USM Board of Regents Staff Awards

The represent the highest honor bestowed by the Board of Regents for achievements of exempt and non-exempt staff employees from institutions within the University System of Maryland.

TU Initial Nominations Due December 9!

New criteria for non-exempt classified employees this year! Streamlined submission requirements! Initial nomination letters and position descriptions due by 10 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024.

Award Criteria

For Non-Exempt Staff

The non-exempt staff nominee’s achievements should focus on the impact the individual has on their department, institution, or community within one of the award categories specifically for non-exempt staff listed below:

This award highlights exceptional work specific to their position or department, demonstrated by effectiveness in job performance, resulting in significant contributions to their department's goals.  
Recipients of this award should: consistently meet/exceed expectations, display a high level of professionalism, and set a benchmark for quality and excellence within their field.

This award showcases individuals who have impacted the broader campus community, reaching outside of their department
This could include contributions such as: improving the campus environment, fostering cross sectional collaboration, enhancing student life, or initiating successful projects that benefit the campus as a whole.

This award recognizes individuals who not only embody admirable qualities and behaviors but also actively engage in formal or informal mentoring. 
This person should: embody the values and standards of the organization, inspire colleagues through their actions and attitude, and positively influence the workplace culture.

This award celebrates an individual who demonstrates the following: outstanding collaboration, communication, and support within a team. 
Recipients are those who go above and beyond to foster a positive work environment, contribute to collective goals, and uplift their peers. They strive in showcasing a commitment to the success of the entire team rather than just personal achievements

This award highlights a staff member who has put forth effort to create an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and supported, regardless of their cultural background, ethnicity, gender, or other personal attributes. 
Recipients of this award are those who actively promote multicultural understanding, equitable practices, and a sense of belonging emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in achieving common goals.

For Exempt Staff

The exempt staff nominee's success should extend above and beyond their full-time professional responsibilities, showcasing significant impact on their department, institution, or community. These awards emphasize the quality of the nominee's contributions beyond their position description and the measurable impact of their exceptional efforts within one of the award categories specifically for exempt staff listed below:

  • A creative and implemented approach to process improvements
  • Original idea that contributed to the success of the unit/institution
  • A Staff employee who is in a non-leadership position that provided leadership, team building and/or facilitated a team or project that enhanced the organization
  • A Staff employee in a leadership position that consistently grows their organization by mentoring and growing each of their subordinates
  • Consistently makes a difference and impact in student lives
  • Contributed to an innovative, original idea that implemented and transformed an aspect of the student experience
  • A personal dedication to a project or cause that definitively improved the greater community
  • A Staff employee of the USM community who throughout the employee's career has, in a collaborative and sustained manner, made a difference in the larger community
  • Sustained record of service over a period of years carried out through the individual’s role(s) in the University system rather than as a private citizen

To publicly recognize exemplary ideas that, when implemented, will serve to further the University System of Maryland’s goal to continually increase the effective and efficient use of its resources.  One award from the listed categories may be made for an exemplary initiative that has the potential to be implemented system wide. 

Academic Transformation
Improved learning and a minimum cost savings of $10,000.00
Administrative Transformation
Improved effectiveness and efficiency resulting in a minimum cost savings of $10,000.00

In addition to the existing application procedures, the nominee’s packet needs to include:

  1. A brief description of the innovative initiative
  2. Potential benefits
  3. Magnitude (single/multiple institutions or system-wide)
  4. Effectiveness and efficiency to be attained (including estimated cost and/or resource savings)

Award recipients may be invited to address the Board.

This award salutes the outstanding work of a USM staff member in their ability to build, nurture, and advance inclusion, multiculturalism, and social justice practices within their community.  Their community may be comprised of their internal institutional community, their external institutional community, or a combination of the two.

Review criteria include outcomes, including, but not limited to:

  1. Community engagement in diversity dialogue and education
  2. Examination and modification of current practices of one’s department/institution that supports inclusion
  3. Implementation of initiatives that foster inclusion, multiculturalism, and social justice

Along with recognition, final award recipients receive a $2,000 stipend from the USM Board of Regents and all Towson University finalists are honored by the TU president with a $1,000 stipend.

