myHR Archives
myHR: February 26, 2020
Penn Recognizes Outstanding Staff Members with 2020 Models of Excellence Honors
At Penn, we recognize excellence in all areas of the University. In that spirit, the Models of Excellence program spotlights remarkable staff contributions to the University’s mission as a global leader in education, research, and public service.From a field of candidates nominated by coworkers and colleagues, 16 outstanding teams and individuals from schools and centers across the University were chosen to receive 2020 Models of Excellence honors. These 110 staff members embody the best in Penn community accomplishment.
This year’s honorees are listed below in three categories: Models of Excellence, Pillars of Excellence, and Model Supervisor. Each Models of Excellence, Pillars of Excellence, and Model Supervisor Award winner and winning team member will receive $500 and a symbolic award. Staff members who have earned Honorable Mentions will receive $250 and a symbolic award.
0n Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 4 p.m. President Amy Gutmann, Provost Wendell Pritchett, Executive Vice President Craig R. Carnaroli and Vice President Jack Heuer will present the awards at Penn’s 21st annual Models of Excellence ceremony in Irvine Auditorium. The whole Penn community is welcome to attend the celebration.
2020 Models of Excellence Honorees
Models of Excellence
The Models of Excellence Award recognizes staff member accomplishments that reflect initiative, leadership, increased efficiency, and a deep commitment to service.
Kyle Cassidy, the Penn Museum Sphinx Move Team, and the Transform Penn’s Data Center Team will be presented with the Models of Excellence award this year.
Kyle Cassidy, Annenberg School for Communications
Penn Museum Sphinx Move Team
Anne Brancati, Penn Museum
Kevin M. Cahail, Penn Museum
Edgardo Esteves, Penn Museum
Molly Gleeson, Penn Museum
Lynn Grant, Penn Museum
Brian J. Houghton, Penn Museum
Anna O’Neill Alexander, Penn Museum
Robert Thurlow, Penn Museum
Jennifer Houser Wegner, Penn Museum
Transform Penn’s Data Center Team
Daniel Bachovin, Sr., Information Systems and Computing
Dave Cohen, Information Systems and Computing
Joseph Demarest, Information Systems and Computing
Jeffrey Edwards, Information Systems and Computing
Steven Fredricks, Information Systems and Computing
Tiffany Hanulec, Information Systems and Computing
Gregory Hartley, Information Systems and Computing
Donna M. Jacobs, Information Systems and Computing
Dante Keyes, Information Systems and Computing
Shijoy Mathew, Information Systems and Computing
Dave Mongeluzi, Information Systems and Computing
James Renfro, Information Systems and Computing
James Patrick Riley, Information Systems and Computing
Maria Perlita Roberts Reyes, Information Systems and Computing
Charles Rumford, Information Systems and Computing
Kent Whiting, Information Systems and Computing
Thomas Yoo, Facilities and Real Estate Services
Victor Adams, the Campus Express New Student Experience Team, the College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS) Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Team, the Forerunner Team, Laura Tepper, and Matthew Valenti will receive Models of Excellence Honorable Mentions.
Victor Adams, Division of Finance
Campus Express New Student Experience Team
Mark Aseltine, Business Services
Christopher Bradie, Business Services
Barbara Lea-Kruger, Business Services
Ann Weinstein, Business Services
LPS Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Team
Christopher Angelucci, School of Arts and Sciences
Ursula Bechert, School of Arts and Sciences
Dave Bieber, School of Arts and Sciences
Aaron Boczkowksi, School of Arts and Sciences
Yvette Bordeaux, School of Arts and Sciences
Leona Brandwene, School of Arts and Sciences
Mary Bustamante, School of Arts and Sciences
Jacqueline Candido, School of Arts and Sciences
Clayton Colmon, School of Arts and Sciences
Angelina Conti, School of Arts and Sciences
Sara Davis, School of Arts and Sciences
Benjamin Filreis, School of Arts and Sciences
Ilene Ford, School of Arts and Sciences
Michael Griego, School of Arts and Sciences
Joseph Hallman, School of Arts and Sciences
Susan Hassett, School of Arts and Sciences
Caitlin Hier, School of Arts and Sciences
Zachary Humenik, School of Arts and Sciences
Betsy Jane Kells, School of Arts and Sciences
Jaime Kelly, School of Arts and Sciences
Tomea Knight, School of Arts and Sciences
Jen Kollar, School of Arts and Sciences
Meryl Krieger, School of Arts and Sciences
