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 2025 award ceremony can be viewed here.
2025 Individual Award Recipients
Aileen Liu, Director of Curricular Engagement Initiatives, L&S Undergraduate Studies Division Dean's Office
Aileen serves as the Director of Undergraduate Curricular Engagement Initiatives for the College of Letters & Science — a title that conceals the many, very different projects that she runs with enormous thoughtfulness and grace, and that in their full range, have the capacity to touch every incoming undergraduate student in the largest college on campus. In a typical year, Aileen runs “On the Same Page,” theL&S welcome events that form part of Golden Bear Orientation, the First and Second Year Seminars, the “Big Ideas” courses, and L&S 1. Across these programs, Aileen has tirelessly worked to ensure programming that allows as broad a range of students as possible to see themselves — their histories, concerns, joys, and aspirations — reflected in the campus and the world beyond it.
Amy Hintz, Academic Personnel Analyst, School of Information
Amy has demonstrated incredible commitment to inclusion & belonging, as well as mentorship at the School of Information (I School). She is an irreplaceable member of the team. Her commitment to inclusivity ranges from small acts of kindness to large initiatives for the school, benefiting faculty, staff members and students alike. She is an outstanding colleague who makes space for everyone to have someone they can reach out to feel supported and heard. Her work in the onboarding process has not only highlighted her natural mentorship skills, but also encouraged other strong connections between new staff members and members outside of their team. Amy regularly engages with multiple teams across the school and has played a vital role in the growth and development of new and junior staff. Amy has a deep understanding of the I School’s and UC Berkeley’s values, which is reflected in every project she is involved in. With Amy’s dedication to these exceptional initiatives, UC Berkeley’s community is a brighter place.
Annie Hope, Physician, University Health Services
Dr. Annie Hope has been an outstanding member of the University Health Services (UHS) team for thirteen years. She has coordinated and expanded the scope of the Meyer Continuing Medical Education lecture series, which reaches all departments at UHS. Her hard work has brought the team together weekly to focus on improving medical care for UC Berkeley’s diverse student body. She has worked to make this lecture series a way of recognizing and addressing health care disparities for the more vulnerable students that they serve. She has helped address how issues of race, gender, weight, sexuality, substance use, and trauma affect medical care. She has adapted and innovated as medical guidelines have evolved and a global pandemic reshaped healthcare worldwide. Due to Dr. Hope’s talent at connecting to all members of the healthcare community, both within and outside of UHS, the staff has been able to excel at providing inclusive and relevant healthcare to our campus community.
Robert Sanders, Science Communications Manager, Office of Communications and Public Affairs
Bob has served as the bridge between UC Berkeley’s scientific research and public understanding for three decades. As the manager of science communications, he transforms complex discoveries into compelling stories that capture global attention, as demonstrated by his recent Mars water story, which reached 73,000 readers and generated international coverage. Bob’s deep faculty connections and ability to communicate complex concepts have made him instrumental in sharing UC Berkeley’s research impact. His pioneering work in multilingual science communication and dedication to training faculty and students in media relations have enhanced UC Berkeley’s global reputation. Through clear storytelling and innovative solutions — ranging from viral research stories to preserving historic university documents — Bob ensures UC Berkeley’s discoveries reach and resonate with audiences worldwide, embodying the university’s commitment to public service and excellence.
Brendan West, Sound Technician, Department of Music
Brendan exemplifies excellence through his unwavering commitment to innovation, efficiency, and the advancement of the Music Department’s mission. He maintains and upgrades all classroom audiovisual systems, keeping outdated infrastructure like Hertz Hall’s lighting system running far beyond its lifespan. Most notably, he led the technical design and outfitting of the new Wu Performance Hall, overseeing every aspect from consultation with architects to the installation of cutting-edge sound, video, and lighting systems. Brendan’s deep technical knowledge and initiative have transformed the department’s performance capabilities. Beyond technical mastery, Brendan is a collaborative partner who enhances Berkeley’s mission through meaningful engagement with students, faculty, and staff. He works directly with student organizers and faculty composers to support their creative visions, educating them on performance technology and adapting spaces to meet their needs. His work goes far beyond the expectations of his role, earning him a reputation as a vital contributor to the department and the broader campus community.
