2026 COSA Recipients

The Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Awards are coordinated by the Chancellor’s Staff Advisory Committee. COSA awards are presented to individuals from our staff community who, in addition to performing their normal job duties with excellence, demonstrate exceptional initiative in contributing to the Berkeley campus community. These awards are among the highest honors bestowed upon staff by the Chancellor. The official program for the 2026 award ceremony can be viewed here.


2026 Award Recipients

  • Aimee Jacques: Benefits Representative Supervisor, Insurance Case Coordinator, Trans Care Team Insurance Coordinator, University Health Services

  • Alex Rodriguez: Assistant Director, Digital Campaigns, University Development & Alumni Relations

  • Amina Kirby: Senior AV IT Engineer, Law - Information Systems & Technology

  • Anthony Yuen: Project Policy Analyst, Division of Undergraduate Education

  • Audrey Thomas: Director of Data & Institutional Research, Division of Undergraduate Education

  • Avry Schellenbach: Training Coordinator - UC Path Campus Operations, People & Culture

  • Barbara Montano: Project Manager, African American & African Diaspora Studies

  • Cameron Yahr Froelich: Head of Product & Business Development, Lawrence Hall of Science

  • Camille Crittenden: Executive Director, CITRIS and the Banatao Institute

  • Catherine Cronquist Browning: Assistant Vice Provost & Chief of Staff, Division of Undergraduate Education

  • Cecilia Fura: VSPA Assistant Director, Research Immediate Office

  • Claudia Bustos: Executive Director of Public Engagement, Lawrence Hall of Science

  • Dana Kowalski: Assistant Dean for Administration & Finance, School of Social Welfare

  • Dawn Howard: Financial Analyst 4, Student Affairs / Recreation and Wellbeing and University Health Services

  • Eric Van Dusen: Outreach & Tech Lead, Data Science Undergraduate Studies

  • Jason Jung: Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF) Service Lead, Research, Teaching, & Learning (RTL) Division of Undergraduate Education

  • Julia Zolinsky: Senior Director of Corporate Relations, College of Engineering

  • Julie Gallardo: Patient Services Manager, School of Optometry & Vision Science

  • Katie Marshall: Associate Director of Admissions, Haas Undergraduate Programs

  • Kazim Senoglu: Application Programmer, Berkeley IT - Campus Applications & Data - Application Delivery

  • Kevina Chu: Senior HR Partner, Berkeley Regional Services, SHARE Region

  • Les Gorske: Assistant Dean of Finance & Administration, L&S Dean’s Office

  • Michael Cerda-Jara: Associate Director of Berkeley Underground Scholars, Center for Educational Equity and Excellence

  • Nicole Lowy: Department Manager, Environmental Science, Policy, and Management

  • Phillip Denny: Director of Big Ideas Contest, Blum Center for Developing Economies

  • Rick Jaffe: Research Data Consultant & CollectionSpace Service Lead, Research IT

  • Ryan Finnigan: Deputy Director of Research, Terner Center for Housing Innovation, College of Environmental Design

  • Ryann Hirt: Assistant Director of Student Affairs, School of Information Operations

  • Sarah Gaugler: Contracts and Grants Supervisor

  • Serina Mares: Project Portfolio Manager, Berkeley IT/CITI/CIDB

  • Sophia Wang: Staff Attorney/Lecturer, UC Berkeley Law, Criminal Law & Justice Center

  • Tess Hanson: Director of Campus Activity & Major Events, ASUC Student Union

  • Tessa Stapp: YAAH Research Coordinator, Public Health Administration

  • Toni Mendicino: Administrative Officer, Miller Institute for Global Challenges and the Law, Law School

  • Tracie Allen: Access & Innovation Strategist, Center for Teaching & Learning