Sarah Libros, School of Arts and Sciences
Jeffrey Lyons, School of Arts and Sciences
John MacDermott, School of Arts and Sciences
Marsha Mallet, School of Arts and Sciences
Sarah Masino, School of Arts and Sciences
Jason Matjasic, School of Arts and Sciences
Elizabeth Matthew, School of Arts and Sciences
Rita McGlone, School of Arts and Sciences
Jacqueline McLaughlin, School of Arts and Sciences
Melissa Moore, School of Arts and Sciences
Amy Mulhern, School of Arts and Sciences
Debra Murphy, School of Arts and Sciences
Kristine Rabberman, School of Arts and Sciences
Brittany Robertson, School of Arts and Sciences
Anna Safford, School of Arts and Sciences
Samantha Sangenito, School of Arts and Sciences
Leigh Anne Scarborough, School of Arts and Sciences
Joe Schaffner, School of Arts and Sciences
Daniel Shields, School of Arts and Sciences
Kristin Sowden, School of Arts and Sciences
Raymond Taylor, School of Arts and Sciences
Donna Tomlinson, School of Arts and Sciences
Kathy Urban, School of Arts and Sciences
Christopher Veitz, School of Arts and Sciences
Levester Williams, School of Arts and Sciences
Miriam Wright, School of Arts and Sciences
Forerunner Team
Rodolfo Altamirano, Penn Global
Batsirai Bvunzawabya, Student Services
Chinedu (Ocek) Eke, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
S. Sonya Gwak, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Imani Harvin, Graduate School of Education
Yuhong He, Student Services
Sarah Peyton Kaufman, Graduate School of Education
Soumya Madabhushi, Student Services
Amy Nichols, Wharton School
Elisabeth O’Connell, Provost’s Center
Zoe (Zhe) Qiao, Wharton School
Patricia Rea, School of Arts and Sciences
Julianne Reynolds, Student Services
Sharon Smith, Student Services
Ann E. Tiao, Graduate School of Education
Peter Van Do, Student Services
Ryan Villanueva, Penn Global
Rebecca Yao, Student Services
Li (Lily) Zhang, Penn Global
Laura Tepper, Penn Law Development and Alumni Relations
Matthew Valenti, Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics
Pillars of Excellence
The Pillars of Excellence Award recognizes the important support Penn’s weekly-paid staff members provide to promote the University’s mission.
This year’s Pillars of Excellence awards will go to Jamie Apgar, Division of Human Resources, Christopher Ferraiolo & Michah Mack, Wharton School, Seth J. Fitzgerald, Facilities and Real Estate Services, and Ada Lawry, Residential and Hospitality Services.
Model Supervisors
The Model Supervisor Award honors supervisors who are effective and productive leaders for the University.
This year Leigh Gantz, Perelman School of Medicine, will receive a Model Supervisor award.
Model Supervisor Honorable Mentions goes to Rebecca Lerario of the Perelman School of Medicine and Ryan Miller from Student Services.
Visit the Models of Excellence website to learn more about this year’s honorees, for ceremony details, and to learn how you can nominate a coworker for this prestigious award.
Giving Greater Autonomy to Your Team
Think about it. There has probably been an occasion, or two, where you felt you were being micromanaged. Entrepreneur Chieh Huang describes it as “taking great, wonderful, imaginative people --like all of you --bringing them in into an organization and then crushing their souls by telling them what font size to use.”
Under micromanagement a supervisor closely observes or controls the work of staff in detail. It can be a tempting style to adopt, but micromanagement is an ineffective way to lead because it shows a lack of trust in the workplace and it stifles creativity.
Learn how to avoid the pitfalls of micromanagement and confidently delegate duties to your staff by attending the March 24 TED Talk Tuesday: Confessions of a Recovering Micromanager workshop. The session will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., 3624 Market Street, Suite 1-A South.
In this workshop, participants will view the TED Talk led by entrepreneur Chieh Huang. In the video, Huang shares personal experiences of being a micromanager and the positive outcomes for his organization when he let staff fully own their work.
Following the TED Talk, Amma Napier, Senior Training and Development Consultant/Talent Development, will lead a discussion covering these points:
- Defining Delegation: When is it important for supervisors to recognize the need to support staff members and when is a staff person responsible for the work and the outcome of that work whether good or bad? True delegation is necessary for success and it can occur.
