On December 3, 2024, CHSS faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the outstanding achievements of CHSS staff and A/P faculty at the 2024 Mary Roper and CHSS Staff and A/P Faculty Awards ceremony. The awards ceremony highlighted the contributions of all those recognized. Congratulations to all the honorees!
2024 Mary Roper Award
The Mary Roper award was established in 2001 and is named after Mary Roper, whose long service to George Mason University is an exemplar of professionalism and dedication to George Mason’s mission. Through her 17 years of work for the biology department, the Office of the Provost, and the dean’s office of the College of Arts and Sciences, followed by 13 years as the administrative assistant to the university’s chief of staff, Roper set high standards for service to her colleagues and to George Mason’s students.
This year, CHSS honored two individuals who have set new standards of excellence in their work: Jenna McGwin, director of operations and initiatives, and Susan Turriziani, associate director for Graduate Academic Affairs. Before presenting the awards, CHSS Chief Business Officer Kim Dight said of Jenna and Susan: “Their passion, innovation, and teamwork have helped drive us forward and inspire all of us to do our best every day.”
Jenna McGwin
Jenna McGwin joined George Mason University in 2014. The stories and testimonials received in support of Jenna’s nomination showcase the positive influence she has had on her colleagues, teams, and our organization as a whole:
- I appreciate immensely both the kindness and competence with which Jenna tackles every component of her responsibilities in service to the College’s constituents and community, as well as all of the “discovery projects” that we never have a chance to anticipate, but always have to make time for.
- Jenna is always there to lend a supportive hand on topics related to CHSS ... Jenna always has a rapid and complete answer, delivered with kindness and understanding.
- Jenna is the quintessential team player who is always willing to help our staff and department leadership. In doing so, I have always found her to act with the utmost integrity. Jenna is trustworthy and reliable.
- Jenna is the heart and soul of CHSS!
- One of Jenna’s most notable accomplishments is her dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment. She regularly goes above and beyond her formal duties, offering mentorship, guidance, and a listening ear to staff at all levels. Her commitment to professional development and her ability to motivate and inspire others have not only enhanced team morale but also cultivated a culture of continuous improvement.
Jenna expressed deep appreciation and gratitude for the recognition. “To be amongst the likes of Mary, and the awardees who came before me, is a huge achievement and an incredible honor,” she said.
Susan Turriziani
Susan joined George Mason University in 2005. In their letters in support of her nomination, Susan's colleagues captured the essence of why Susan has earned this prestigious recognition:
- Susan is a wonderful colleague. She is generous with her time and promotes and fosters a culture of respect, collaboration, and takes the time to make others feel valued and connected in the College.
- In higher education, we often face complex student matters. Susan excels in strategizing the best ways to resolve individual issues and in improving policies and processes. She approaches each challenge with thoughtfulness, collaborating seamlessly with various stakeholders while demonstrating an unwavering commitment to helping both faculty and students. Her work is characterized by grace and humor, making her an invaluable asset to CHSS.
- Susan exemplifies the values of leadership and collaboration. She has taken the initiative to advocate for changes to a new process that was implemented by the university (Transfer of Credit dynamic form), advancing a culture of teamwork among graduate faculty and staff within the college. Her ability to listen to stakeholders’ concerns, provide quality feedback rooted in policy, and brainstorm effective solutions sets her apart from others at our institution.
- Susan has shown extraordinary commitment and compassion in her role in the Dean’s Office for nearly 20 years. During this time, she has worked with and supported faculty, graduate staff, and students in every CHSS program.
Susan expressed her gratitude for the support of all the graduate directors and the entire academic affairs team. “I don’t think I have ever felt the sense of community we have here anywhere else I’ve worked, not just in CHSS, but across the university,” she said.
2024 CHSS Staff and A/P Faculty Awards
This new reward and recognition program celebrates CHSS classified staff, A/P faculty, and non-student wage employees who consistently demonstrate excellence, dedication, and innovation in their roles. Jacelyn Tyson, CHSS Director of Human Resources, was honored to present awards to the 2024 recipients. “The dedication, passion, and excellence that CHSS’ staff and administrative faculty bring to their roles every day never ceases to impress,” she said. “With this in mind, we endeavored to create additional ways to recognize the exceptional efforts of individuals whose work is essential to our success.”
Congratulations to the 2024 honorees, who are listed below along with a few quotes from nomination letters submitted by colleagues:
Maria Carabelli, CHSS Outstanding Supervisor Award
- In every aspect of her role, Maria exemplifies the spirit of leadership. Her dedication, innovative problem-solving, and unwavering support have earned her the trust and respect of everyone she works with.
- Maria shows exemplary leadership qualities and behavior including unwavering dedication and exceptional mentorship that support the personal and professional development of her team. Her ability to motivate others, resolve challenges with tact and innovation, and consistently exceed expectations embodies the true spirit of leadership. Maria inspires others, demonstrates trust in her team, and advocates for the betterment of those she serves.
