Each year, the University honors staff colleagues who exemplify Notre Dame’s core values of accountability, teamwork, integrity, leadership in excellence and leadership in mission, as well as those who make exceptional contributions in a given year, with Presidential Awards.
Presidential Achievement Award Winners
The Presidential Achievement Award recognizes a staff member who, in a manner in keeping with the University’s core values, has accomplished a significant achievement in the past calendar year that advances Notre Dame’s mission.
Sharon Hayward is the lead project manager in the Office of Information Technology’s strategy, planning and architecture department. She is the go-to project manager for some of Notre Dame’s most complex IT projects. Many of the projects she has led impact all of campus and fundamentally change the experience of staff and faculty on a daily basis. Her project management expertise has ensured success in projects that support the academy, administration and IT operations. Her list of successful projects is admirable, and the demand for her talents grows with each effort she leads. Each project demonstrates Sharon’s ability to reach through organizational boundaries in order to build partnerships. She builds trusting teams and keeps the momentum going by bringing a calm demeanor, collaboration and fun to projects. She navigates sensitive situations with grace and positivity, guiding us all to find ways to accomplish the goal. Within the OIT, she mentors other project managers and those who want to grow their skills in this area. Her practical project management approach balances the need to manage the human side of change management with efficient work. Sharon leads through thoughtful influence and nurturing relationships. Her commitment to innovation and teamwork make her an invaluable asset to the University community.
Michelle Murray is the department seminar and events coordinator in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering. Over the past three years, she has significantly improved the prospective Ph.D. student visit day. This includes organizing a faculty-student-prospective student poster session and mixer that has allowed potential incoming students to see how they fit in the department. Michelle has enhanced the use of social media and email campaigns to students interested in the Ph.D. program. She has developed targeted messages with videos and key information to highlight the programming. The department has seen an increase in applications since Michelle began this effort. Her dedication to creating these innovative projects while accomplishing her regular assignments demonstrates her commitment to the University’s core values.
Laurel Quinn is the associate director of operations and policy for the Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), a world-renowned project of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. PAM is known globally for its work in Colombia. On Nov. 24, 2016, the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — Popular Army (FARC/ EP) signed a Final Peace Accord. Written into the accord is a specific mandate for the Kroc Institute to provide technical assistance and monitor and verify the implementation of the peace agreement. For the past five years, Laurel has led this multimillion-dollar grant and managed PAM operations both in South Bend and in the field in Colombia — an assignment that poses significant leadership and management challenges. Currently, under Laurel’s direction, 30 faculty, staff and consultants work on the implementation oversight. Their professional, cultural and linguistic profiles reflect the aspirations of Notre Dame to bring together experts of diverse disciplines and backgrounds to place learning in service to justice. Laurel has expertly managed the administrative aspects of various grants and funding strategies, recently leading a campaign that raised more than $1 million for PAM. Laurel’s leadership has made her an excellent role model that embodies our University’s values.
Presidential Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award Winners
The Presidential Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award recognizes a staff member who has exercised leadership or made significant contributions in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion at the University or in the greater Michiana community.
Roberto Casarez, Ph.D. is the academic technology specialist of the Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT) group in the Office of Information Technology. Roberto is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in the OIT and the broader University. Roberto pursued his advanced degree in learning technologies because of the accessibility and inclusion gaps he himself experienced as a student. He passionately wants to be part of the solution and serve as an advocate for students with diverse backgrounds, helping them thrive and feel at home at Notre Dame. Roberto has been a unifying force in the OIT’s implementation of Yuja Panorama digital accessibility software. This software helps faculty to make multimodal course content to serve students with diverse learning preferences. He inspired the TLT team to go beyond the minimum requirements in the learning management system and has formed an Accessibility Working Group with Panorama to ensure maximal deployment of this powerful tool. The TLT team helped modify the Moreau First Year course content using Panorama in order to achieve a 100 percent accessible rating. Panorama is now being deployed on University websites to give web viewers the ability to customize how they consume publicly available content. Roberto is a valued member of the Notre Dame community who shares his many talents, skills and experience to make us a more welcoming and inclusive University.
Kelsey Forry is the program director for alumni education in the Alumni Association. Kelsey Forry is a true diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) champion, not only in her professional role but in the numerous ways she volunteers her time and talents in support of fellow members of the Notre Dame family. She demonstrates remarkable initiative in advancing DEI within the Alumni Association and University Relations teams. Through her spearheading DEI programs and initiatives, she helps to create meaningful impact and change and raises awareness about challenges and opportunities. Kelsey models inclusive leadership practices and challenges others to embrace opportunities to build a more diverse, inclusive community. Kelsey truly cares about people, and in her role as the alumni education program director with ThinkND, she consistently goes above and beyond to help ensure inclusivity and accessibility to all members of our community.
Leigh Hayden is the director of marketing and communications in DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (DPAC). Leigh embodies what we look for as a leader by bringing a genuine love for the arts and our Catholic mission into all that she does, and by leveraging the University’s mission toward greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Under Leigh’s leadership, DPAC developed a comprehensive DEI statement and set of commitments. She spearheaded a community outreach initiative to deepen DPAC’s relationship with the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and other people of color) community. Internally, she has worked with the directors of programming for the performing arts and the Browning Cinema to amplify BIPOC artists’ voices by bringing them or their films to the center.
