Recipients of UAA Staff Recognition Awards
What you’ll find here: Debbie McGhee Award for Excellence // Distinguished Partner Award
Note: The recognition awards were paused in 2022 to focus on the 2021 recipients who were awarded during the height of the pandemic and on the contributions of all UAA staff during that time.
Debbie McGhee Award for Excellence
The Debbie McGhee Award for Excellence is presented to a current UAA staff member who has substantially advanced our mission to be a “catalyst and advocate for excellence and innovation” and who fully embodies our values: collaboration, compassion, curiosity, equity, integrity and transformative learning. This award represents the highest accolade we bestow upon one another as we celebrate those who lead the way for all of us to continuously strive to do our best work and be our best selves.
In 2019, the Award for Excellence was renamed to honor the memory of Debbie McGhee, a beloved colleague who passed away between the time she was nominated for the award and the event at which it was awarded to her, posthumously, in June of 2019. Read more about Debbie here.
| NAME | YEAR | DEPARTMENT |
| Meghan Coletta | 2024 | First Year Programs |
| Robin Chang | 2023 | Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards |
| Lioudmila Kourenina | 2023 | Office of Educational Assessment |
| No award given | 2022 | |
| Henry Lui | 2021 | Information Technology |
| Pam Robenolt | 2021 | Student-Athlete Academic Services |
| Jennifer Stock | 2021 | Student Academic Services |
| Francesca Lo | 2020 | Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center |
| Debbie McGhee | 2019 | Office of Educational Assessment |
| Lisa Bruce | 2018 | Student-Athlete Academic Services |
| Josh Gibbs | 2018 | Information Technology |
| Aley Mills Willis | 2017 | Honors Program |
| Kathryn Pursch Cornforth | 2017 | Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center |
| Josh Lin | 2016 | Center for Experiential Learning & Diversity |
| Deborah Smith | 2015 | Office of Educational Assessment |
| Mona Pitre-Collins | 2015 | Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowship & Awards |
| Rachel Vaughn | 2014 | Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center |
| Maren Halvorsen | 2014 | Robinson Center for Young Scholars |
| Sharon Minton | 2013 | Office of Educational Assessment |
| Tracy Nyerges | 2013 | Undergraduate Research Program |
| Kirsten Atik | 2012 | Dean’s Office |
| Michaelann Jundt | 2011 | Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center |
| Nana Lowell | 2011 | Office of Educational Assessment |
| Jodene Davis | 2010 | Mary Gates Endowment for Students |
| Kay Balston | 2010 | Undergraduate Advising |
| Jennifer Harris | 2009 | Undergraduate Research Program |
| Brook Kelly | 2009 | Honors Program |
| Joanna Loss | 2008 | Office of Educational Assessment |
| Ray Carlsen | 2008 | Classroom Support Services |
| Janice DeCosmo | 2007 | Center for Experiential Learning & Diversity |
| Juliana Villegas | 2007 | Honors Program |
| Beret Kischner | 2006 | Undergraduate Advising |
| Ellen Mosolf | 2006 | Robinson Center for Young Scholars |
| Miriam Goldstein | 2006 | Office of Educational Assessment |
| Christine Stickler | 2005 | Pipeline Project |
| Jason Johnson | 2004 | First Year Programs |
| Janet Kime | 2004 | Undergraduate Advising |
| Cathy Beyer | 2003 | Office of Educational Assessment |
| Donald Zongker | 2003 | Classroom Support Services |
| Ken Etzkorn | 2002 | Dean’s Office |
| Dick Newcomb | 2001 | Undergraduate Advising |
| Jerry Gillmore | 2001 | Office of Educational Assessment |
| Ran Hennes | 2001 | Honors Program |
| Dick Simkins | 2000 | Undergraduate Advising Center |
| Pat Wrobel | 1999 | Dean’s Office |
| Patrick Roberts | 1999 | Classroom Support Services |
Distinguished Partner Award
The Distinguished Partner Award recognizes a colleague, program or department whose collaborations with Undergraduate Academic Affairs have made significant advances in the University of Washington’s undergraduate academic experience. These collaborations enhance, enrich and deepen the undergraduate experience. The reciprocity of these relationships benefits undergraduates and the broader campus community.
| DEPARTMENT OR NAME | YEAR |
| Path to UW partners: Seattle Promise – Seattle Colleges and Department of Education and Early Learning – City of Seattle |
2023 |
| The Office of the University Registrar and Enrollment Information Services | 2020 |
| Mary Gates Hall Custodial Team: Desidero De Castro, Maria Devaney, Joe Lo, Zenaida Pagdilao, Emebet Sefara, Cassk Thomas, Robert Thompson, Seare Zerom | 2019 |
| Leilani Lewis and Jeanette James | 2018 |
| Office of Regional & Community Relations | 2018 |
| University of Washington Police Department | 2017 |
| wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ–Intellectual House | 2016 |
| Student-Athlete Academic Services | 2015 |
| Division of Student Life | 2014 |
| Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity | 2013 |
| The Graduate School | 2012 |