2024 Award Recipients

At the Office of New Haven Affairs: Sue Cascio

Through her swift and decisive coordination with multiple internal and external partners, Sue ensured highly sensitive research was protected when a major blackout affected a Yale property. This is one example of Sue’s unwavering commitment to providing and maintaining spaces that meet Yale’s unique research needs, making her an invaluable asset to the university.

In Finance: Sarah Gilbert

Sarah’s innovative work has transformed key financial processes at Yale. Her collaborative approach, deep technical knowledge, and passion for continuous improvement have inspired a culture of proactive problem-solving and innovation within the Finance organization.

At the Yale Chemical and Biophysical Instrumentation Center: Brandon Mercado

Brandon helped pioneer the introduction of MicroED at Yale, positioning the university as a leader in this transformative new method for chemical structural analysis. His tireless efforts—building expertise, overcoming initial setbacks, establishing industry collaborations, and securing critical funding—have significantly advanced Yale’s research capabilities.

At the Yale Peabody Museum: Andrea Motto

Through her innovative community outreach efforts, programs for local high school students, and hosting staff community of practice workshops focused on engagement and belonging, Andrea has ensured that the Yale Peabody Museum connects the local community and staff in inspiring ways. The inclusive and welcoming culture Andrea has nurtured has strengthened community ties and enriched the visitor experience.

In Human Resources: Fallon Thomas

As a passionate community liaison, Fallon finds countless and creative ways to connect people and organizations with Yale resources—creating opportunities, building relationships, and promoting engagement. Her visionary leadership and commitment to community service have deepened the bond between Yale and the local community, building an extraordinary and enduring legacy.

At Yale College, the Office of Development, and Procurement: Darice Corey, Kristin McJunkins, Luz Miranda, Cara Moran, Deanna Sciacca, and Daniel Smith

This team launched a groundbreaking career assessment tool, “Designing Your Career,” developed over several years of cross-functional collaboration with key partners both within and beyond Yale. Rooted in innovative design thinking principles, the tool is now accessible to all, embodying Yale’s mission to share its resources broadly.

At the Office of Facilities: Jason Dauch, Christopher Votto, and Matthew Yazdzik

This small but mighty team of Fire Control Technicians works tirelessly to enhance life safety across the university, developing best practices and innovative processes that optimize efficiency and improve support for our growing campus. Often unseen but always crucial, this team works behind the scenes to protect the lives, spaces, and cultural heritage that make up the Yale community.

In Human Resources and Public Safety: Marisa Berti, Earl McCoy Jr., and Nicholas Simons

This team created a dynamic new professional development series focused on belonging in the workplace, connecting staff with a diverse array of experiences, pathways, and perspectives from both internal and external panelists. The significant time, passion, and creativity they devoted to this Future Leaders of Yale series resulted in highly impactful events, as reflected in the moving feedback shared by many participants.

At the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library: Sofia Fertuzinhos, Rolando Garcia-Milian, and Kaitlin Throgmorton

This team’s pioneering role in providing equitable bioinformatics and data support has been transformative, delivering successful training workshops, offering tailored consultations, fostering collaboration, and providing practical tools to researchers at all levels. The service model they created has made them indispensable partners in research, and their leadership in this area has garnered recognition beyond Yale.

At the Yale School of the Environment: Coral Bielecki, Gillian Bloomfield, Trent Cummings, Heather Daly-Haney, Catherine Kennedy, Julia Nojeim, and Claudia Ochoa

This team designed world-class online certificate programs that address critical issues such as climate change and environmental justice, creating a benchmark for online programming at Yale. Their visionary approach, creative engagement strategies, and commitment to sharing best practices have raised the bar and significantly advanced Yale’s positive impact on global challenges.

At Yale Health: Bryan Cretella, Linda Ehrenfels, Anita Lipke, Patrick Roberts, Meghan Rossini, Joseph Serio, and Myunghee Mimi Shim

Leading a year-long initiative, this team reimagined Yale Health’s Infusion and Medication Administration Center to provide more convenient and comfortable patient care by expanding capacity for infusion support and redesigning the care environment. This collaborative effort has generated significant cost savings while exemplifying Yale Health’s dedication to delivering comprehensive, cost-effective care.