Bridget Mearns Bucey, Assistant Director for Leadership and Engagement, Residential Life
In the past three years, Bridget has excelled in five distinct roles within Residential Life, adapting swiftly to the campus’s ever-changing needs. She developed policies to help keep our students and staff safe, created quality supervision tools, and streamlined an impressive array of administrative processes for Residential Life and for other departments. She embodies innovation and efficiency, and has supervised over a dozen full-time and 150 student staff, guiding many towards personal and professional advancements. Her mentorship is highly regarded: she assists individuals in navigating complex policies and in enhancing their skills. As a committed values-driven leader, Bridget promotes work-life balance and actively participates in cross-training to support her colleagues. Her strategic talent development has significantly contributed to Residential Life’s retention and morale, and her dedication to mentorship has profoundly impacted both student and professional teams.
Charlotte Cowden, Director, Principal Gifts & Strategic Initiatives, University Development and Alumni Relations
Charlotte is a truly exceptional colleague. As a member of the Principal Gifts & Strategic Initiatives team, she intrepidly goes to the heart of our challenges and builds solutions, which the team then adopts in their work. In her work on fundraising in Asia, she has taken the initiative to gather, present, and advance Chancellor Lyons’s emergent ideas for increasing engagement with alumni and donors. In this same area of work, she has built systems that make campuswide collaboration more inclusive and efficient, toward the team’s mission of aligning donors’ interests with the university’s priorities — and they have seen results in significant gifts. Charlotte has boundless energy to adapt to change, find opportunities in it, and help others navigate it effectively. In everything she does, she finds new ways to lift others up, build an inclusive and equitable workplace community, and maximize the potential of colleagues. Thanks to her, the team collaborates more effectively and achieves more for UC Berkeley.
Christine Mullarkey, Senior College Advisor, College of Computing, Data Science, and Society
Christine represents innovation, adaptability, and efficiency as a Senior College Advisor by enhancing student engagement and streamlining advising processes. She led multiple workshops and office hours, saving advising time while fostering peer learning and providing students with admissions guidance. Christine is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive community; she advocates for greater diversity in advising to better support Berkeley’s diverse student body. Her role in the Student Services & Advising Professionals (SSAP-UAW) ensures stronger voices for advising teams and improves working conditions. Christine enhances UC Berkeley’s mission and reputation through her leadership and advocacy, strengthening student services and institutional policies. She is also dedicated to mentorship by guiding new advisors and fostering professional growth. Christine’s collaborative approach enriches the advising community, making her an invaluable asset to UC Berkeley.
Colleen Kohashi, IRB Administrator, Office of Protection of Human Subjects
Colleen Kohashi is a vital resource for the UC Berkeley research community. In her role as IRB Administrator, she supports faculty and students in conducting high-quality research that promotes public wellbeing and contributes to UC Berkeley’s mission of research excellence. Colleen excels at maintaining open lines of communication and sharing her wealth of knowledge about IRB processes, which supports researchers in obtaining timely ethics approval. She works to minimize administrative burdens that can delay projects and impact relationships with external stakeholders. This is especially critical for research being conducted with community organizations and members, who have historically experienced harm from prestigious research institutions. Colleen’s support is integral to our ability to honor the research commitments we make and forge lasting relationships with community partners — a crucial step toward building trust with the communities we aim to uplift through rigorous research.
Dat Le, Executive Assistant Dean, Administration, College of Engineering
Dat embodies an exceptional combination of impeccable ethics, financial transparency, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to student success. Dat’s leadership was crucial in the successful launch of the College of Engineering’s Computer-Based Testing Facility. His guidance, including securing funding and addressing faculty and student needs, transformed the facility from a theoretical concept into a thriving, operational, and sustainable initiative. Dat also partnered with Engineering Student Services (ESS) to secure resources and develop innovative solutions to budgetary and organizational challenges. He supported creative staffing and space solutions to maintain critical student services. His efforts foster a collaborative, inclusive environment for the UC Berkeley’s mission and reputation to thrive.
