Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Staff Member

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The Trustees' Award recognizes outstanding work and dedication by a member of the staff who supports the mission of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Employees are nominated by their peers, and the Board of Trustees approves one or more winners. Recipients are awarded a cash prize and a plaque in their honor is displayed in the Rubin Campus Center.  

Criteria:

  • Demonstrates a passion for WPI, its students, faculty, fellow staff-members, history, and traditions.
  • Outstanding performer who delivers beyond the expected.
  • Builds community and strengthens relationships.
  • Inspires others with a great attitude and models behavior that has a positive impact on the WPI community. 

Eligibility/Particulars: 

  • The award may be given annually to staff members that attain a minimum of one year of full-time or part-time permanent employment at WPI at the time of their nomination.
  • Previous award winners are not eligible.
  • A maximum of two awards may be made each year.
  • If there is no outstanding candidate in a given year, the award will not be presented. 

 

CONTACT
Location: Boynton Hall
Phone: 508-831-5470
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2025 Outstanding Staff Members of the Year

Lauren Buffone and Rebecca Ouellette

The winners for this year's award are Lauren Buffone and Rebecca Ouellette! Lauren and Rebecca were among 24 WPI staff members from Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Information Technology, and Finance and Operations to be nominated this year by faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduates. The nominees were announced and celebrated during the 2025 Spring Town Hall. Read more in T&I's announcement.

Previous Winners

Name Title Department Year
Joel Harris Senior Instructional Lab Engineer Mechanical and Materials Engineering 2024
Kimberly LeChasseur Sr. Research and Evaluation Associate Morgan Teaching and Learning Center 2024
Matthew Berry Associate Director of Student Development and Counseling               Student Development and Counseling 2023
Nicole Caligiuri Senior Grants and Contracts Manager Office of Sponsored Programs 2023
Colleen Callahan-Panday Director, International Student Life International Students and Scholars Office 2022
Teresa Geddis Executive Assistant I Undergraduate Academic Advising 2022
Barbara Furhman Administrative Assistant VI Mechanical and Materials Engineering 2021
Ruth McKeough Director, Human Subjects Research and Academic Programs Vice Provost for Research 2021
Thomas Partington Machine Shop/Lab Manager Chemical Engineering 2020
William Battelle Events Director Events Office 2020
Laura Rosen Director of Disability Support Student Development and Counseling 2019
Peggy Isaacson Copy Editor, Designer Marketing Communications 2019
Allison Darling Operations Manager Computer Science 2018
Suzanne Sontgerath       Director of Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs 2018
Lisa Wall Lab Manager III Biomedical Engineering 2017
Paul Reilly Executive Director Academic Advising 2017
Michael Dorsey Director of Research Communication Marketing Communications 2016
Rhonda Podell Associate Director of Operations & Director, Math Tutoring Center Mathematical Sciences 2016
Jennifer Cluett Associate Vice President of Admissions & Dean of Admissions Undergraduate Admissions 2015
Margaret Brodmerkle   Administrative Assistant V                                                                  Humanities and Arts 2015
Carol Garofoli Director of Operations Mechanical and Materials Engineering 2014
Wayne Atchue Custodian Facilities 2014