Eligibility

  1. Any employee or student may nominate a staff employee with the knowledge and consent of the nominee. Staff employees may also nominate themselves.
  2. Nominee must be a Staff employee of the University System of Maryland community, including all Staff employees in Regular and Contingent II status.
  3. Nominee must be employed with the USM for at least five (5) consecutive years and at TU as of October 31, 2024. Recipients of the awards must be employed at TU at the time the award recipient names are announced.
  4. Chancellor, Presidents, Officers, and Senior Leadership are not eligible. At TU this applies to any staff employee ranked as Vice President or above.

Submit a Nomination

Using the links below, download the forms needed to submit a nomination. Initial nominations are due by 10 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024, and must include a partially completed cover sheet, a completed and signed position description, and a nomination letter.

Send all three items as a single PDF document to

Well-qualified nominations will be invited to participate further after review by the TU Staff Senate Awards Committee.

Cover Sheet Non-Exempt Nominee (PDF)

Cover Sheet Exempt Nominee (PDF)

Position Description Form Non-Exempt Nominee (PDF)

Position Description Form Exempt Nominee (PDF)

Nomination Letter Template (WORD)

Past TU Recipients and Nominees

  • Barb Neal (2011)
  • Louise Miller (2012)
  • Steve Kolb (2013) - Recipient
  • Marcie Weinstein (2014)
  • Marcie Weinstein (2015)
  • George Kram III (2017)
  • George Kram III (2018)
  • Julie Leary (2021) - Recipient
  • Jackie Gabrielian (2022) - Recipient
  • Anthony Rosas (2023) - Recipient
  • Laurie Jones (2004)
  • Deborah Leather (2004)
  • Warren Riefner (2004)
  • Angela Rehrmann (2004)
  • Cyndi Zimmerman (2004) - Recipient
  • Patricia Atkinson (2006)
  • Francine Musotto (2006)
  • Jeffrey Klupt (2007)
  • Susan Turnbaugh (2007)
  • Samuel Hannigan (2009)
  • Marilyn Dannefelser (2009)
  • Louise Miller (2010)
  • Gail Price (2010)
  • Donna Guillot (2011)
  • Barbara Hufnagel (2011)
  • Anne Dahne (2012)
  • Jeffrey Klupt (2012)
  • Susan Weininger (2013) - Recipient
  • Felicity Knox (2013)
  • Susan Willemin (2014)
  • Rick Walsh (2015)
  • Jackie Gratz (2016)
  • Karen Fulton (2016)
  • John McKusiak (2017)
  • Teresa Hardin (2018)
  • Teresa Hardin (2019)
  • Debra Phillips (2020) - Recipient
  • Kelly Ward (2021)
  • Bobby Zengel (2021)
  • Felicity Knox (2022) - Recipient
  • Kathryn Knaus (2023)
  • Susanna Craine (2004)
  • Nance Reed (2004)
  • Gail Price (2006)
  • James Spivack (2006)
  • Randy Peaker (2009)
  • James Spivack (2009)
  • Karen Fulton (2010)
  • Bernie Gerst (2010)
  • Bernie Gerst (2011)
  • Gail Price (2012) - Recipient
  • Heather Sorensen (2012)
  • Susan Willemin (2013)
  • Bobbie Laur (2014)
  • Jayne French (2014) - Recipient
  • Bobbie Laur (2015)
  • Randy Peaker (2015)
  • Greg Primrose (2016)
  • Katie Simmons-Barth (2016) - Recipient
  • Greg Primrose (2017)
  • Jackie Durbin (2018)
  • Antwaine Smith (2019)
  • Antwaine Smith (2020) - Recipient
  • Patricial Watson (2021) - Recipient
  • Karen Pottash (2023)
  • Henry O. Jackson (2024) - Recipient
 
  • Susan Willemin (2018) - Recipient
  • Jayne French (2019) - Recipient
  • Jennifer Stano (2021)
  • Jennifer Stano (2022)
  • Mary K. Stapleton (2023)
  • Cynthia M. Baker (2024)
  • Barbara Neal (2006)
  • Mary Leeper (2009) - Recipient
  • Raft Woodus (2009) - Recipient
  • Stephanie Fowler (2010)
  • Patricia Frawley (2011)
  • Mary Mauldin (2012)
  • Tracy Miller (2012) - Recipient
  • Pat Szymezak (2013)
  • Jeffrey Klupt (2013) - Recipient
  • Lisa Simmons-Barth (2014)
  • Jeannie Mauldin (2016)
  • Kanji Takeno (2017)
  • Marjorie Tversky (2019)
  • Liz Shearer (2021)
  • Liz Shearer (2022)
  • Tammie King-Kelly (2024)