Penn’s Models of Excellence program has recognized over 1,800 staff members for their accomplishments since it began in 1999. Now in its 26th year, Models of Excellence continues to honor the people who are the foundation of all we do.

This spring, 51 staff members will receive Models of Excellence Program awards for 2025. The work of these individuals and teams exemplifies Penn’s principles and practices.

During the Models of Excellence call for nominations last fall, members of the Penn community submitted an unprecedented number of nominations. The 2025 selection committee worked diligently and objectively to review and rate all the Models of Excellence nominations and select this year’s honorees. Penn Human Resources is grateful for the 62 nominators and the committee’s time, contribution, and commitment to this program.

Each award-winning staff member will receive $500 and an engraved keepsake.

Award Celebration on April 7, 2025

The Penn community will celebrate the honorees’ outstanding efforts and achievements at the Models of Excellence ceremony on April 7, 2025, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Harrison Auditorium in the Penn Museum, followed by a reception. Interim President J. Larry Jameson, Provost John L. Jackson, Jr., Senior Executive Vice President Craig R. Carnaroli, and Vice President for Human Resources Felicia A. Washington will present the awards on stage.

Learn about the 2025 honorees’ amazing work at www.hr.upenn.edu/models or download the 2025 Models of Excellence Honoree list.

These honorees were selected for their outstanding work in three categories: Models of Excellence, Pillars of Excellence, and Model Supervisor.

Models of Excellence Award

Seven Models of Excellence nominees are being recognized for their creativity, leadership, initiative, extraordinary service, and dedication to cost-effectiveness from among 39 compelling team and individual nominations.

The FAFSA Simplification Act Pilot Team

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Simplification Act Pilot Team educated and trained students, families, staff, and faculty on the impact of changes to the FAFSA application process and federal funding. The team developed and presented educational sessions throughout campus, resulting in a seamless application process for students and families and achieving a positive revenue stream of over $250 million in federal funding for the University.

• Sadia Abarry, Division of Finance
• Bria Boddie, Division of Finance
• Lyndsi Burcham, Division of Finance
• Samantha Corsaro, Division of Finance
• Jeffrey Greenberg, Division of Finance
• Erick Herrera, Division of Finance
• Amy Hooper, Division of Finance
• Joseph Manning, Division of Finance
• Hannah McKeever, Division of Finance
• Lissette Patterson, Division of Finance
• Nicole Soroka, Division of Finance
• Mathias Stangl-Riehle, Division of Finance
• Thomas Stewart, Division of Finance
• Elaine Papas Varas, Division of Finance
• Jodi Wagner, Division of Finance

Diana A. Johnson, Graduate School of Education (GSE)

Diana A. Johnson, executive assistant in the Dean’s Office at GSE, exemplifies dedication as a steadfast supporter of multiple deans. She handles intricate schedules, sensitive matters, and cross-functional projects with grace. A cornerstone of the school’s culture, Diana shares a wealth of institutional knowledge. Her reassuring, approachable presence is highly valued by faculty and staff.

The Joint Research Practices (JRP) Working Group

The Joint Research Practices (JRP) Working Group is a collaboration between the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics (CHIBE) and the Palliative and Advanced Illness Research (PAIR) Center. The JRP develops and disseminates best practices for conducting research that welcomes people from all backgrounds and represents the community we serve. The working group also provides free online resources and hands-on training on how to practice research in ways that build trust, promote fairness, and respect the experiences and contributions of all patients. The goal of the JRP is to make academic research more accessible for everyone.

• Lizzie Bair, Perelman School of Medicine
• Shira Blady, Perelman School of Medicine
• Emma Britez Ferrante, Perelman School of Medicine
• Brigit Joseph, Perelman School of Medicine
• Craig Kwiatkowski, Perelman School of Medicine
• Adina Lieberman, Perelman School of Medicine
• Arleen Lopez Cruz, Perelman School of Medicine
• Adam Mussell, Perelman School of Medicine
• Nirali Patel, Perelman School of Medicine
• Sara Riaz, Perelman School of Medicine
• Jonathan Richards, Perelman School of Medicine
• Devon Schroeder, Perelman School of Medicine
• Conor Shatto, Perelman School of Medicine
• Dorothy Sheu, Perelman School of Medicine
• Jingsan Zhu, Perelman School of Medicine

Leslie M. Levin, Graduate School of Education (GSE)

Leslie M. Levin, vice dean of admissions and student affairs at GSE, has unified all centralized student services under one cohesive umbrella. She has created systems and processes that maintain strong enrollment and provide the highest-quality experience to students. She plays a crucial role by prioritizing a culture of service to ensure that GSE offers students appropriate guidance and support.

Mental Health Co-Responder Program

The Mental Health Co-Responder Program is designed to enhance the University’s response to urgent student mental health emergencies during overnight and weekend hours. The program reduces stigma and potential barriers to accessing necessary emergency care for students in crisis. The team successfully expanded upon the virtual co-responder model to incorporate professional, in-person mental health services to provide a safe, efficient experience for students as well as emergency responders.

