2025 NASPA Excellence Award Winners

Academic Advising, Careers, Graduate, Professional, and related

Gold

Academic Enhancement Program
St. George's University

• Asha Lessey-Charles – Director, Peer Learning and Academic Enhancement; Director, Academic Enhancement Program
• Davette St. Louis – SOM Academic Enhancement Program Coordinator
• Tandy James-Alleyne – Coordinator, Peer Learning Programs and SOM Peer Learning Groups
• Crystal De Riggs – Director, Learning Strategies Unit
• Donna Walker – Learning Strategist
• Darren St. Bernard – Learning Analytics Specialist
• Bevalin Alexander – Learning Analytics Specialist
• Deon Forrester – Associate Dean for Academic Enhancement Services; Chair, Department of Educational Services

Silver

• Allison Pirpich – Director of Career Services
• Martha Seney – Career Coordinator
• Heather Hanssen – Career Coordinator
• Melissa Thornley – Emotional Intelligence Consultant, Melissa Thornley Consulting

Bronze

Equitable and Inclusive Hiring Practices
California State University-Long Beach

• Erin Booth-Caro – Director, Career Development Center
• Dee Hyppolite – Assistant Director of Employer Engagement
• Heather Rapoza – Employer Recruitment and Events Coordinator
• Natalie Smerkanich – Employer Recruitment and Events Coordinator
• Jessica Wood – Associate Director Bob Murphy Access Center
• Iraida Venegas – Assistant Director Commercial Business Operations, Associated Students Inc.
• Raul Pacheco – Staff Equity and Inclusion Advisor, Human Resources Management

Assessment, Persistence, Data Analytics, and related

Gold

Weekly Retention Meetings
University of Kentucky

• Kirsten Turner – Vice President for Student Success
• Todd Brann – Chief Analytics Officer
• Anne Marie Kirk – Student Analytics Team Lead
• Molly Reynolds – Associate Vice President for Student Excellence

Silver

Program Review Process for Equity and Improvement
Holyoke Community College

• Sharale W. Mathis – Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs
• Veena Dhankher, Ph.D. – Executive Director, Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Analytics
• Kris Ricker Choleva, MBA, ALO – Director, Director of Planning, Curriculum and Assessment
• Rebecca M. Townsend, Ph.D. – Associate Director of Assessment

Athletics, Recreation, Counseling, Health, Wellness, and related

Gold

Listening Labs: Experiments in Connection
New York University

• Yael Shy – CEO, Mindfulness Consulting, LLC, Faculty
• Zoe Ragouzeos – Vice President, Student Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Jayson Valcik – Assistant Director, Student Wellbeing Initiatives

Silver

Game Day Ready Initiative
Florida Atlantic University

• Karen A. Murray – Director, Owls Care Health Promotion
• Annelyn Martinez – Assistant Director, OCHP
• Bridget Duignan – Coordinator, OCHP
• Donald Van Pelt Jr. – Assistant Vice President, Student Engagement
• Dani McCalla – Director Student Activities and Involvement
• Jean Luma – Interfraternity Council President
• Stefan Andjelkovic – Student Government President
• Audrey Pusey – Dean of Students
• Dr. Nikki Kogan – Assistant Dean/Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution
• Sean Brammer – Chief of Police
• Dr. Rebecca Goldstein – Director of Research and Assessment

Bronze

Food Recovery Program
Seattle University

• Nodia Rogers – Associate Director for Student Care and Support
• Chris Fiorello, PhD – Director, Wellness and Health Promotion
• Mikaela Wallin – Associate Director, Wellness and Health Promotion
• Deanne Liu – Associate Director, The MOSAIC Center
• Joel Anschell – Executive Chef, Redhawk Dining - Chartwells
• Chuck Nerger – Director of Building, Grounds, and Food Services, Facilities Services
• Benjamin Williams – Edible Campus, Grounds and Facilities Services

Campus Security, Crisis Management, Student Conduct and Community Standards, Violence Prevention, and related

Gold

Effective Hazing and Alcohol Overdose Education
University of Virginia

• Susie Bruce – Director, Gordie Center
• Jill Maurer – Assistant Director, Gordie Center
• Carl Reisch – Robert Tipton, Jr. Hazing Prevention Specialist
• Kristen Morris – Graduate Assistant, Gordie Center
• Emma Strickland – Graduate Assistant, Gordie Center
• Sophie Pruett – Graduate Assistant, Gordie Center

Silver

Change Begins with Us for Incoming Students
Binghamton University

• Dara Raboy, LCSW-R – Interpersonal Violence Prevention Coordinator; 20:1 Prevention Program Co-founder
• Anna Jantz, M.S., C.A – Assistant Director and Advocate CARE Team

Civic Learning, Democratic Engagement, Community Service, Service-Learning, and related

Gold

Engage Lincoln
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• Andrew Brown – Assistant Director, Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement
• Dr. Veronica Riepe – Director, Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement
• Dr. Ryan Lahne – Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Life

Silver

4-year Longitudinal Service-Learning Course
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

• Lauren T. Roth, M.D. – Director, Service Learning
• Holly Nuthmann, LMSW – Program Manager, Service Learning
• The Office of Medical Education
• The Office of Student Affairs

