If you have questions about the Dean’s Award for Excellence Program, please contact Gloria Alonzo at galonzo@law.harvard.edu.
The Dean’s Award for Excellence recognizes staff members who embody both the letter and spirit of excellence within the HLS community.
Congratulations to our 2023-2024 Dean’s Award Honorees
Samantha R. Burke, Faculty Assistant, Faculty Support Services
Marcus Calegar, Senior Manager of Building Services, Facilities
Alida J. Castillo, Director of Harvard Trade Union Program, Center for Labor and a Just Economy
Olivia Klein, Communications Coordinator, Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs
Caitie Parmelee, LL.M. and Student Affairs Program Administrator, Graduate Program
Kelsey Ryan, Program Manager, International Human Rights Clinic
Tara Townsend, Assistant Director for Student Life, Dean of Students
Prison Legal Assistance Project (Team Award):
John Fitzpatrick, Senior Clinical Instructor for Student Practice
Shanell Lavery, Program Manager
Joel Thompson, Managing Attorney and Clinical Instructor
Award Criteria
In order to be considered for either award, staff members must have a minimum of 1 year service at HLS and be nominated by a current HLS faculty or staff member. Department Heads and Deans are ineligible for the Dean’s Award, but may be nominated for Harvard Heroes.
Honorees are selected in accordance with the following award criteria, based upon the degree of demonstrated excellence and the impact of the honoree’s actions. Strong nominees may exhibit several of the characteristics listed below.
Excellence in…
Collaboration
An effective collaborator works effectively with others to produce positive results. This person may approach their work in the following ways:
Solicits diverse views in completing projects;
Establishes effective partnerships across multiple levels of the organization;
Builds consensus in decision-making;
Shares knowledge or information contributing to group success;
Increases success of team(s) through process of cooperative problem-solving.
Commitment
A deeply committed staff member demonstrates a dedication to their work, which in turn contributes to the vibrancy of the HLS community. This quality manifests itself when an employee:
Demonstrates an intense commitment to provide excellent service to co-workers, students and faculty;
Shares enthusiasm for the School with others;
Maintains perseverance in the face of adversity;
Is known in the community as a reliable go-to person, willing volunteer or good citizen (e.g. reaches out to new staff; motivates others around a cause) who enriches the School.
Innovation
An innovative staff member shows outstanding creativity when confronted with challenges, issues or a need or desire for improvement. One might approach their work in the following ways:
Actively seeks ways to advance beyond the status quo;
Proactively identifies novel, creative ways to improve upon processes or service delivery;
Implements change in a positive manner and strives to ensure its success;
Demonstrates ability to stir the pot for positive, fresh impact;
Approaches problem-solving with a solution orientation.
Leadership
A strong leader demonstrates a unique ability to guide and inspire others, which in turn contributes to the effective and efficient functioning of the School. Both managers and non-managers may possess, and make evident, strong leadership in the following ways:
Inspires and encourages personal and professional development in others;
Builds strong relationships that support a high level of trust and credibility;
Adapts readily to new situations;
Effectively persuades others using keen organizational awareness;
Mentors and cultivates employees, creating a culture of respect that fosters an atmosphere conducive to achievement;
Contributes to the success of an initiative that benefits those outside his/her own department and/or places emphasis on collaboration within and among departments.
Learning
One who ensures that learning is integrated with work, and uses the knowledge gained to improve business results may approach their work in the following ways:
Converts information, business data and processes into opportunity;
Views mistakes as stepping stones essential to further growth;
Promotes transfer of knowledge and influence from person to person;
Recognizes and responds to differing learning preferences and cultivates other’s abilities and talents;
Models an open attitude toward self-evaluation;
Promotes self-direction and empowers colleagues to make decisions;
Celebrates the learning process for its own sake;
Works under the assumption that everything is subject to re-examination and acts on opportunities to implement positive change.
