2023-2024 NASPA Excellence Award Winners
Supporting the Profession
January 16, 2024
We are pleased and honored to announce the recipients of the 2023-2024 NASPA Excellence Awards
Excellence Awards recognize the contributions of members who are transforming higher education through outstanding programs, innovative services, and effective administration. NASPA's Excellence Awards cover twelve categories crucial to the success of students. Sharing our successes benefit students, improves institutions, and promotes our profession.
Grand Winners
Gold
First Things First: First-generation Student Retreat - University of South Carolina
Category: First-generation Student Success and related
- Morgan Ruebusch, Assistant Director for Gamecock Gateway
Silver
Academic Success Workshop: Using Data to Close Equity Gaps for Students on Academic Caution - Moraine Valley Community College
Category: Assessment, Persistence, Data Analytics, and related
- Sharon Brennan, Counselor and Coordinator
- Scott Friedman, Dean of Student Engagement
Bronze
Meeting Students Where They are at Through an Embedded Counselor Program - University at Buffalo
Category: Athletics, Recreation, Counseling, Health, Wellness, and related
- Sharon Mitchell, Senior Director, Student Wellness
- Nicholas Fronczak, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Brianna Presutti, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Thomas Neill, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Katherine Miller-Procknal, Licensed Psychologist
- Alison Smith, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
AWARDS BY CATEGORY
Academic Advising, Careers, Graduate, Professional, and related
Gold
Implementing Coordinated Campaigns Strategies for Focused, Proactive Advising Support - California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Dr. Erin Lion DeRosa, Executive Director of University Advising
- Dr. Cecilia Santiago-González, Associate Vice President of Student Success
- Vannessa Lopez, Senior Associate Director, Student Success Advising
- Jay Ebue, Interim Associate Director, Student Success Advising
- Pedro Navarro, Interim Associate Director, University Advising
Silver
Academic Coaching - American University
- Michelle Mondrey, Academic Coach
- Amanda Kleinman, Academic Coach
- Victoria Kreutzer, Academic Coach
Alumni, Community Relations, Family Programs, Fundraising, and related
Silver
Building a Career Closet: A Partnership between the Office of First-Generation Student Success, Alumni Services & Career Services - University at Memphis
- Jaclyn Rodriguez, Director Office of First Generation Student Success
Assessment, Persistence, Data Analytics, and related
Gold
Academic Success Workshop: Using Data to Close Equity Gaps for Students on Academic Caution - Moraine Valley Community College
- Sharon Brennan, Counselor and Coordinator
- Scott Friedman, Dean of Student Engagement
Silver
Eagle Engage - Georgia Southern University
- Shay Little, Vice President for Student Affairs
- Ken Gassiot, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Bronze
UGA Student Affairs Engagement Data - University of Georgia
- Annie Carlson Welch, Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs
- Amber Atkinson, Business Intelligence/Research Analyst
- Sarah Strickland, Assistant Director for Learning and Improvement
Athletics, Recreation, Counseling, Health, Wellness, and related
Gold
Meeting Students Where They are at Through an Embedded Counselor Program - University at Buffalo
- Sharon Mitchell, Senior Director, Student Wellness
- Nicholas Fronczak, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Brianna Presutti, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Thomas Neill, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Kathryn Miller-Procknal, Licensed Psychologist
- Alison Smith, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Silver
The Collegiate Recovery Program - The College of New Jersey
- Christopher Freeman, Assistant Director, Alcohol and Drug Support Services
- Eric Van Eck, Recovery and Prevention Coordinator
Bronze
Steps to Leaps: Enhancing and Improving Holistic Well-Being - Purdue University-West Lafayette Campus
- Dr. Beth McCuskey, Vice Provost, Student Life
- Dr. Jenna Rickus, Vice Provost, Teaching & Learning
- Dr. Louis Tay, Associate Professor, Psychological Services
- Dr. Carl Krieger, Director, Residential Education, Student Life
- Dr. Katie Sermersheim, Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students
