Staff Recognition and Milestone Service Awards | 2025

Gloria White Award

The Gloria W. White Distinguished Service Award is the most esteemed recognition for the university and acknowledges a staff member who goes above and beyond their daily work duties to make a significant impact on Washington University in St. Louis. The award aims to show gratitude towards staff who work wholeheartedly to advance the university by supporting their fellow employees and helping them thrive.

Callista Isabelle | Director of Religious, Spiritual and Ethical | Danforth Campus

As the inaugural Director for Religious, Spiritual and Ethical Life at WashU, The Reverend Callista Isabelle supports the religious, ethical, and spiritual life on campus. She leads interfaith programming and provides pastoral care and spiritual support to the WashU community. Callista also convenes the Religious, Spiritual & Ethical Life Affiliates, our affiliated campus ministers.

Isabelle earned her Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, and a certificate from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Prior to joining the WashU community, Isabelle served as College Chaplain at Muhlenberg College and Associate University Chaplain at Yale University. 

Community Impact Award

The Community Impact Award recognizes staff who establish and maintain mutually enhancing relationships that elevate both WashU and the greater St. Louis community. They strive to foster a more equitable and sustainable environment within their sphere of influence.

Emily Strong | Human Resources | Central Fiscal Unit

Emily Strong has been a valued member of the WashU community since 2010, beginning her career in Pediatrics before transitioning into Human Resources. In her current role as Wellness Coordinator, Emily is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of her colleagues through thoughtfully designed programs and communications that promote health, connection and community culture.

Emily’s passion for wellness goes beyond the workplace. Outside of work, she serves as a youth basketball coach, where she mentors young athletes and instills in them the core values of teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship. Her leadership both on and off the court reflects a deep commitment to nurturing the whole person—physically, mentally and socially.

Whether she’s organizing campus wellness initiatives or guiding the next generation through sports, Emily leads with heart, humility and purpose. Her contributions have made a lasting impact on the WashU community and beyond, and this award celebrates her inspiring dedication to service and community well-being.

Emerging Leader Award

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes an employee who positively influences and leads others at the university, in their community and their profession. This award acknowledges someone who listens to the feedback and concerns of others, displays a growth mindset and empowers their colleagues to develop and utilize their leadership skills and capabilities to better the university and St. Louis region.

Drew Thompson | Engineered Systems Manager | Danforth Campus

Drew Thompson has been a member of Facilities Management and Planning for the last ten years. When he joined Washington University in St. Louis, he served as the Maintenance Operations Zone Manager for the north side student housing, and later for the South 40 housing area. Currently, as the Manager of Engineered Systems, Drew oversees a variety of technical building systems and specialized teams, including fire alarm systems, elevators, and the WashU Paint Crew.

Additionally, Thompson is the manager for modernizing campus wide planned and preventative maintenance. This extensive project involves the inventory and mapping of building systems and the creation of comprehensive maintenance plans that are strategically scheduled to ensure that the Danforth Campus buildings provide the optimal learning environment.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Thompson is a husband to Amanda and father to Lyra, Jude, Wynter, and a Great Pyrenees named Byrnison.

University Operations Award

The University Operations Award recognizes a Central Fiscal Unit (CFU) employee who provides exceptional customer service to our employees, students and community members and demonstrates extraordinary contributions to WashU missions of education, research and patient care. This employee may impact both WashU and the larger St. Louis community by creating a more equitable business ecosystem through collaboration with regional partners. They have a track record of fostering community collaborations that improve the quality of life for the St. Louis area and supporting and building internal infrastructure to promote community outreach and expansion opportunities.

Peter Myers | Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Dr. Peter Myers is the Senior Program Manager for the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at WashU, offering a comprehensive program of career and professional development training for early-career researchers. Born in South Korea, he moved to upstate New York as a small child and has bounced between the Midwest and East Coast ever since. Myers is a creator, reveling in the processes of problem-solving and piecing puzzles together. He has applied his passion to diverse fields—from personal training and massage therapy to biomechanics and Parkinson’s disease research. Today, Myers uses an equity and inclusion lens to develop workshops that more fully engage participants, amplifying transferable skill development. His aim is to provide researchers with the necessary skills and tools to support their chosen career path.