Presidential Leadership Award Winners
The Presidential Leadership Award recognizes a staff supervisor who demonstrates the principles of servant leadership.
Andre Bowman is the waste management and recycling coordinator/supervisor for Building Services. Andre exhibits outstanding leadership within his department and to those across campus. His colleagues describe him as a servant leader who is always willing to assist those in need and consistently brings positivity to the work environment. His positive attitude and ability to inspire his colleagues to achieve more than they believe to be possible is appreciated by all who meet him. Additionally, Andre's leadership and operational know-how have been crucial throughout the reimplementation of recycling programs across campus.
Tim Sexton is the associate vice president for public affairs in the Office of Public Affairs and Communications (OPAC) and serves as the University’s primary liaison with state and local government officials, as well as leaders in the local business and nonprofit communities. He has played a pivotal role on many projects in South Bend, including the hydropower plant on the St. Joseph River, the rerouting of Douglas Road, the revitalization of the Northeast Neighborhood, and the Notre Dame Turbomachinery Laboratory. He has, on two occasions, served as interim vice president for OPAC. Tim currently serves as an executive committee board member for the Chamber of Commerce, the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization and the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County. He is a board member of the South Bend Redevelopment Authority, and previously served a variety of other regional and philanthropic organizations. Tim embodies Notre Dame’s values with grace, thoughtfulness and an unbending commitment to upholding the values and teachings that Notre Dame has instilled in him, including that of servant leadership.
Kassie Spencer is the senior director of finance and administration in the College of Engineering. Kassie has had an extraordinarily positive influence on the growth and well-being of the college community, demonstrating the true characteristics of a servant leader by putting the needs of others first and ensuring that all members of the college whom she serves develop and perform as highly as possible in their roles. Kassie has implemented multiple initiatives within the College of Engineering to advance the culture and engagement of staff and faculty including staff appreciation days, staff excellence awards, a Staff Engagement and Culture Committee and annual financial reviews with each department. Kassie manifests and is committed to advancing Notre Dame’s mission by ensuring that our community of higher learning is a welcoming and inclusive community where we can all thrive and contribute our best to advancing Notre Dame.
Presidential Values Award Winners
The Presidential Values Award recognizes a staff member who lives the University’s mission and is a role model who embodies all of the University’s core values.
Steve Banet is the construction administrator in the Office of Planning Design and Construction. Steve’s role on campus has allowed him to participate in project teams that include construction of the Eck Hall of Law, Campus Crossroads Project (Duncan Student Center, O’Neill Hall of Music and Corbett Family Hall), Irish Indoor Athletics Center, McKenna Hall, Our Lady of the Lake World Peace Plaza, Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, the yearly renewal and maintenance of the football stadium, and the new McCourtney Hall Research II Building. Steve’s institutional knowledge of campus buildings and infrastructure has resulted in trusted and unique relationships with colleagues, department managers and contractors alike to formulate a strategic, team-centered framework on every project to ensure success. Steve is a servant leader whose thoughtful approach and work ethic allow him to accomplish each of these projects with extraordinary care and commitment to excellence.
Christine (Chris) Conway, Ph.D., HSPP is the director of the University Counseling Center (UCC) and is an important leader and advocate for student well-being. Throughout her tenure, Chris has been committed to collaboration and teamwork with a number of teams within student affairs and across the University. Chris works closely with University Health Services (UHS) to provide resources and coordinate services between the counseling center and health services to best serve students, no matter where they first seek care. Always willing to innovate, Chris was instrumental in starting collaborative initiatives such as the consolidation of psychiatric services and the implementation of screenings for early identification, as well as the creation of a behavioral health clinical care manager role, who coordinates care between UHS and the UCC. Chris has also been an integral part of the Team Mental Health Oversight Committee, which is a joint collaboration among the College of Arts and Letters, the Division of Student Affairs and the UCC to respond to urgent issues of mental health. Chris’ dedication to collaboration, teamwork and student well-being exemplifies Notre Dame’s values.
Alicia Smith is a custodial crew leader at the DeBartolo Hall. Alicia exemplifies the University’s values and does an extraordinary job as a leader. She is dependable, helpful, trustworthy, accountable and enthusiastic about teaching new skills to her team. Alicia goes the extra mile every day to help her colleagues, often covering for shortages and multiple areas all while maintaining exceptional quality of work and attention to detail. Alicia makes each team member feel valued, regularly recognizing personal milestones and accomplishments. Her dedication to the University’s values are demonstrated each day.
Reginald Troutman is a custodian at the Duncan Student Center. One of Reginald’s most commendable qualities is his willingness to tackle any task with a smile and without complaint. Despite the challenges that may arise in his role, he remains steadfast in his commitment to ensuring that the facilities are impeccably clean and well-maintained for the benefit of everyone who uses the Duncan Student Center. What truly sets Reginald apart is his genuine care and concern for the satisfaction of students, faculty and staff. He consistently exceeds expectations, taking proactive steps to address any concerns and ensure that every aspect of his work is completed to the highest standard. His friendly demeanor and willingness to go the extra mile have not gone unnoticed, and he is a valued and respected member of the community. Reginald’s contributions to the Duncan Student Center are invaluable, and his dedication to excellence embodies the core values of our institution. He serves as an inspiration to his colleagues and a shining example of professionalism, integrity and service.
Originally published by at ndworks.nd.edu on May 21, 2024.