Three employees received the first Administrative and Professional (A/P) Faculty Award, which recognizes A/P faculty for their extraordinary contributions, accomplishments, and consistent performance for Virginia Tech.
The winners are: Ellen Douglas, associate controller in the Department of Insurance and Risk Management; Amy Rizzo, senior research veterinarian in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine; and Keri Swaby, director for undergraduate research.
In addition, the first team award went to the Diversity Education and Engagement team.
The winners were recognized during a ceremony on July 13.
The recognition program highlights the integral roles that A/P faculty hold as they lead and manage a variety of positions.
Historically, Virginia Tech offers multiple award programs to recognize faculty and staff for their commitment to the university and community, new ideas, and teamwork. The newly created A/P faculty award program focuses on approximately 2,100 of Virginia Tech’s employees.
“Our A/P faculty are an important and highly valued part of the Virginia Tech community and are critical to achieving the university’s strategic priorities,” said Executive Vice Provost Don Taylor. “I am pleased to see their contributions and service celebrated, and I congratulate each of the award winners and nominees for their accomplishments.”
“By adding this award to our recognition program, we can more fully recognize all of our faculty and staff for their contributions at Virginia Tech," said Bryan Garey, vice president for human resources. “We appreciate the service and contribution A/P Faculty make to the university.” The individual award winners:
Ellen Douglas, associate controller, Department of Insurance and Risk Management, has worked at Virginia Tech since 1987.
Ken Miller, vice president for finance, wrote in a letter of endorsement: "Ellen is a trusted, credible, and respected partner who builds strong working relationships with colleagues at Virginia Tech, at other universities, and with her state government counterparts. When university property is damaged from natural disasters such as fires and floods, Ellen jumps into action, working with stakeholders to comprehensively document and submit insurance claims for damage. Ellen offers an exceptional level of customer service and finds creative solutions to the most challenging problems. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Ellen played an integral role in prioritizing the needs of our students who were abroad.”
Amy Rizzo, senior research veterinarian in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, joined Virginia Tech in 2016.
Jennifer A. Zambriski, assistant professor in the Department of Population Health, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Dr. Rizzo has consistently demonstrated excellence as she works to advocate for both researchers and research animals. In addition to consistently serving the Virginia Tech community, she often goes above and beyond the call of duty. Over the last year, there have been three occasions when I found myself facing dire emergencies impacting my research animals. On all three occasions, Dr. Rizzo was off duty and still showed up to help me and offer solutions. She has a true gift for finding common ground and compromise, is genuinely motivated to act with ethics and honor, and always strives to do the right thing.” Keri Swaby, director for undergraduate research, joined Virginia Tech in 2017.
Jill Sible, associate vice provost for undergraduate education, wrote in a letter of nomination: “While the pandemic dramatically limited in-person undergraduate research opportunities in 2020 and 2021, Keri’s unwavering commitment to supporting students and her creative approach to problem-solving resulted in an overall increase in the engagement of the Office of Undergraduate Research with students and faculty. This year, Keri is strategically combining remote-learning opportunities that increase student access to and engagement with research while restoring invaluable in-person experiences. While Keri prefers to work in the background on behalf of students and faculty, she has emerged as a dedicated and effective leader among A/P faculty. She also contributes regularly to publications and conference presentations on undergraduate research.”
The team award winner: Diversity Education and Engagement team of
Michelle Carter, director of diversity engagement; Alicia Cohen, director of diversity education; Michele Deramo, assistant provost for diversity education; Victoria Ferguson, director of the Solitude Fraction site; and Sandy Martin, administrative assistant.
In a letter of nomination, Stacy Wilkerson, chief of staff for the Office for Inclusion and Diversity, wrote: “The work of the diversity education and engagement (DEE) team has made Virginia Tech a leader in the field of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. The DEE team, led by Michele Deramo, is a dynamic group of talented and dedicated individuals committed within the field of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The team strives for excellence at every level. Their deep commitment to this work is invaluable to the growth and development of Virginia Tech as a leader in the work of racial truth-telling and racial consciousness. I am incredibly proud to serve alongside this group of extraordinary individuals.”
Fifty-nine employees with a collective 679 years of service were nominated for the award.
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