Recognition Advisory Committee
2023-2024 Advisory Committee Members
Sama ElBannan, Harvard Defenders
Lorin Granger, Communications Office
Daryl Muranaka, Faculty Support Services
Anna Pierce, Legal Services Center
Anastasia Tolu, Learning, Experience & Technology
*Gloria Alonzo and Stacey Emerson from Human Resources will assist the Recognition Advisory Committee
Highlights from the 2023 Dean’s Award Ceremony
Previous Award Recipients
2023
Kristina R. Barrett, Dean of Students Office
Charlie Choi, ITS
Lorin Granger, Communications
Courtney McMann, JD Admissions
Melissa Minaya, Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
Vaughn Samuels, LXI
Team Award: HLS Website Project Team
Reem Al-Khalqi, ITS
Rebecca Bakken, Communications
Daniel Coelho, ITS
David Killeffer, ITS
John Klein, ITS
Nathaniel Logus, ITS
Enrique Lozano, ITS
Courtney Majocha, Communications
Erin Michaud, ITS
Julie Vakoc, Communications
2020
Kendra Albert, Cyberlaw Clinic
Carolyn Hubbard, Dean of Students Office
Mark Christopher Jefferson, Dean of Students Office
Laura Johnston, Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation
Mark Lombardi, Facilities
Tammie Lombardo, Information Technology Services
Jocelyn Kennedy, Harvard Law School Library
Gene O’Connor, Facilities
Mary O’Rourke, Learning Experience and Technology
Dianne Ribeirinha-Braga, Dean of Students Office
Liz A. Solar, Clinical and Pro Bono Programs
Phil Torrey,Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program
Maureen Worth, Faculty Support Services
Team Award
Mary Rapala, ITS
Ben Watson, ITS
2019
Lori Adgate, Finance
Carol Flores, Criminal Justice Institute
Daniel Fox, Library, Teaching, Learning, & Curriculum Services
Mindy Kent,Library, Reference & Research Services
Laurie Lower, Dean of Students Office
Susan Salvato, Office of the Registrar
Dana Walters, Human Rights Program
2018
Maggie Bay, Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs
Kira Hessekiel, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society
Catherine Peshkin, Graduate Program
Sheena Prosper, Dean of Students Office
Thomas Robinson, Admissions
Patricio Rossi, Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
Lesley Schoenfeld, Library
Team Award
Jacob Kantzer, ITS
Nathaniel Logus, ITS
Lynne Prevost, ITS
2016
Juliet Bowler, East Asian Legal Studies & HLS Project on Disability
Hakim Lakhdar, Center on the Legal Profession/Executive Education
David O’Brien, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society
Naomi Schaffer, Graduate Program and International Legal Studies
Yvonne Smith, Dean of Students Office
Kirsten Solberg, Office of Career Services
Amy Elizabeth Soto, Criminal Justice Institute
Anastasia Tolu, Faculty Support
Heather Williams, Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs
Team Award
Natasha Onken, Student Financial Services
Rory Placa, Student Financial Services
2015
Lisa Brem, Library
Stephany Doulames, Alumni Affairs and Development
Alexander Horn, Education Law Clinic & Transactional Law Clinics
Mark Kleinschnittger, Office of Career Services
Susan Norton, Faculty Support Services
Nnena Odim, WilmerHale Legal Services Center
Nancy Pinn, Graduate Program
John Slasberg, Harvard Defenders
Ina Spaho, Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs
Team Award
Jacob Kantzer, ITS
Dan Kaplan, ITS
Lin Lee, ITS
Branden Loizides, ITS
Courtney Majocha, Communications
Keith McCluskey, Communications
Janell Sims, Communications
Samantha Timpano, ITS
Julie Vakoc, Communications
2014
Carrie Ayers, ITS
Amanda Cegielski, Faculty Support Services
Nancy Kelly, Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program
Darrick Northington, Faculty Support Services
Catherine Pattanayak, Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising
Rebecca Tabasky, Berkman Center for Internet and Society
Dehlia Umunna, Criminal Justice Institute
John Willshire-Carrera, Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program
Sara Zucker, International Legal Studies
2013
Lee Branson, Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs
