for the Humane Society, Equine Voices, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the International Wild Mustang and Burro Organization and other animal rescue groups.

Theresa A. Allen, Senior Management Analyst, Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid

Theresa worked extra hours, often from home and on weekends, as she led an effort to streamline the UA Pell Grant program's paper-based process, using technology to reduce the time it takes to process awards and disbursements. Her efforts enabled the University to receive its funds on time and disburse them to students without delay. Her nominators say she not only demonstrates efficiency and skill but also grace and humor, even during the office's busiest times.

Debra Cox-Howard, Mental Health Clinician, Campus Health Service's Counseling and Psychological Services Division

Debra frequently goes above and beyond her regular responsibilities, which include working with student-athletes, students with substance abuse issues and students who have suffered severe loss. She oversees the outreach component of CAPS and initiated and maintains the Parents Matter Program, a consultation service for parents of UA students. She also coordinates annual depression screenings, breast cancer awareness events and "Safe Spring Break" events and assists with Campus Health's Love Your Body Day, Fat Talk Free Day and eating disorder screenings. In the past year, Cox-Howard has also set up an interdepartmental Substance Abuse Assessment Team, made up of specialists from many disciplines, to discuss treatment and policy and supervise difficult substance abuse cases.

Jennifer Cubeta,  Academic Adviser, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Jennifer is known as a mentor, guide and friend to students, according to her nominators. In addition to working with about 550 molecular and cellular biology majors to offer timely and compassionate academic advice, she is also an integral member of committees planning future directions for the molecular and cellular biology department. Nominators say student success is the ultimate goal of all of her initiatives, which include mandatory freshman advising and the development and coordination of an accelerated master's degree program, among others.

Maria Estapa, Custodian, Facilities Management

Maria is part of a team that keeps the Biological Sciences West building "one of the cleanest on campus," while maintaining an upbeat attitude and enthusiastic approach, according to her nominators. One of her nominators wrote: "Just seeing Maria in the morning helps me start my day on a positive note. She is so enthusiastic, very obviously dedicated to her job and happy to be here, and always goes out of her way to help with any situation that could arise."

Tom Lowry, Principal Information Technology Support Analyst, Department of Computer Science

Tom has been called a "Renaissance man" when it comes to computer science information technology and, due to budget and staffing cuts over the past two years, he has at times become a one-man show, according to his nominators. Lowry has been technical support person for PlanetLab, a global research consortium, since its inception. He also has been instrumental in setting up communications in the newly formed Computer Science Robotics Laboratory and is an initial member of the newly formed College of Letters, Arts and Science Information Technology group.

Talisha Mottinger, Business Manager, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Talisha is credited with taking a leadership role in getting the Department of Energy-funded $15 million Energy Frontier Research Center at UA off the ground. She also contributed extensively to the merger of the chemistry and biochemistry departments, leading the business office team through challenging times and numerous shifts and reformations of positions and duties related to the merger. Mottinger has brought a sense of stability and confident leadership to the department, according to her nominators.

Shetara OliwoOlabode, Senior Office Specialist, Think Tank

Shetara was hired in June 2009 to help establish the UA's new academic support center, a unit formed as a result of the University's Transformation Plan. OliwoOlabode worked to establish the Think Tank's business practices. She also hires, trains and supervises all front-desk staff for Think Tank locations at the Nugent Building, the Student Recreation Center and the Park Student Union. A consummate professional, she is decidedly the Think Tank "go-to" person for students and professional staff, according to her nominators.

Susana Ruiz, Administrative Associate, Department of German Studies

Susana has been the department's sole staff member for the past two years because of budget cuts. Nominator Barbara Kosta, head of German studies, says it would be an understatement to say she's relied on Ruiz to help run the department. Ruiz is now the point person for all graduate programs in the recently formed School of International Languages, Literatures and Culture. Bringing dedication, commitment and kindness to her position, she is known for her creative problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.