VCU news

By Dina Weinstein

Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health staff who support students and patients – and those who serve their workplace and the larger community – were honored March 7 at the annual Staff Senate Awards for Excellence ceremony.

The Staff Senate represents employees on the VCU and VCU Health campuses, advocating for their professional development and shared university governance. Its initiatives include employee appreciation programs, career development conferences, the annual Awards for Excellence and proposing resolutions.

At this year’s event, Ken Hudgins – who works in the Division of Administration and initiated the Staff Senate Awards program in 2015 – was recognized with an honorary Executive Award for Staff Advocacy. He shared the spotlight not just with this year’s honorees but with the entire VCU workforce.

“Through your unyielding contributions, you have persevered in spite of difficulties and uncertainties. In doing so, you have shaped the future of VCU staff, the university, the health system and, of course, the communities we serve,” Hudgins said. “All of us can stand tall and proud on our record that we offer for the future.”

Senate President Amanda Simmons, who works in the Division of Student Affairs, noted that Hudgins “truly saw the value of what each of you brings to VCU, and we are forever indebted to [his work] creating what will be his legacy of staff appreciation.”

This year, there were 59 nominations in six award categories: Professional Integrity Award, Benchmark Award for New Employees, Guiding Star Award for Career Achievement, Excellence in Customer Service Award, Champion of Diversity and Inclusion, and Executive Award for Staff Advocacy.

At the awards ceremony, nominee introductions were made by Simmons, senate Vice President Maya Rogers (who works in the Office of the Provost), awards co-chairs Andrea Wight (College of Humanities and Sciences) and Stephanie Hart (Office of the Provost), and staff senator Priscilla Clayborne (Office of Finance and Budget).

“It’s really exciting, with each nomination including incredible letters of recommendations and testimonials,” Hart said of the submissions. “It was an honor to read about the impact of all you have on the people that you work with – and how you serve VCU.”

For the two award recipients in each category, the audience heard excerpts from the nominations. Charlean Jefferson, a patient access representative in VCU Health’s Department of Psychiatry, was honored with an Exceptional Customer Service Award and credited the training she received to interact with patients.

“It means going the extra mile,” she said, noting how serving patients and providers helps ensure that her department operates smoothly.

Camille Coy, director for strategic initiatives in VCU’s Enterprise Marketing and Communications unit, was named a Champion of Diversity and Inclusion and said the recognition honors her commitment to helping colleagues be their full selves in the workplace.

“It means supporting them as best I can. It means providing, seeing and valuing them and trying to show others how they can also express appreciation and value for their colleagues,” Coy said. “It’s wonderful to know that the work I do is seen and valued and that people have a positive experience because of the effort that I’m putting in – not just for themselves as individuals but also for teams and our division at large.”

Here are the recipients of the 2024 Staff Senate Awards for Excellence (and divisions where they work):

Professional Integrity Award

Rebecca Collen (School of Medicine / Clinical Research Office)

Mia Liadis (Division of Student Affairs / Recreation and Well-Being)

Benchmark Award for New Employees

Jamie Bittner (School of Education / Office of Data Analytics and Office of Research and Faculty)

Emily Humberson (College of Humanities and Sciences / Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies)

Guiding Star Award for Career Achievement

Sharon Lee (School of Pharmacy / Department of Medicinal Chemistry)

Alma Morgan (VCU Health / psychosocial clinical care)

Excellence in Customer Service Award

Michele Howell (FOIA officer for VCU and VCU Health / Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Charlean Jefferson (School of Medicine / Department of Psychiatry)

Champion of Diversity and Inclusion

Jen Allen (College of Engineering)

Camille Coy (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Executive Award for Staff Advocacy

Nicole Carter (lead nurse practitioner / Division of Hospital Medicine)

Samara Reynolds (VCU Career Services)

Special presentation

Honorary Executive Award for Staff Advocacy presented to Ken Hudgins (Administration)

“For years, you have brought to the table your talents, refined abilities and never-ceasing efforts to make your workplace a better place,” Hudgins said at the ceremony. “We celebrate today our fellow staff members who have advanced the university’s mission … [through] quality service, increased productivity, high ethical standards and, of course, unparalleled successes.”