Diane Erwin, Senior Museum Scientist, Museum of Paleontology
Diane has been an invaluable member of the UC Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) community for the past thirty years, managing a world-class paleobotanical fossil collection and ensuring its longevity and accessibility for generations to come. While Diane has many years of service at UC, in the past three years, she has only ramped up her work. She has taken on leadership roles in three separate and unrelated collections grants, and is managing multiple large digitization grants, coupled with mentoring dozens of students. In addition to maintaining an excellent safety record in UCMP’s labs and collection spaces, these recent efforts have greatly enhanced the paleobotany program at UC Berkeley, leaving a lasting impact that will benefit both the scientific community and the public. Overall, Diane has quietly and steadfastly upheld UC Berkeley’s mission towards advancing knowledge while creating a safe and equitable environment for her students and visiting researchers.
Drew Mason, Information Systems Analyst, Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing
Drew exemplifies the spirit of innovation, efficiency, and mentorship that the Chancellor’s Outstanding Staff Award seeks to recognize. He has modernized the Simons Institute’s technology infrastructure, improving audiovisual systems, streamlining visitor management, and enhancing accessibility compliance. His ability to integrate new technologies within existing systems has increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved collaboration without requiring expensive overhauls. Drew’s deep commitment to mentorship has been equally impactful. Through hands-on, project-based guidance, he has helped colleagues develop IT expertise and problem-solving skills, strengthening the Institute’s long-term capacity. Thoughtful, methodical, and deeply committed to the success of his colleagues and the Institute, Drew is a model of the excellence this award honors.
Florenica Ramos, Executive Director of Administration, The Lawrence Hall of Science
Flori is deeply committed to our mission and applies strategic thinking to her leadership of our administrative infrastructure. Her drive for equity, innovation, and efficiency is critical to The Lawrence’s ability to manage our multi-faceted business, navigate financial and HR complexities, and cultivate a culture of equity, belonging, and care. When COVID-19 hit, The Lawrence had just begun a strategic planning and reorganization process. Flori spent many hours reviewing and analyzing positions and compensation for 150+ staff members, resulting in a plan that ensured equity while improving career development opportunities. Her tireless work and the work of her staff, have had a major impact on both our Lawrence community and others across UC Berkeley. Flori’s focus on equity, her ability to lead others, and her adaptive and innovative leadership capacities, are an inspiration.ahead of schedule, benefiting the entire UC Berkeley community and cultivating professional growth among his peers.
Gina Daly, Director, Federal Relations, Government & Community Affairs
Gina has provided steady guidance during a period of unprecedented turmoil and threat to UC Berkeley’s core mission. Campus leadership, faculty, and staff rely on her to interpret a constant stream of new policies and executive orders in real-time, forecast potential impacts on higher education, and provide expert counsel and guidance. She provides clear, factual, and concise briefings and guides leadership and staff at all levels with a tactful and diplomatic approach, and a sense of humor that boosts morale. Her calm leadership ensures UC Berkeley can proactively plan and react thoughtfully to changes, effectively advocating to lawmakers to safeguard our mission and help prevent budget cuts. Gina communicates clearly about controversial and sensitive issues, always aligning with UC Berkeley’s core principles of community, commitment to fundamental research and academic freedom, and support for our diverse and international community.
James Fong, AV IT Engineer, Research, Teaching, and Learning
James exemplifies excellence through his innovative, inclusive, and collaborative work that directly supports UC Berkeley’s mission. His leadership in programming AV interfaces for over 210 classrooms ensures reliable, user-friendly technology for thousands of students and instructors. He has also enhanced classroom network security and accessibility by advancing a new Assistive Listening System standard, demonstrating a strong commitment to equity and academic excellence. A standout achievement includes James’s implementation of a new Course Capture feature—adding pause functionality across 180+ classrooms. This improvement enhances instructional flexibility, supports student privacy, and streamlines lecture recordings, reinforcing Berkeley’s reputation for accessible, high-quality education. James is also a model mentor. He transformed a complex classroom update project into a collaborative learning experience by developing accessible documentation, hosting tutorials, and offering hands-on support. His inclusive approach empowered staff and student workers—many new to AV programming—to gain valuable skills while contributing to a major campus-wide initiative. Thanks to his leadership, all classroom updates were completed ahead of schedule, benefiting the entire Berkeley community and cultivating professional growth among his peers.
