Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Staff Member

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The Trustees' Award recognizes outstanding work and dedication by a member of the staff who supports the mission of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Employees are nominated by their peers, and the Board of Trustees approves one or more winners. Recipients are awarded a cash prize and a plaque in their honor is displayed in the Rubin Campus Center.  

Criteria:

  • Demonstrates a passion for WPI, its students, faculty, fellow staff-members, history, and traditions.
  • Outstanding performer who delivers beyond the expected.
  • Builds community and strengthens relationships. 
  • Inspires others with a great attitude and models behavior that has a positive impact on the WPI community. 

Eligibility/Particulars: 

  • The award may be given annually to staff members that attain a minimum of one year of full-time or part-time permanent employment at WPI at the time of their nomination. 
  • Previous award winners are not eligible. 
  • A maximum of two awards may be made each year.
  • If there is no outstanding candidate in a given year, the award will not be presented. 

 

Award Winners

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2024 Outstanding Staff Members of the Year

Joel Harris and Kimberly LeChasseur

The winners for this year's award are Joel Harris and Kimberly LeChasseur! Kimberly and Joel were among 34 WPI staff members from Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, University Advancement, Talent & Inclusion, and Finance and Operations to be nominated this year by faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduates. The nominees were invited to a breakfast with the Board of Trustees on May 9th, where Trustees, Board Chair Bill Fitzgerald, President Grace Wang, and SVP Talent & Inclusion and CDO Lauren Turner celebrated their contributions and announced the names of the winners. Read more about the winners in our announcement.

2023

Matthew Barry

Associate Director of Student Development and Counseling - Student Development and Counseling

Matt has been with WPI since 2008 when he worked as a clinical intern at the Student Development & Counseling Center before joining the full-time staff. Matt is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and holds an MA in mental health counseling from Boston College. Over his years at WPI Matt has built experience with a range of populations and issues, including competencies working with Greek Life, LGBTQIA+ students (including students exploring gender and gender transition), students involved with the dramatic arts, and students who enjoy gaming and other similar hobbies and interests. More recently, Matt has also had the privilege to work on WPI's Mental Health and Well-being Task Force, looking to enhance the WPI culture of being well together.

Nicole Caligiuri

Senior Grants and Contracts Manager - Office of Sponsored Programs

Nicole joined WPI in 2017 as a department administrative assistant for Computer Science and joined Sponsored Programs in 2020. She supports specific faculty with complicated grant loads. Before coming to WPI, Nicole taught middle school. She has a BA in History from UMass Dartmouth, with a concentration in European History and Islamic Studies.

Announcement

2022

Colleen Callahan-Panday

Director, International Student Life - International Student and Scholars Office

Colleen has worked with international students at WPI since 2008. She has a bachelor's degree in Global Studies from St. Lawrence University, and a Master's Degree in International Education from the School for International Training. Colleen loves to learn about different parts of the world from her students, and enjoys spending time with her husband, two kids, and dog. Every few years you can spot her visiting family in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Teresa Geddis

Executive Assistant I - Undergraduate Academic Advising

As an Executive Assistant I, she supports a variety of Academic Advising initiatives. These include, assigning students to their major/second major and minor advisors. She works with Health Services/Provost Office in sending out medical absence or leave notices to professors for students who cannot attend classes. She also works with and supports the Insight Program. She oversees work-study students and scheduling hours. Additionally, she handles scheduling appointments for students to meet with assigned advisors. Lastly, she handles all incoming phone calls, emails, drop-ins, office supplies and equipment, to maintain the smooth functioning of the office.   

When students come into the office, along with providing them with academic support, she likes to make sure they feel welcomed and have the sense of a home away from home atmosphere. Outside of WPI, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves to cook and enjoy crafts.   

2021

Barbara Furhman

Administrative Assistant VI - Mechanical & Materials Engineering

Ruth McKeough

Director, Human Subjects Research and Academic Programs - Vice Provost for Research

Ruth's work spans the WPI campus from advisors to researchers to the classroom. Providing guidance to students, faculty and researchers in the community on the ethical conduct of human subjects research and advising IQP's.  

2020

Thomas Partington

Machine Shop/Lab Manager - Chemical Engineering

William Battelle

Events Director - Events Office

With almost thirty years of experience supporting WPI events, Bill leads an outstanding team of event planners and staff. In addition to leading the Events Office's many campus initiatives, he manages large campus-wide events and high-visibility programs. 

2019

Laura Rosen

Director of Disability Support - Student Development & Counseling Center

Peggy Isaacson

Copy Editor, Designer - Marketing Communications

Peggy is responsible for the final proofreading and editing of virtually everything the office produces - high level communications, WPI Journal, books, brochures, web pages, flyers, and more. She works with campus partners to ensure grammatical accuracy and a consistent voice, tone, and style.

2018

Allison Darling

Operations Manager - Computer Science

Suzanne Sontgerath

Director of Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs - Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs

2017

Lisa Wall

Lab Manager III - Biomedical Engineering

Paul Reilly

Executive Director - Academic Advising

2016

Michael Dorsey

Director of Research Communication - Marketing Communications

Rhonda Podell

Associate Director of Operations & Director, Math Tutoring Center - Mathematical Sciences

2015

Jennifer Cluett

Associate Vice President of Admissions & Dean of Admissions - Undergraduate Admissions

Margaret Brodmerkle

Administrative Assistant V - Humanities & Arts

2014

Carol Garofoli

Director of Operations - Mechanical & Materials Engineering

Wayne Atchue

Custodian - Facilities