School of Continuing & Professional Studies

Dean’s Award for Excellence

The Dean’s Award for Excellence is bestowed annually upon a staff member whose contributions to the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) students, faculty, or staff have led to improvements in one or more of the following: morale, efficiency, student experience, faculty rapport, and student success. This staff member is known as a collaborative colleague who embodies the values of CAPS while having an innovative impact to drive the school’s mission forward.

Rebecca O’Laughlin, Student Pathways Manager

Arts & Sciences

Staff Leadership Award

This award honors a staff member who demonstrates exceptional initiative and outstanding execution in efforts that help advance the mission of Arts & Sciences. Awardees are particularly adept at understanding the needs of the school and their unit, working with faculty, staff, and leadership to advance efforts that meet these needs. They also support diversity efforts and foster a culture of teamwork, inspiring excellence in others.

Erica Ellard, Director of Academic Administration and Student Records 

Staff Service Awards for Excellence

These awards recognize staff who have been key players in operations critical to their unit and Arts & Sciences. Awardees’ performance has consistently exceeded expectations, improved operational effectiveness and established them as reliable and trusted colleagues. Congratulations to these outstanding honorees, pictured below with Feng Sheng Hu, Dean of Arts & Sciences:

• Anthony Buzzacco, Academic and Admininistrative Cluster Supervisor
• Kelly Ging, Administrative, Performing Arts Department
• Jamie Mullin, Administrative Assistant IV, Biology
• Fiona Vaughn, Manager of Financial Operations, Mathematics & SDS 

McKelvey School of Engineering

Staff Leadership Award

This award recognizes McKelvey staff members who have displayed exemplary leadership in planning and executing initiatives or activities within McKelvey Engineering, or staff members who have consistently displayed leadership attributes in their positions.

• Melanie Osborn, Senior Assistant Dean 
• Glennon Reitz, Senior Research Administrator

Staff Service Awards

This award recognizes McKelvey staff members for outstanding workplace achievements or exceptional performance that goes above and beyond the expectations for their positions.

• Ron Laue, Senior Assistant Dean 
• Barbara Semar, Lab Manager 

Olin Business School

Dean’s Outstanding Performance Award

This prestigious award recognizes staff who have demonstrated exceptional performance, leadership, and contributions toward the overall success and goals of the Olin Business School.

Jill Jarrett, CEL Operations Specialist

Faculty Recognition Award for Staff

Faculty member recognizes staff member for who have provided exceptional support to faculty, enabling them to achieve their teaching and research goals.

Lori Pace, Faculty Administrative Assistant

Inclusive Excellence Award

To recognize individuals or teams who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to fostering an inclusive and belonging-focused environment. This award celebrates those who not only support diversity but actively work to integrate inclusivity and belonging into all aspects of their work, relationships, and decision-making processes. Recipients of this award go beyond meeting the minimum standards of inclusivity—they are champions of creating spaces where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

Annie Hyde, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Global Programs

Innovation Award

To recognize and honor staff member who demonstrate creative thinking, problem-solving, and the implementation of new ideas that lead to improvements in processes, services, or outcomes within the Olin Business School.

Elizabeth Rowe, Academic Advisor

Outstanding Achievement in Student Service Award

To recognize staff members who consistently go above and beyond to provide exceptional service to students. It celebrates those who improve the student experience through proactive support, guidance, and dedication.

Lixing Li, Academic Advisor 

Olin Business Peer-to-Peer Appreciation Award

To recognize staff member who make a difference in everyday work life, going above and beyond to help.

Nicole Manco, GPO and Student Affairs Coordinator

Dean’s Distinguished Service Award

The Dean’s Distinguished Service Award remains the highest form of staff recognition at WashU Medicine. The award recognizes an employee for displaying ongoing commitment to exceeding job responsibilities, helping to create a positive working environment, and improving the community in which they live. 

Kenya McKinney | Department of Psychiatry – Clinical Operations

McKinney earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Webster University and a Master of Science in Nursing from the Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing. Before beginning the nurse anesthesia program at Goldfarb in 2009, she worked in the neurosurgery ICU at Saint Louis University. She joined the Department of Anesthesiology in 2013. As CRNA team leader for the GI lab, McKinney sets a high standard for excellence through her leadership, collaboration with physicians, and commitment to patient care, while also playing a vital role in onboarding and training new team members.