James Kato, Assistant Dean of Student and Director, Dean of Students
James is a beacon of mentorship, leadership, and inclusive excellence at UC Berkeley. His dedication to uplifting colleagues, fostering professional growth, and creating meaningful connections has left a lasting impact on the campus community. Through formal mentorship programs, his leadership in the Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance, and his nationally recognized contributions to advance staff wellbeing, James exemplifies what it means to lead with care. James’ gift lies in his ability to identify, affirm, and amplify the strengths of those around him. He cultivates belonging, empowers emerging leaders, and bridges gaps across departments with authenticity and thoughtfulness. His advocacy for equity and inclusion has shaped policies, strengthened communities, and inspired positive change. James’ compassion and ability to help others see their potential has not only transformed individuals, but strengthened our UC Berkeley community. His contributions make him an invaluable colleague and a true leader in advancing a culture of support and inclusion.
Jocelyn Surla Banaria, Executive Director, Academic Senate
Jocelyn has been instrumental in mentoring Academic Senate staff. Her mentoring and leadership are partially reflected in the most recent State of the Workplace Survey in Fall 2023, which showed that the Academic Senate held one of the top three places for staff satisfaction, demonstrating the ability of the Senate staff to support their work through a series of challenging events over the past six years. Her commitment to inclusive and equitable community engagement is evidenced by the active role she played in creating a set of “Guiding Principles for Resource Allocations in Support of Academic Senate Operations”, which will be adopted throughout the UC system. The Senate and the campus are fortunate to have an Executive Director who inspires others and cares so passionately about the importance of shared governance.
Justin Cocke, Richmond Field Station Superintendent, College of Engineering
Justin has demonstrated exceptional innovation, adaptability, and efficiency as Richmond Field Station (RFS) Superintendent, ensuring the safety and continuity of research operations despite ongoing security concerns. In response to theft and safety concerns, he implemented cutting-edge security measures, including 51 cameras and smart lighting systems, mitigating potential multi-million-dollar losses. His leadership has streamlined tenant onboarding, attracting nearly 20 new startups across 25 buildings, and optimizing space allocations to support critical research. Beyond security and operational improvements, Justin has strengthened UC Berkeley’s mission and reputation by fostering an inclusive research environment for over 1,000 students, staff, faculty, and industry partners. His rapid responses to crises have protected high-profile academic programs spanning multiple schools and research units. He has also played a pivotal role in mentoring young staff and leading the construction of a dedicated student research facility, advancing workforce readiness and STEM diversity initiatives. Justin’s tireless efforts in facility management, strategic partnerships, and student engagement have not only preserved RFS as a vital research hub but have also reinforced UC Berkeley’s standing as a world-class institution. His leadership, resourcefulness, and dedication make him a true asset to the university.
Justin Oliver, Director of New Student and Pre-College Programs, Summer Sessions & Study Abroad
Justin is the kind of supervisor many hope for — encouraging, dependable, and genuinely invested in his team’s success. He has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication in his role with the Pre-College Scholars Program. While ensuring a smooth transition during a pivotal summer, Justin trained an entirely new staff team. He went beyond his responsibilities, offering hands-on support and guidance, all while fostering a psychologically safe and inclusive workplace. He empowers his team through professional development, strategic planning using SWOT analysis, and open collaboration. His awareness of positionality and ability to recognize each team member’s strengths contribute to a work environment where all voices are valued. Justin’s commitment to equity and inclusion is evident in his ability to create spaces of belonging by actively listening, integrating feedback, and ensuring everyone feels supported. His ability to bring people together and uplift those around him makes him an invaluable leader.