Lalah Masood, CHSS Outstanding New Employee Award
- [Lalah] took on a HUGE role so seamlessly. She was able to step right in and begin making immediate contributions to CHSS.
- Since joining the team, Lalah has quickly mastered her role. Lalah takes initiative, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing innovative solutions.
- Lalah consistently showcases creative and effective problem-solving strategies. She also advocates for the needs of our colleagues.
- Lalah has a focus on continuous improvement, and our entire college has greatly benefitted from it. She possesses a collaborative spirit and fosters a positive team environment. She is a consummate professional.
Marty Abruzzo, CHSS Service Excellence Award
- Marty has been recognized as a Top 10 advisor in 2020, 2022, and 2022—a testament to his dedication and excellence in advising. His commitment to student success extends far beyond academic guidance, as he consistently goes above and beyond to support students holistically, meeting them where they are and motivating them to continue their educational journeys.
- Marty is regularly praised by students and their families for the impact he makes. One parent recently wrote, "You were meant to guide these young humans and have such an ease about it... Your words and actions today truly had an effect that will be felt for the foreseeable future.
- Students often express how meeting with him has reinvigorated their motivation to keep going, even in the face of challenges.
- As a colleague, I can always rely on Marty for sound academic advice, creative problem-solving, and a professional approach that reflects the mission of our College.
- Marty's proactive approach, adaptability, and constant pursuit of service excellence make him truly deserving of this award.
David Cerri, CHSS Service Excellence Award
- Dave has been a wonderful staff member in our department for many years. He has done so much that extends beyond what one would expect of a lab manager.
- Dave is an essential part of our department’s backbone, and we simply wouldn’t function as smoothly without him. Dave approaches every task with a positive and determined attitude, and people seek his help because he’s always willing to assist.
- Dave has also played a role in helping facilitate scientific research. He has helped by fabricating sophisticated scientific equipment, which was of immense help in our work. His assistance has saved a lot of time, effort and expense. I'd also like to say that Dave is an incredibly humble and affable person and that all his assistance is provided with a very friendly demeanor.
- Dave is the epitome of customer service. He responds to all requests for assistance no matter how small or large whether it be from a student, staff, or faculty member.
Stephanie Hinnenkamp, CHSS Mentorship Award
- Throughout the past year, Stephanie has mentored two new employees and two to three Graduate Assistants. She is such a positive force on our team, in no small part due to her excellent mentorship skills. She has worked hard to develop specific approaches to mentorship over the past two years, and it has made an incredible difference on our team.
- When I first started at CHSS, Stephanie was so awesome. She checked in on me all the time to see if I needed help and made me feel so welcome here.
- Stephanie is truly a master of all the systems that support our office and works so patiently to introduce people to Salesforce data needs, Target X admissions practices, and supporting our web page redesign. Her outstanding contributions have a significant and positive impact on the performance of not only the graduate affairs team, but all CHSS programs. She is truly a model for excellence in mentorship and collegiality.
Holly Mason Badra, CHSS Civility Award
- Since she joined WGST as associate director in Fall 2021, Holly has exhibited exceptional skills in building positive, collegial and compassionate relationships with colleagues and students. Holly’s communications with faculty, staff, students and stakeholders across campus are always warm, civil and caring.
- As a gracious and collegial collaborator, Holly has been exceptionally successful in sustaining professional relationships, willing to address concerns and provide ready support whenever required. On more than one occasion, Holly has demonstrated her ability to navigate differences of opinion in a manner where all parties feel heard and respected, and to promote productive dialogue.
- Besides her role as associate director, Holly’s compassionate and congenial support for our student staff over the last two years has been remarkable, and integral to their growth in terms of leadership development.
- Holly’s willingness to go beyond expected work commitments in ensuring student success is a truly exceptional gift. In sum, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award!
Anthony DeMaio, CHSS Trailblazer Award
- Anthony has consistently demonstrated a remarkable commitment to innovation, engagement, and fostering positive cultural change. As a natural leader, he has taken the initiative on numerous occasions to spearhead new projects. His proactive approach and enthusiasm for embracing challenges has not only led to successful outcomes but has also inspired his colleagues to strive for excellence.
- Anthony consistently goes above and beyond to empower team members, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and encouraged to contribute their best. In addition to the exceptional work he does in his primary role, he has voluntarily led numerous initiatives for the CHSS Finance & HR team.
- Anthony's dedication to promoting cultural change is evident in his service on the CHSS Classified Staff and A/P Faculty Advisory Council as well as the Mason Staff Senate. His service has enhanced the organizational culture within CHSS and Mason. Anthony is highly collaborative and consistently delivers results that exceed expectations. His ability to navigate complex challenges with grace and determination serves as a testament to his natural leadership qualities. Anthony is the epitome of a CHSS Trailblazer!
December 06, 2024