They were called “an indomitable asset,” “a consummate creator, innovator, and teacher,” “the glue that keeps it all together,” and even a “walking encyclopedia of Harvard knowledge and connections,” but the dozens of Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) staff who gathered in University Hall last week can now all boast of a new title — Dean’s Distinction award winner.“You have revamped our mentoring program to better meet the needs of our graduate students, enhancing their teaching and communications skills,” Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Michael D. Smith told the honorees during the ceremony. “You have worked collaboratively with administrative colleagues, coaches, and departments across the University to build awareness, grow attendance, and generate positive experiences for students and fans attending Harvard sporting events — including the first sell-out crowd for our women’s hockey team. You have embodied the mission of Harvard College by taking time to listen to and counsel students — often well beyond normal office hours — challenging them to have difficult conversations, helping them build a strong intercultural community, and preparing them to lead in a complex world.“You are essential to everything we do,” he continued. “Our faculty and students are incredibly fortunate to have your ideas, your engagement, and your partnership. On behalf of the faculty, I extend my sincere thanks to you.”In all, 59 employees from more than 40 departments were presented with 61 awards by FAS Dean of Administration and Finance Leslie Kirwan at a March 9 ceremony in University Hall.In addition to a number of individual honorees, the awards recognize the work of teams. This year, two were tapped for recognition:The Aurora Teaching Fellow/Teaching Assistant Pilot group was instrumental in completing the first-ever FAS integration between our local system and PeopleSoft and the new Identity and Access Management (IAM) platform. As a result of this collaboration, the system has received positive feedback from end users. The extraordinary effort, actions, and dedication of this group truly assisted in forming the working model and expectation for other functional areas on the roadmap ahead.Dean Michael D. Smith (right) recognizes Adam Aja, assistant curator of collections, and his daughter, Ellie. Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff PhotographerThe Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies Team focused on four strategic initiatives as part of the center’s 60th anniversary — Digital China, Environmental Humanities, China and the World, and Impact and Outreach. In addition to sponsoring digital and environmental postdocs, a digital humanities FAS course, and a new fellowship in Taiwan studies, the team launched a comprehensive rebrand that doubled its online following.Among those who received recognition last week was Economics Department Director of Administration Belynda Bady, who led the Social Science Division’s Culture and Community Initiative, which focused on bringing staff together to improve their sense of community, morale, and engagement.“It feels really wonderful,” she said of receiving the award. “One outcome of the initiative was that recognition is important — for people to say thank you for a job well done goes a long way, and I think what’s great about this award is that it doesn’t just come from your department or your supervisor, but the highest level staff are recognizing the work we do around the university.”For Ann Hall, director of communications for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, receiving recognition from the highest levels of FAS administration was a special honor.“It is always nice to have your work appreciated, but to have it acknowledged by the dean of the FAS is a very special kind of recognition,” she said.Athletics Department marketing manager Andrew Vatistas, who was recognized for his efforts to boost awareness and grow attendance of Harvard sporting events, including the first-ever sell-out of a women’s hockey game, said the award was a much-appreciated recognition of his efforts.“It’s very important [to receive this type of recognition],” he said. “We all get recognition in the Athletics Department from our higher-ups, but it’s great to be able to be here in University Hall and to be recognized by the dean.”Dean’s Distinction 2017 recipients:Adam Aja, Harvard Semitic MuseumBelynda Bady, Department of EconomicsDeanna Behrent, Office of Physical Resources and PlanningJennifer Brown, Harvard University HerbariaLeah Burrows, SEAS CommunicationsJulia Cai, Harvard China Fund and Fairbank Center for Chinese StudiesMark Cellucci, Department of PsychologyPamela Choi Redfern, SEAS Capital Projects and PlanningKathleen Coviello, Department of Romance Languages and LiteraturesDavid Crabill, Harvard College Office of Student LifeHera Daldalian, SEAS Financial OperationsDilek Dogutan Kiper, Department of Chemistry and Chemical BiologyTheresa Dugan, Instructional Media ServicesKerry Foley, Division of Continuing EducationCarla Greenwood, FAS Finance OfficeAnn Hall, Graduate School of Arts and SciencesEmilie Hardman, Houghton Library, Harvard College LibraryWendy Heywood, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHeather Julian, FAS DevelopmentKathleen Lebel, Harvard College Office of Admissions and Financial AidThomas Lee, Office for the Arts at HarvardKrista Lester, Division of Social Science Administrative Support GroupTimothy Letteney, Harvard Museums of Science and CultureBen Marciniak, Office for Faculty AffairsJessica McCall, Division of SciencePaul Millett, HUIT Department of Information Technology Support ServicesWairimu Mwaura, The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race RelationsRebecca Nesson, Division of Continuing EducationKimberly O’Hagan, Department of HistoryPamela Pollock, The Derek Bok Center for Teaching and LearningPatricia Purcell, Department of Chemistry and Chemical BiologyMarisa Reilly, Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesKaren Rynne, Department of MusicCatherine Shapiro, Harvard College Freshman Dean’s OfficeEdward Soucy, Center for Brain ScienceMadeleine Straubel, Department of StatisticsLaura Thomas, Department of SociologyAndrew Vatistas, Department of AthleticsPatrica Vio, Department of GovernmentJon Woodward, Harvard University Museum of Comparative ZoologyAurora Teaching Fellow/Teaching Assistant (TF/TA) Pilot GroupEmily Amendola, Department of Visual and Environmental StudiesDara Greenhouse, FAS Finance OfficePatricia Jenkins, FAS Finance OfficeJoseph Lavin, Department of Chemistry and Chemical BiologyLaura Pascale, Graduate School of Arts and SciencesLauren Raece, Harvard College Office of Undergraduate EducationKaren Rynne, Department of MusicPaula Soares, Department of Visual and Environmental StudiesThom Wall, Department of GovernmentMatthew Wallace, Graduate School of Arts and SciencesCandice Wesson, Harvard College Office of Undergraduate EducationDouglas Woodhouse, Harvard College Program in General EducationFairbank Center for Chinese Studies TeamJulia Cai, Harvard China Fund and Fairbank Center for Chinese StudiesKaren Christopher, Fairbank Center for Chinese StudiesNicholas Drake, Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies and Harvard China FundJames Evans, Fairbank Center for Chinese StudiesSarah Gordon, Harvard University Asia CenterMark Grady, Fairbank Center for Chinese StudiesNancy Hearst, Fairbank Center for Chinese StudiesCaitlin Keliher, Harvard China FundJustin Wong, Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies
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