Katherine Hom, R&D Engineer 2, Mechanical Engineering
Katherine demonstrates an outstanding commitment to inclusive, equitable community engagement and mentorship through her work in the Mechanical Engineering Student Access Machine Shop. Drawing from her experience as both a student and work-study employee, she brings a unique and empathetic perspective to transforming what is often seen as an intimidating space into a welcoming environment for all. Her creative contributions—including instructional artwork and shop signage—have softened the industrial atmosphere, making the space more accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. Notably, she developed an OSKI-like mascot to communicate safety information in a friendly and engaging way and updated online materials to meet accessibility standards. In addition to her work on inclusion, Katherine exemplifies excellence in mentorship. After the departure of two key staff members, she took on full responsibility for the CNC program, guiding students and staff through complex manufacturing processes. She goes far beyond basic training, developing lesson plans, projects, and homework to support deep learning. Her thoughtful, patient approach has elevated the quality of training in the shop and empowered others to succeed. Katherine’s initiative, creativity, and dedication have had a lasting impact on both the departmental culture and the broader campus community.
Kathy Mendonca, Senior Instructional Designer & Learning Consultant, People & Culture
Kathy transformed the Berkeley People Management (BPM) program by adapting it from fully in-person to a mixed-modality delivery model, incorporating asynchronous learning while maintaining high engagement and satisfaction scores for every workshop. She successfully reworked 20 workshops, prepared dozens of partners to effectively deliver the updated program, and implemented new tracking and evaluation processes. Her efforts resulted in a doubling of workshop enrollment, enabling more of our campus managers to be trained, enhancing policy compliance, and improving managerial success at UC Berkeley. In 2024, 84% of participants and managers considered BPM a valuable investment. During this time, Kathy also launched the BPM Power Skills Series, which packages key BPM workshops into a UC-wide program, promoting people management skills and enhancing Berkeley’s reputation across the UC system. Eleven of our sister campuses and medical centers are now benefiting from Berkeley’s expertise through this new program.
Khuyen Nguyen, Executive Associate Director, Student Learning Center
Khuyen V. Nguyen has made exceptional contributions to UC Berkeley through her visionary leadership, deep commitment to equity, and impactful mentorship. During a critical transition, she stepped in as Interim Director of the Lucheta-Vaterlaus Scholars Program, ensuring its stability and success. She supported 17 first-generation students from historically underserved communities, guiding 16 of them in completing capstone-level research on vital societal issues such as healthcare disparities, algorithmic bias, and the emotional labor experienced by marginalized populations. Khuyen also led the planning of a culminating symposium to celebrate and share their work, elevating Berkeley’s reputation in public service and undergraduate research. Her influence extends beyond student support; she is a trusted mentor to staff, known for offering thoughtful, individualized guidance. Her mentorship of a manager leading a high-stakes Astrophysics collaboration exemplifies her leadership—one rooted in empowering others, cultivating confidence, and encouraging strategic thinking. Through her work, Khuyen strengthens cross-campus collaboration, research excellence, and inclusive leadership. She embodies Berkeley’s mission and sets a powerful example of compassionate, equity-driven, and strategic leadership that advances both individual growth and institutional success.
Lauren Krupa, Director of Student Services, Berkeley Public Health
Lauren is an exceptional leader who continues to positively impact the Berkeley Public Health community. She collaborates with faculty and staff to improve the student experience and uses innovative skills to drive program improvements. Understanding that public health arc benders are shaped by more than knowledge, Lauren prioritizes collaboration to empower students, staff, and faculty. Lauren was pivotal in planning and seamlessly delivering Berkeley Public Health’s 2024 New Student Orientation. She revamped the funding allocation request process for newly admitted students, making it more user-friendly and efficient. She also attentively listens to student feedback and adapts services to meet their evolving needs. Her leadership promotes open communication, teamwork, and inclusivity, which our students embody as they prepare to launch their careers in public health as the next generation of changemakers, innovators, and thinkers.