- Stephanie Knight, Director, Leadership Programs, Student Life
- Dr. Heather Servaty-Seib, Associate Vice Provost, Teaching and Learning
- Dr. Zenephia Evans, Associate Dean of Students, Education & Advocacy, Student Life
- Heather Beasley, Director, Operations, Student Life
- Dr. Christopher Munt, Director, Inclusive Excellence, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
- Jackie Perkins, Director, Marketing, Student Life
- Dr. Christopher Hanes, Senior Director, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Student Life
- Dr. Chantal Levesque-Bristol, Executive Director, Teaching Success, Center for Instructional Excellence
- Will Evans, Senior Assistant Director, Wellness Programs
- Katie Dufault, Director, Academic Success Center, Teaching and Learning
- Brittany Ledman, Senior Communications Professional, The Graduate School
- Dr. Jeff Elliott, Executive Director, University Undergraduate Academic Advising
- Melissa Evens, Director, External Relations, Student Life
Campus Security, Crisis Management, Student Conduct and Community Standards, Violence Prevention, and related
Gold
Seamless Silos: Collaborative and Culturally-Competent Crisis Management - North Carolina State University
- Dr. David Elrod, Associate Vice Provost for Equal Opportunity and Equity
- Dr. April Paul Baer, Director of Investigations and Equal Opportunity Officer
- Jewel Davis, Equal Opportunity Officer
- Nicola Hooker, Equal Opportunity Officer
- Veronica Bylund, Equal Opportunity Officer
- Tania Enders, Program Coordinator for Equal Opportunity and Equity
- Dr. Tina Nelson-Moss, Director of Risk Assessment
- Lauren Shea, Associate Director of Risk Assessment
- Jennifer Bills, Assistant Director of Risk Assessment
- Sara Thomson, Assistant Director of Risk Assessment
- Stacy Fair, Director of Youth Programs & Compliance
- Madison Wynands, Program Support Specialist for Risk Assessment
- Angel Bowers, Director of Prevention Services
- Rebecca Brown, CARES Coordinator
- Lilly Neal, CARES Coordinator
- Jarrett Blaize, CARES Coordinator
- Laurie Capps Bolster, CARES Coordinator
- Emily Anderson, Outreach and Resilience Coordinator
- Christy Sigmon, Outreach and Resilience Coordinator
- Jeffrey Fay, Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coordinator
- Mary Chamblee, Marketing Manager for Prevention Services
- Thomas Hardiman, Director of Student Conduct
- Erin Breiner, Associate Director of Student Conduct
- Laura Greer, Associate Director of Student Conduct
- Deontre’ Whitaker, Assistant Director of Student Conduct
- Brownishia Clark, Assistant Director of Student Conduct
- Katie Runner, Case Manager for Student Conduct
- Carmen Ballard, Administrative Support Specialist for Student Conduct
Silver
Creating a Conduct Process that Leverages Student Relationships, Values, and Learning Styles - Whitworth University
- Timothy Caldwell, Associate Dean for Student Life, Community Standards and Compliance
Civic Learning, Democratic Engagement, Community Service, Service-Learning, and related
Gold
BGSU Votes - Bowling Green State University
- Jacob E. Clemens, Senior Director of the Marvin Center for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement
- Kendra Lutes, Associate Director of the Marvin Center for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement
- Adam Smith, Coordinator for Civic Engagement
- Lyndsey Johns, Graduate Assistant, Marvin Center for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement
Silver
FSU Votes - Florida State University
- Joi Phillips, Director of the Center for Leadership and Service
- Erin Sylvester Philpot, Assistant Director of the Center for Leadership and Service
- Paige Rentz, Marketing Manager for the Center for Leadership and Service
- Liz Iaconis, Civic Engagement Coordinator for the Center for Leadership and Service
- Jesmel Moreno, Graduate Assistant for the Center for Leadership and Service
Bronze
First Year Community Action Program (FCAP) - Adelphi University
- Kelsey D’Andrea, Assistant Director, Center for Student and Community Engagement
Commuter, Off-Campus, Military-Connected, Non-traditional, and related
Silver
First Year Connections Mentoring Program - Florida Atlantic University
- Jordan DiPentima, M.Ed., Director, New Student Transitions and Family Engagement
- Rebecca Goldstein, Ph.D., Director, Assessment and Research
- Oriana Fernandez, M.A., Mentoring Coordinator, New Student Transitions and Family Engagement
