VCU news

By Amelia Heymann

Students may have been on spring break this week, but for Virginia Commonwealth University employees, their service was unbroken. So it was a fitting time for the seventh annual VCU Staff Senate Awards for Excellence, which highlighted 10 workers and dozens of other nominees who make VCU a better place to work, teach and learn.

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

Ken Hudgins, a former staff senator who works in the Division of Administration, initiated the awards program in 2015, and at this year’s ceremony – held Thursday in University Student Commons – Staff Senate President Maya Rogers quoted the French writer/philosopher Voltaire in expressing the value of such an initiative.

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well,” said Rogers, who works in the Office of the Provost.

While awards were given to 10 winners, all 63 of this year’s nominees were honored at the ceremony. Each received a certificate and had their names announced. 

“Nominees, you should feel really proud of your accomplishments. It was an honor to read about the impact all of you have had on the people you work with and serve at VCU and VCU Health,” said awards committee co-chair Priscilla Clayborne, who works in the Office of Finance and Budget.

Here are the recipients of the 2025 Staff Senate Awards for Excellence (and their work divisions and positions):

Professional Integrity Award

Traci Garland (Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, managing director) 

Erin Krevonick (Department of Neurology, senior program coordinator)

Benchmark Award for New Employees

Dallas Elkins (VCU Health System, TOC team)

Ann Griffin (School of Business, Business Student Success team)

Exceptional in Customer Service Award

Melissa Throckmorton (Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, director of research development)

Erin Van Vleet (Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, residency program coordinator)

Champion of Diversity and Inclusion

Linda George (Enterprise Marketing and Communications, associate director of integrated services)

Shana Ryman (Human Resources; learning, development and culture Specialist)

Executive Award for Staff Advocacy

Katie Condon (VCU Libraries, digital specialist)

Marcus Johnson (Department of Internal Medicine, faculty recruitment program coordinator)