Bronze

FSU Service Scholars Program
Florida State University

• Joi Phillips – Director
• Erin Sylvester Philpot – Service Scholar Program Director
• Bridgid Shannon – Assistant Director
• Genesis Ramirez – Program Coordinator
• Service Scholar Alumni Council Board Members: Shelletta Baker, April Cole, Denis Dineen, Marie LeBlanc, Danica Phillips, Christian Ulvert

Commuter, Off-Campus, Military-Connected, Non-traditional, and related

Gold

WKU Coaching for Academic Readiness Excellence and Success (WKU CARES)
Western Kentucky University

• Tammy Dorris – Specialist, Online Student Services and Outreach
• John Carter – Online Student Support Specialist
• Alex Peach – Online Student Support Coordinator
• Tanya Vincent – Program Manager, Online Student Services

Silver

Researching Student Veteran Academic Success
Tennessee Board of Regents

• Dr. Heidi Leming – Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Strategic Partnerships
• Dr. Regina Watkins – Director of Veteran Enrollment and Benefits

Contracted Services, Housing, Residence Life, and related

Gold

Need Based Rent Subsidy: Improving Long Term Housing Affordability for Low Income Students
University of California-Davis

• Em Camden Doolittle – Assistant Director of Housing Affordability and Equity Programs
• Mike Sheehan – Associate Vice Chancellor for Housing, Dining, Recreation, and Divisional Operations
• Kawami Evans – Executive Director of Inclusion, Culture, and Belonging
• Jessica Gutierrez – Basic Needs Advocate

Silver

Home@Mizzou
University of Missouri-Columbia

• Tyler Page – Director of Housing
• Morgan D. Myers – Assistant Director for Student Care and Community Standards
• Haley Hamblin-Dold – Basic Needs Coordinator

Bronze

Executive in Residence Program
Purdue University-West Lafayette

• Beth McCuskey – Vice Provost for Student Life
• Bryan Austin – Associate Director Residential Academic Initiatives

Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, First-year, Other-year, Orientation, and related

Gold

The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)
Washington State University

• Michael Heim – Director for Migrant Education Student Access and Support
• Lucila Loera-Herrera – Principal Investigator, CAMP; Executive Director, Office for Access and Opportunity
• Elise Zeigler – Grant Manager, CAMP and Office for Access and Opportunity
• Daniela Carvajal Macias – Recruitment and Outreach Specialist, CAMP
• Jenny Pineda – Advising and Retention Specialist, CAMP
• Karen Magaña-Juárez – Data Analyst, CAMP
• Kikzely Avalos – Assistant Data Analyst, CAMP

Silver

New Student Orientation
Pratt Institute

• Emma Legge – Director of Student Involvement

Bronze

Increasing Socioeconomic Diversity through a Strategic Focus on Virginia First
University of Virginia

• Tomika L. Brown – Director of All Virginia
• Joy Pugh, Ed.D. – Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and Commonwealth Partnerships
• Macy Lenox – Special Advisor for Admission and Strategy

Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice, and related

Gold

Coalition for Diversifying Science
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Jess Hoopengardner – Director of Broadening Participation and Student Success, VT College of Science
• Estrella Johnson – Assistant Dean of Broadening Participation, VT College of Science

Silver

Turning Point Program
Bergen Community College

• Tracy Rand – Senior Director, Student Access and Transition Services
• Donna Collins – Program Assistant
• John Cichowski – Supervisor, Vocational Development and Career Placement
• Brittany Weiner – TP Workforce Development Coordinator
• Julia Holland – TP Vocational Assistant
• Vivian Bassily – TP Success Coordinator
• Teresa Serio – Coordinator, Center for Adult Transition
• Zainab Kahloon – TP Mentoring Assistant
• Dr. Jennifer Migliorino Diaz – Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs
• Dr. Anthony Trump – Vice President of Student Affairs

First-generation Student Success and related

Gold

Cardinal First
North Central College

• Julie Carballo – Assistant Dean of Students for First-generation and Military-Affiliated Initiatives
• Marissa Gaigalas – Associate Director for First-generation and Military-Affiliated Initiatives

Silver

Explore First: Careers, Cultures, and Connections
University of Kentucky

• Molly Reynolds – Associate Vice President for Student Excellence
• Susan Roberts – Associate Provost International Programs
• Niamh Larson – Education Abroad and Exchanges Executive Director
• Marianne Young – Assistant Vice President for Financial Wellness
• Ray Clere – Stuckert Career Center Director
• Robert Hayes – Student Excellence Director

Bronze

First Generation Celebration Week
Teachers College at Columbia University

• Fanny He – Associated Director

Fraternity and Sorority Life, Leadership, Student Activities, Student Union, and related

Gold

The Adams Leadership Institute
Drake University

• Kristin Economos – Senior Director, The Adams Leadership Institute

Silver

UT Student Union’s Student Employment Program
The University of Tennessee

• Alison Ward – Student Union Associate Director for Facilities and Operations
• Ian Crone – Student Union Director
• Amanda Griffiths – Assistant Director for Student Training and Engagement