2024 President’s Award for Excellence Nominees

Deborah Bissi, University Libraries’ coordinator of the Northern Virginia Resource Center, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2000.

Nicholas Quint, transportation network manager for Sustainable Transportation, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Debbie's outstanding dedication and exceptional contributions to the University Pass (U-Pass) Program truly warrant recognition and commendation. Her willingness to traverse the region to deliver to students at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington and the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center underscores her unparalleled dedication and commitment to ensuring that every eligible student has access to U-Pass. Her willingness to go the extra mile, quite literally, demonstrates her selflessness and devotion to serving the student community. Debbie's unwavering commitment to excellence is evident in her tireless efforts to go above and beyond the call of duty, exemplifying Ut Prosim.”

Jade Brooks, research administrator for the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2018.

Phaedra Lewis, director of operations for the Department of Mechanical Engineering, wrote in her letter of nomination: “Jade has been an invaluable member of our research team, consistently demonstrating an unwavering commitment to advancing the institution's research agenda. Her role in facilitating and strengthening our grant proposal submissions has had a profound impact on the success and growth of our research initiatives. Jade's collaborative and proactive approach has fostered a positive and productive environment within the research faculty. She consistently goes above and beyond to support researchers at all levels, providing guidance on proposal development, budgeting, and compliance requirements.”

Holly Caldwell, computational modeling and data analytics program manager for the Academy of Data Science, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2017.

Mark Embree, Hamlett professor of the Academy of Integrated Science in the Department of Mathematics, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Holly serves as the program manager for the Computational Modeling and Data Analytics (CMDA) major, the sole staff person dedicated to this program that presently enrolls over 600 students (primary and secondary majors). Speaking frankly, in the summer of 2022 CMDA could not have continued as a viable major without her diverse contributions and tireless effort. Holly demonstrates a highly collegial spirit: she learns from colleagues, uses that knowledge to improve our program, and works creatively to make Virginia Tech a better place.”

Cynthia Gautier, director of business operations for the Department of Chemistry, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2012.

Amanda Morris, professor and department chair for chemistry, wrote in a letter of nomination: “The department’s growth and success are due not in a small part to the leadership of Cindy ensuring that everything behind the scenes runs smoothly and efficiently. Cindy has single-handedly organized the departmental finances so that budgets could be established for recruitment (faculty and graduate student), undergraduate laboratories, and seminar series, to name some examples. Cindy exemplifies employee excellence. The procedures that she has put in place and the team of employees that she has cultivated will continue to leave their mark on the chemistry department’s trajectory, a component directly related to the university’s goal of global distinction.”

Tammy Guynn, fiscal technician for the School of Education, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2005.

Cynthia Ellis, fiscal technician for the School of Education, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Tammy consistently displays leadership and excellence in the quality of her work and work ethics. Her attention to detail, knowledge of university policies and procedures, and willingness to go beyond the normal eight-hour business day is phenomenal. She has been the ‘go to’ person when my colleagues and I have had questions about spending, policies, and procedures. She never shows pressure if under a deadline and she always has a kind word to give to everyone. In her newest role of working with payroll for the School of Education, she transitioned into the role with ease, working endlessly to ensure everything is correct and running smoothly.”

Keith Johnson, senior facilities associate for the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), has worked for Virginia Tech since 2017.

Pamela Stiff, executive assistant for VTTI, wrote in a letter of nomination: “As the senior facilities associate, Keith oversees our facility and infrastructure management, co-leads the university equipment inventory, and provides support for our many visitor groups and events. This is no easy feat, as our facilities include six buildings, 160 acres, and approximately 340 employees. He plays a critical role in keeping VTTI running smoothly. In September, we hosted the high-profile Distracted Driving Summitt with 200 attendees from around the country. The paving around our facilities, which was supposed to start a few weeks later, started the week of the event. Keith put in extra hours of effort to ensure the paving work was completed, but also that our event would have access to all the facilities for tours and demonstrations. Our visitors left with an extremely positive impression of VTTI and Virginia Tech, bolstering our reputation in the transportation field. Keith actively improves not only our work environment but our community; he is a true role model.”

Chad Joines, agricultural supervisor for the School of Animal Sciences, has worked for Virginia Tech since 1993.

Vitor Mercadante, associate professor for the School of Animal Sciences, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Chad contributes to all three pillars of the land-grant mission including teaching, research, and extension, all the while providing daily care and management to over 750 head of beef cattle. Whether it's providing cattle for a last-minute hands-on activity in a large class or supporting extension programs such as workshops or farm field days, Chad approaches every task with a smile on his face. He also represents Virginia Tech in various associations and boards, including the Virginia State Fair, Virginia Beef Expo, and currently serves as president of the Virginia Simmental Association. Chad is heavily involved with our annual student-run cattle sale, "Hokie Harvest," which offers some of our best cattle genetics to local and regional producers and providing students with real-life hands-on opportunities. Additionally, he mentors undergraduate students in the beef unit, contributing to the development of the next generation of agriculture professionals and beef industry leaders.”

Kevin Kish, director of business operations for the Department of Mathematics, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2020.