Bronze
Contemporary Student Services - George Mason University
- Dr. Joisanne Rodgers, Director, Contemporary Student Services
- Shyama Kuver, Associate Director, Contemporary Student Services
- Matt McLaughlin, Coordinator, Off-Campus Students
- Caroline Simpson, Coordinator, Contemporary Students
- Louise Higgins, Office Manager
- Dr. Sally Lorentson, Assistant Vice President, University Life
Contracted Services, Housing, Residence Life, and related
Silver
UD Dining Services - Achieving Culinary Excellence on Campus - University of Delaware
- Eric Bringman, Resident District Manager of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality
- Amanda Steiner, Vice President of Operations of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality
Bronze
University at Albany Department of Residential Life Retention Initiative - University at Albany
- Mayra Raxon, Assistant Director Staff Development and Student Success
- Michael Cattani, Assistant Director Residential Communities West: Colonial and Dutch Quad
Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, First-year, Other-year, Orientation, and related
Gold
Barrett Online: An Innovative Solution in Rethinking Honors Education - Arizona State University
- Dr. Tara Williams, Barrett Honors College Dean
- Dr. Kristen Hermann, Vice Dean
- Alexandra Aragon, Director of Academic Partnerships and Barrett Online
- Keith Southergill, Director of Enrollment
- Michelle Hollin, Director of Recruiting
- Ashley Brand, Director of Student and Alumni Engagement
- Miranda Schultz, Director of Advising
- Scott Hinkle, Program Manager Recruiting
- Christopher Floyd, Honors Academic Advisor
Silver
Integrated One-on-One Academic Advising within KU's One-Day Orientation Program - University of Kansas
- Abby Coffin, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Success
- Alex Cruse, Assistant Director
- Jess Hall, Assistant Director
Bronze
Leadership Institute - Bowling Green State University
- Jacob E. Clemens, Senior Director of the Marvin Center for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement
- Kendra Lutes, Associate Director of the Marvin Center for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement
- Katie Chaney, Coordinator for Student Leadership
Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice, and related
Gold
Antiracism Difficult Dialogues - University of Maryland, College Park (CDIHE)
- Roger L. Worthington, Executive Director
- Kiyah McDermid, Project Coordinator
- Xanh Tran, Project Coordinator
- Diksha Bali, Grad Assistant
- Branden D. Elmore, Asst. Research Professor
Silver
CommUNITY Lab - Kent State University
- Amanda Paulus, Sr Director, Community Engaged Learning
Bronze
Rainbow Scholars Program - Bentley University
- Nana Adu, Assistant Director, Gender and Student Sexuality Programs Office
- Dominique Wilburn, Director of Programs and Communication, Center for Women and Business
First-generation Student Success and related
Gold
First Things First: First-generation Student Retreat - University of South Carolina
- Morgan Ruebusch, Assistant Director for Gamecock Gateway
Silver
First To Roar: The University of Memphis Office of First-Generation Student Success - University of Memphis
- Jaclyn Rodriguez, Director Office of First Generation Student Success
Bronze
First in Line - Baylor University
- Michelle Gonzalez, First in Line Program Manager
- Dr. Austin Morell, Associate Director for the Center for Academic Success and Engagement
- Dr. Whitney Jones, Senior Director for the Center for Academic Success and Engagement
- Mary Stephenson, Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success
- Dr. Chad Eggleston, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Operations and Advising
- Dr. Wes Null, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Academic Affairs
- Dr. Nancy Brickhouse, Provost
Fraternity and Sorority Life, Leadership, Student Activities, Student Union, and related
Gold
Sister Circle - Kent State University
- Michael Daniels, Ph.D., Director
- Alice Fermaintt, Program Coordinator
- Annika Bragg, Advisor
Silver
Electric Root Festival - Miami University-Ohio
- Dr. Kimberly Vance, Director, Center for Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership
- Ryan Kwapniowski, Associate Director of The Center for Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership
Bronze
LEAD Scholars Academy - University of Central Florida
- Stacey Malaret, Director, LEAD Scholars Academy