• Michael J. Belisairo, Division of Public Safety
• Beverly Carter-Fulmore, Division of Human Resources
• Benoit Dubé, Wellness at Penn
• Joseph W. Ferdman, Division of Public Safety
• Tamara Greenfield King, University Life
• William Melleby, Division of Public Safety
• Nora Nienhagen Greenberg, Division of Public Safety
• Jasmine Owens, Division of Public Safety
• Paige Wigginton, Division of Public Safety
• Derrick E. Wood, Division of Public Safety

Cindy Nguyen, School of Arts & Sciences (SAS)

Cindy Nguyen, an information technology support specialist in SAS, is the go-to person for institutional knowledge and serves as a pivotal member of the knowledge management team in SAS Computing. Cindy has solidified many new standard processes and stands out as an excellent example of genuine dedication to the community. She embodies the goal of helping researchers get their work done.

Bob Paul, Wharton School

Bob Paul, senior director of corporate and foundation relations at the Wharton School, inspires his team to exceed fundraising targets through collaboration, integrity, and strategic vision. His leadership has been pivotal in advancing interdisciplinary initiatives, including Wharton’s AI and environmental, social, and governance efforts. With over a decade of service, Bob’s empathy and trust-based relationships with stakeholders have set him apart, while his mentorship has fostered team growth and development.

Pillars of Excellence Award

The Pillars of Excellence nominees are being recognized for the strong foundation and important contributions of our staff in support roles who are pillars of the institution. Nine nominations were submitted in this category; three staff are being honored.

Anthony DeValerio, Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES)

Anthony DeValerio, chargeperson in FRES, oversees the operation and maintenance of all campus cooling and refrigerant-based systems. He ensures reliable performance across Penn’s infrastructure, which includes two centralized chilled water plants and an extensive 16-mile underground distribution network. Anthony’s outstanding implementation of corrective, preventative, and predictive maintenance strategies has maximized system performance and reliability, which supports the University’s mission by providing a comfortable, efficient, and sustainable environment for learning and research.

Weining Guo, Student Services

Weining Guo, a senior application developer in Student Services, is a driving force in redesigning the technical infrastructure for departments across the University Life division. Her work has drastically increased the capacity and efficiency of the division and improved the user experience for both students and staff. Weining was vital in developing University Life’s account management portal, a critical tool that provides technical access to new and existing staff, automating several essential processes to free up the technical team for other initiatives. Weining has increased the technical security and stability of the University Life division.

Hitomi Yoshida, Student Services

Hitomi Yoshida, financial administrative coordinator at the Penn Women’s Center (PWC), manages the center’s financial activities. She was instrumental in re-engaging the Penn community after COVID impacted PWC’s initiatives, helping create a space where students and colleagues feel comfortable coming for programs and individual support. Hitomi created more leadership opportunities for work-study students, empowering them to organize programming aligned with their passions and the PWC mission. Hitomi also streamlined financial processes to help student organizations revitalize and grow their programs.

Model Supervisor Award

The Model Supervisor category received 14 nominations for 2025. Four are being honored for acting as leaders who serve and other outstanding work.

Edwin Berrios, Residential and Hospitality Services (RHS)

Edwin Berrios, the associate director of building operations in RHS, leads a team that directly supports 6,000 on-campus residents. He is a patient mentor who strengthens the community by promoting well-being and work-life integration. He empowers conversations by encouraging his team to explore ways to better serve our students, families, and peers with empathy and care.

Adrian Madison Cario, Wharton School

Adrian Madison Cario, the executive director of Wharton San Francisco, transformed Wharton’s West Coast campus workplace by cultivating deep relationships and fostering greater collaboration. Adrian empowers their team by creating an environment where everyone feels truly valued and respected. Among other initiatives, they launched the internal Fog Lifter Award, which recognizes colleagues who bring clarity and insight to discussions.

Melissa Kelly, Provost’s Center

Melissa Kelly, deputy managing director of the Penn Center for Innovation, transformed the corporate contracts and licensing teams through comprehensive mentorship and collaborative relationships. She is intentional and thoughtful about how individuals can grow and contribute. Melissa’s strategic vision and dedication have enhanced the morale of her teams and the quality of services they provide to the Penn community.

Katia Strieck, Penn Libraries

Katia Strieck, Goldstein Director of the Information Processing Center and Library Research Annex in the Penn Libraries, is a visionary leader who advances strategic initiatives to build dynamic resources, tools, and expertise that inspire critical inquiry and creative expression. Katia manages change with finesse, ensuring smooth transitions for staff within the evolving landscape of library services. Katia approaches each challenge with a consistently calm demeanor and focus on achieving the best outcome for her staff and the institution.

If you have any questions about the Models of Excellence program or the awards ceremony, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/models or feel free to contact Karen Kille, manager of Quality of Work-Life Programs in Human Resources, at karener@upenn.edu or (215) 898-7729.