Models of Excellence Award

Since 1999, this award has recognized staff member accomplishments that reflect initiative, leadership, increased efficiency, and a deep commitment to service. Now, the Models of Excellence Award is one of three award categories in the overall Models of Excellence program.

Standards of Excellence

These Standards of Excellence are used by the nominators and the Selection Committee to identify individual staff members or teams as Models of Excellence for their notable contributions to the mission of the University that go above and beyond performance and job expectations.

Supportive practices, procedures, and policies

• Brings about significant positive change for the University’s mission.
• Eliminates significant obstacles to achieving the University’s mission.
• Resolves, in unique and/or novel ways, problems that impede progress.

Innovative and proactive leadership

• Uses highly effective and/or novel practices to inspire and lead others to contribute constructively to the University’s mission.
• Proactively identifies and resolves challenges that interfere with team/unit/school/center activities to further the University’s mission.
• Encourages a coordinated effort by a complex group and facilitates the group’s ability to meet complicated goals.

Extraordinary service to key constituencies

• Supports internal and/or external constituencies in ways that exceed expectations and result in unexpected and very positive outcomes that support the University’s mission.

Substantial cost-effectiveness

• Identifies improvements to University practices, policies, and/or program designs that result in substantial cost savings or financial gain to the University while enhancing the organization’s ability to support the University’s mission.

Exemplary relationship building within and/or outside of the immediate organization

• Develops and uses strong, constructive, and productive relationships that enable otherwise impossible goals to be met in support of the University’s mission

2023 Models of Excellence Honorees

Models of Excellence Award

The Admissions Visitor Center Team 

The Admissions Visitor Center Team embraced the pressures and uncertainties of COVID by developing new applications of existing technology to continue to give virtual real-time, student-led tours throughout the pandemic. They navigated the many protocols and challenges related to COVID by creating an on-campus, best-in-class, welcoming atmosphere that is consistently rated by visitors as among the best college visits they have experienced.

Brian Bayes, Perelman School of Medicine

Brian Bayes, Sr. Data Manager at the Palliative and Advanced Illness Research Center, is critical to the scientific development, implementation, and success of every trial and study conducted at the Center. He has pioneered new ways for Perelman School of Medicine researchers to partner with Penn Medicine to use electronic health record data for research.

Krista Cortes, Student Services

Krista Cortes, Director of La Casa Latina: The Center for Hispanic Excellence, goes above and beyond their assigned responsibilities to further connect with students, staff, faculty, and community members. Their approach to analyzing problems and willingness to provide constructive feedback, coupled with their constant desire for learning, are all things that inspire staff to reach beyond expectations. They teach to lead and motivate with love – honoring students along their journeys.

Division of Finance Racial Justice and Inclusivity Working Group

The Division of Finance Racial Justice and Inclusivity Working Group focuses on developing a culture of anti-racism, inclusion, and belonging, which has become an integral part of the daily culture within the Division of Finance. From staff programming and training to a diversity, equity, and inclusivity book club, this group aims to actively dismantle racism and provide a culture of acceptance and belonging for employees at Penn.

Honorable Mention

Accommodated Testing Center Team

The Accommodated Testing Center Team worked collaboratively, mid-pandemic, to advocate and develop a state-of-the-art, 21st-century academic testing center equipped to support a diverse range of learning accommodations and student needs.