Lihong Ma, Curriculum Analyst, L&S Undergraduate Studies Division Dean's Office
Lihong exemplifies innovation, adaptability, and efficiency in her role as Institutional Research Analyst for the College of Letters & Science. Through strategic partnerships across campus and deep technical expertise, she integrates complex data systems to illuminate the full student experience from application to graduation. Her thoughtful, inquiry-driven approach ensures each analysis addresses the core issue, empowering leadership with data-informed decisions. Notably, Lihong led the stewardship of $14M in TAS funding for Reading & Composition courses, ensuring 90% capacity across 400+ sections—essential to timely degree completion. Her agile modeling enabled a rapid and successful transition of the Entry Level Writing Requirement assessment to UC Berkeley in May 2023. Lihong also advances Berkeley’s mission and reputation by supporting programs that improve student access and success. Her data analysis was instrumental in the creation and expansion of the L&S First-Year Pathways program, helping identify popular course clusters that fulfill major and breadth requirements. This innovation streamlines enrollment and improves the student experience while energizing faculty engagement. Lihong’s blend of technical expertise, intellectual curiosity, and high emotional intelligence makes her a trusted collaborator whose work is central to evidence-based planning and the continued excellence of UC Berkeley’s undergraduate education.
Melanie Dixon, Business Analyst, Haas School of Business, Data & Performance
Mel is a one-woman superhero at Haas School of Business (Haas). She puts in the time to understand each MBA program’s workflows, which has allowed the program offices and the Haas Registrar to fix problems before they happen, saving hours of time. Her deep knowledge of Campus Solutions and Haas’s homegrown enrollment system has opened the door to innovation and improvements for students and staff. When the Evening & Weekend MBA Program launched their online Flex scheduling option, Mel worked with the team to build a way for students who start online to finish online by getting priority in online electives, therefore meeting the Haas promise to those students. Her work to ensure enrollment success is tireless, but Mel makes it look easy. She is always ready to jump on a call when a problem needs to be fixed because she is committed to student and advisor success.
Rhonda Kinard, Director of Inclusive Alumni Engagement, University Development and Alumni Relations
Rudo is dedicated to organizing activities for historically underrepresented UC Berkeley alumni. She creates impactful events and programs, shares inclusive communications through quarterly newsletters, and advocates for processes that address inequities — ensuring no marginalized communities are excluded. Rudo excels in collaborating with various departments, stakeholders, and alumni to develop holistic programs. She regularly coordinates with stakeholders across campus, as well as alumni volunteers and the Cal Alumni Association. Rudo enhances UC Berkeley’s reputation through events and programs that connect alumni with key members of the community. She also presents at international conferences, leads communities of practice, and forges partnerships with other universities, ensuring UC Berkeley is recognized as a leader in alumni relations, advancement, and DEIBJ.
Sandra Richmond, Director of Administration A.G.E.S., African American Studies
As the manager of the Departments of African American Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, and Ethnic Studies (AGES), Sandy has seamlessly served three units. Her managerial style is the epitome of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Diversity in recognizing how individual differences can enhance collaboration, equity as a foundational principle to an ethic of fairness and care, and inclusion because we are all better and more productive together. Sandy has used her brilliant ingenuity and determination to be the manager that she always wanted to be. For example, she has transformed bland welcome events into festive happenings that everyone wants to attend, and reconfigured physical space into places that invite unscripted conversation and participation. In doing so, Sandy has created a work environment that affirms difference and encourages staff, faculty, and students to see themselves as part of a beloved community.
Shannen Casey, Sustainability Manager for Residential Student Services, Housing & Dining
Shannen has transformed sustainability at UC Berkeley and across the UC system through her visionary leadership and dedication. As a champion of sustainable procurement, waste reduction, and student engagement, she has spearheaded initiatives such as reusable utensil programs, food waste tracking, and the transition to induction kitchens. She has expanded urban agriculture efforts by launching the Anchor House Rooftop Gardens and integrating Oxford Tract produce into campus dining. Beyond Berkeley, Shannen plays a key role in UC-wide sustainable procurement, ensuring the university’s influence extends far beyond campus. Her commitment to student development is equally impactful. By building an inclusive internship program and entrusting student coordinators with key leadership responsibilities, she fosters hands-on experience and professional growth. She has cultivated a strong, supportive community where students collaborate and drive meaningful change. Through her mentorship, students have not only shaped sustainability initiatives at Berkeley but have also contributed to UC policy reform. Shannen’s dedication has solidified UC Berkeley’s position as a leader in sustainable dining and procurement, leaving a lasting legacy on both the university and the broader food system.