- Enhancing Creativity: Control over our jobs gives us room to grow and enhances our creativity. That freedom can lead to innovative change for our teams and the organization.
- The Upside to Failure: Sometimes supervisors micromanage because they feel that unchecked work could potentially lead to a failed project or assignment. Huang offers that failure can be “seen as a milestone along that mission towards success” and innovative solutions.
- In Staff We Trust: Have you ever had a boss who was always looking over your shoulder? How did it make you feel? Trust is the real cure for micromanagement. How do we get there?
Register today for TED Talk Tuesday: Confessions of a Recovering Micromanager, and find workable solutions to give you and your team the freedom to succeed.
For more professional development opportunities, visit the Learn & Grow section of the Human Resources website.
Spring into Action with the Be in the Know Campaign
If you missed participating in Penn’s Be in the Know campaign in the fall, and still want to get in on all the wellness activity, there’s good news for you. The Be in the Know campaign continues this spring with more opportunities for you to stay active, improve your health, and earn up to $300*.
This year’s campaign runs September 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. Getting started is easy.
First, complete Step 1, your free biometric screening. The final screening dates for the 2019-2020 campaign year are listed below. Click on one of the links to register today:
Monday, March 16 – Houston Hall, Hall of Flags
Tuesday, March 17 – Houston Hall, Hall of Flags
Thursday, March 19 – Irvine Auditorium, Café 58
Thursday, May 7 – Houston Hall, Hall of Flags
At the biometric screening, a health educator will measure key components of your overall health, including blood pressure, total and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and blood sugar (glucose levels). You may also choose to fast before your screening to learn low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
You’ll get instant results and be on your way to earning extra money in your paycheck or as Penn Recreation credit for qualifying memberships and recreational services.
If you can't attend one of the final screenings, you have the option to submit results obtained by your own physician between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. To earn credit, download and complete the Be in the Know Biometric Screening Consent Form, follow the submission directions on the form, and submit the form with your results to AREUFIT Health Services, Inc. The deadline to submit your biometric screening documentation is July 31, 2020.
After you complete your biometric screening, you’re ready for Step 2, the online health assessment available at penn.staywell.com. This brief, confidential questionnaire is administered through StayWell, Penn’s wellness portal partner.
The biometric screening and online health assessment are the two Core Actions required to earn your first 100 points and $100 cash incentive.
Earn even more points and cash with Step 3, Bonus Actions. You can complete qualifying Bonus Actions anytime throughout the campaign year to earn up to 200 additional points for $200* in Bonus Action incentives. Participants can receive up to $300* in incentives this Be in the Know campaign year. If you earn more than 350 total campaign points, you will receive VIP-level status and a special gift on top of the maximum cash incentives.
For more information about the Be in the Know campaign, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow.
*All cash incentives associated with the Be in the Know campaign are less applicable payroll taxes. You must be an active full- or part-time benefits-eligible faculty or staff member to participate. Incentives will be issued in November 2019, and monthly from January to August 2020, in paychecks or as Penn Recreation credits. Payment times depend on when you complete the Core Actions (biometric screening and online health assessment) and qualifying Bonus Actions.
Incentives for Be in the Know Bonus Actions will not be paid until you first complete the two Core Actions (a biometric screening and StayWell's online health assessment). Bonus Action incentives are paid when you reach every 50-point level (50 points, 100 points, 150 points, and 200 points.) However, any remaining unpaid Bonus Action points will be paid in the final incentive cycle, August 2020. Be in the Know VIPs for the 2019-2020 campaign year will be contacted in August 2020, after all activities have been processed.
Healthy Meals: Brian Walcott's Skillet Vegetable Curry
Brian Walcott, Chef at Hill College House, is inspired by “how food can tell a story…and [bring] people together.” Growing up in Jamaica, Walcott watched his mother create meals for a family of seven. He shares these childhood flavors in his colorful vegetarian curry recipe published in The Penn Family Cookbook, Penn Dining’s collection of campus chef favorites. Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.
Did You Know? Penn Campus Recreation Has Summer Camps
Penn Campus Recreation is hosting its second annual summer camp for children ages 6 to 12. Campers can participate in swimming, rock climbing, indoor and outdoor sports and more. The program starts July 13 and will be offered for five weeks. For more information, or to register, click here. For a list of other summer camps and programs at Penn, visit the Almanac.