Early in her career, McKinney discovered that a refined skillset combined with an intense passion for humanity can unlock a life of profound purpose—and she feels fortunate to have found hers. That sense of purpose fuels her dedication to mentoring the next generation of CRNAs. She is currently mentoring three students across local programs, providing both academic and personal support. Her passion for outreach is equally impactful. McKinney regularly speaks to nursing students at St. Louis Community College and shares her story with youth and women’s organizations to inspire careers in healthcare.

Research Support Award

This award recognize employees for exceptional performance, outstanding leadership and superior quality of service. 

Ben Fiori | Department of Anesthesiology – Research

Ben Fiori, RN, has been a vital member of the Division of Clinical and Translational Research (DoCTR) since joining the Department of Anesthesiology in May 2019. Over the years, he has held several roles, progressing from research nurse coordinator to nurse manager, and currently serves as senior manager of clinical trials and operations. Fiori brings a unique and valuable skill set to the team, with extensive experience in managing clinical operations both in academia and for contract research organizations. His work has spanned early-phase bioequivalence and bioavailability studies, as well as Phase I–III drug and device trials across diverse specialties such as oncology, surgery, cardiology, and anesthesiology. He currently oversees a team of approximately 50 research staff and leads initiatives related to clinical trial feasibility, staffing, and protocol execution. Outside of work, Ben enjoys playing volleyball, gardening, cooking & baking, camping, and spending time with his husband, two cats (Lou and Mac), and two dogs (Bella and Duke).

Operations Staff Award

This award recognize employees for exceptional performance, outstanding leadership, and superior quality of service.

Aaron Menkhaus | Facilities Operations – Facilities Technician

Kelley Mullen Clinical Service Award

The Kelley Mullen Clinical Service Award recognizes a clinical support staff member who consistently demonstrates ongoing acts of caring that go beyond the normal expected levels of courtesy, responsiveness, and customer service and creates a positive work environment.  This award honors Kelley Mullen, a gifted nurse-clinician and administrator, who exemplified service quality and personified our clinical mission.

Karla Bryant | Department of Neurology – Clinical Support

Karla has built her career in the St. Louis area, beginning with her undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2001. Shortly after graduation, she joined Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJH) as a patient care technician. Her early roles at BJH included working in the General Surgery/Trauma division and later in the Operating Room as an anesthesia assistant.
In 2007, she transitioned to WashU, starting as a medical assistant in the Department of Surgery. Over the years, Bryant had the opportunity to work across multiple departments, including the Department of Medicine-Siteman Cancer Center. In 2021, Bryant stepped into a leadership role as a Clinical Supervisor for an outpatient McMillan clinic and the Multiple Sclerosis section within the Department of Neurology. In 2023, Bryant was promoted to Practice Office Manager, overseeing two outpatient Adult Neurology clinics on the main campus, as well as the Epilepsy Section.

Throughout her time at WashU, I’ve developed a strong passion for the outpatient clinic setting. Bryant’s focus has been on creating clinic environments that are both patient-centered and supportive for staff. In her current leadership role, she feels privileged to help shape and enhance the clinical experience across eight adult neurology sections, including Stroke, Aging & Dementia, Epilepsy, Movement, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromuscle, Infectious Disease, and General Neurology. Patient care and experience remain the core of her professional motivation.

We are also proud to recognize this year’s exceptional WashU nurses who were honored by St. Louis Magazine as part of its 2025 Excellence in Nursing awards. The winning nurses are chosen from hundreds of nominations submitted by their peers, supervisors and patients. Congratulations to our WashU nurses noted below:

• Jacinda Berger, Department of Psychiatry
• Catie Dezort, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 
• Julia Downey, Department of Anesthesiology
• Danielle Grasso, Department of Surgery
• Rochelle Hobson, Siteman Cancer Center
• Andrea Liefer, Department of Anesthesiology
• Corinne Merrill, Department of Surgery
• Sybill Naidoo, Department of Surgery
• Melissa Prewitt, Department of Anesthesiology
• Ashley Rabe, Department of Neurology
• Wendy Sanders, Department of Neurology
• Kozue Schulte, Department of Medicine
• Audra Stewart, Department of Neurology
• Mary Sullivan, Department of Surgery