Sharon Daraphonhdeth, Director, Student Environmental Resource Center
Sharon is a powerhouse, providing a transformative space for students and staff to come together to create meaningful change in the environmental space on campus and in the local community. Sharon has selflessly served as Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) Director since 2017, where she has cultivated an affirming environment that inspires excellence and has been a mentor to four professional staff and over 140 student staff. Anyone who works under Sharon quickly recognizes her unwavering
commitment to their growth and development, both within the job and beyond. Through her support and leadership, her staff have served as co-chairs of the Native and Indigenous Council, and on multiple system-wide sustainability working groups, Student Affairs Strategic Plan working groups, and more. She is also a fierce advocate for amplifying diverse voices in the sustainability space in UC Berkeley, emphasizing the importance of placing student and community voices at the forefront of local decision-making.
Sumali Tuchrello, Project Policy Analyst, Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Sumali Tuchrello has made significant contributions to enhancing UC Berkeley’s mission and reputation through her exceptional work as a policy analyst. She played a crucial role in the WSCUC Reaffirmation of Accreditation, managing the complex and extensive process. Her work included drafting compliance forms, preparing the Institutional Report, and organizing meetings with campus and external stakeholders. Sumali took on additional responsibilities when the Academic Liaison Officer departed, ensuring the process ran smoothly, contributing to positive feedback from the WSCUC Vice President. Her leadership and precision in project management set a high standard for this vital initiative. In addition, Sumali demonstrates a deep commitment to equity and inclusion through her work on the Faculty Leadership Academy (FLA), a program designed to develop leadership skills with a focus on self-awareness and equity. Sumali has expertly coordinated and improved the FLA, ensuring that the application process and program offerings are inclusive. Her efforts have created an environment where faculty from diverse backgrounds can thrive, fostering community and leadership development. Sumali’s ability to manage multiple complex projects while prioritizing equity underscores her dedication to building an inclusive and effective campus culture.
Tenny Frost, Executive Director, Development & Alumni Relations, Haas School of Business
Tenny has been the heart of Haas School of Business’s (Haas) alumni relations efforts for 31 years, and her recent successes in boosting the vitality of the alumni network have been remarkable. She spearheaded a three-year effort to provide the pandemic-impacted MBA Class of 2021 with opportunities for in-person connection, resulting in 130 events across 18 locations, including networking nights, happy hours, cooking classes, and a class cohort field day. She pulled off an amazing feat: a pandemic class that was overjoyed—many calling it the highlight of their Haas career. In spring 2023, when layoffs hit the tech industry, Tenny mobilized to create a peer-to-peer network to support impacted alumni. Despite budget cuts to events, she partnered with Haas’ DEI team to create programming for shared-identity alumni communities, including socials for Black and Latinx alumni and a Diversity Symposium. Tenny’s dedication and her ability to make everyone feel special—a true superpower—ensuring a thriving alumni community.
Vicki Orlando, Haas Registrar, Academic Planning and Instruction, Haas School of Business
Vicki has demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentorship and excellence at Haas. As the first Haas Registrar, she has transformed operations through innovation, process development, and unwavering support for staff and students. A true mentor, Vicki has gone above and beyond to guide colleagues, developing onboarding plans, creating training resources, and sharing her expertise to strengthen institutional knowledge. Even while stepping into new roles, she remained dedicated to mentoring others, fostering collaboration, and learning. Vicki’s impact extends beyond her team—her data-driven insights have shaped academic planning, budget decisions, and student success. Known for her efficiency, adaptability, and generosity, she is the go-to expert who continuously improves processes and strengthens the UC Berkeley community.