Michael Robert, assistant professor for mathematics, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Kevin has improved the financial, HR, and IT operations of the math department, as well as the department’s physical infrastructure. The results of these changes have been an improvement in the working conditions and culture of everyone in the department and investments in the department’s competitiveness and visibility. Kevin’s handling of the routine responsibilities of a director of business operations would itself be a valuable contribution to the math department’s work environment, but his curiosity-fueled creativity in solving problems and identifying opportunities is special and deserving of recognition.”

Kimberly Kitts, financial specialist for Agricultural, Leadership and Community Education, has worked for Viginia Tech since 2019.

Tracy Rutherford, professor and department head for Agricultural, Leadership and Community Education, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Kim is a self-directed learner who seeks opportunities to make our department, college, and university a better place to work, develop, and engage in research and education. Kim has developed department processes that have made financial management more transparent for faculty and provided support to plan for department investments in new faculty positions, graduate student support, and facility updates. She is regularly asked to share these processes with new hires in the college or she is sought out by her peers to help them understand new systems, implement new processes, and improve communication with their department faculty. Kim is an invaluable member of the Virginia Tech community through her contributions because she goes above and beyond expectations every day. That dedication is the embodiment of Ut Prosim.”

Kenneth Knott, manager of Analytical Services and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Facilities for the Department of Chemistry, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2013.

John Matson, professor for chemistry, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Ken has a particular gift for diagnosing and fixing instruments, which has allowed for an absolute minimum of downtime across the facility. Ken's ability to problem solve and manage change has been essential in the dynamic environment of the NMR facility serving an extremely diverse user base, where frequent instrument repairs, upgrades, and maintenance are necessary. For many of us in the College of Science, our research is only as good as our instruments allow. Ken enhances research in my department and well beyond by maintaining an outstanding facility and helping us use these instruments to make new discoveries. In fact, his work has gone beyond Blacksburg, Virginia, with his protocols becoming a standard used by many other universities' NMR facilities. To this end, he has hosted several workshops for the international NMR community, including one on running a facility during the pandemic, another on selecting and installing Helium Recovery Systems, and yet another on the Helium Crisis and its impact on NMR facilities. Ken's efforts have brought international recognition to our NMR facility and helped make Virginia Tech a leader in current NMR best practices.”

Roger Link, computer systems senior engineer for the Department of Physics, has worked for Virginia Tech since 1985.

Mark Pitt, professor and department chair for physics, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Roger regularly pitches in to help with more exotic computer needs, including setting up a ‘Mobile Neutrino Lab,’ network and computer infrastructure at our nearby Kimballton Underground Research Facility in a limestone mine, and an offsite telescope observatory serving students and the general public. He is always quick to come up with solutions as new issues arise including during the modified teaching of the COVID-19 period, coming up with solutions to meet new security measures across our broad range of operating systems, and helping our department and college as ‘guinea pigs’ in a recent IT audit that the university performed on the college. In summary, Roger has accomplishments that have positively impacted our students, staff, and faculty in an impressive variety of ways. His consistent excellence and documented contributions make him an ideal recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence. While the clear impact his work has is his greatest reward, I think this is a very appropriate award, as I believe his accomplishments and impact deserve wide recognition.”

Sean Malone, research specialist senior for the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2003.

Matthew Chappell, director for the Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Sean is currently PI or Co-PI on 10 active grants (and four additional grants in closeout) totaling $360,958. He has an additional two proposals submitted for funding for $33,686. Although not a committee member, he coordinates on-site research for two graduate students and has successfully managed entomology staff with ease. He has co­authored one refereed research publication in 2023 (with an additional two manuscripts accepted in 2024), co-authored four refereed extension publications in 2023-24, and presented at five grower association statewide meetings, several county-level Virginia Cooperative Extension meetings, and Tidewater AREC field day events to over 1,000 stakeholders. He has contributed to social media posts, developed YouTube videos directed at stakeholders and spoken to high-school students visiting Tidewater AREC. He has served effectively as a Virginia Tech faculty member for the last year, despite being classified as staff.”

Travis Quesenberry, pesticide application technician for Facilities Operations, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2014.  

Jon Clark Teglas, chief of staff for the Vice President for Campus, Planning, and Facilities, wrote in a letter of nomination: “The impact of Travis’s work extends far beyond the visual appeal of our campus. His efforts directly support outdoor spaces that facilitate the unique ‘sense of place’ that is synonymous with Virginia Tech. By ensuring the completion of critical grounds-related tasks, Travis plays a pivotal role in maintaining a safe, welcoming, and conducive environment for all. Travis's collaborative spirit fosters a sense of unity and purpose within his team, leading to increased productivity, morale, and camaraderie. Travis's leadership and support empower his colleagues to achieve their full potential and contribute meaningfully to our shared goals as a division providing facilities and infrastructure support to a complex institution. Travis has modeled a mindset of resilience, adaptability, and action. When called upon, he stepped up. His actions not only sustained this critical team over an extended time, but also elevated their impact, reflecting the Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) spirit fundamental to Virginia Tech's identity.”

Stacey Ratcliffe, business operations manager for the Department of Chemical Engineering, has worked for Virginia Tech since 1998.

Steven Wrenn, department head for chemical engineering, wrote in a letter of nomination: “On the staffing side, Stacey conceived and implemented a complete staff re-structuring that maximized employees’ strengths and interests. This staff restructuring has greatly streamlined the way we do business while reducing frustration and stress among staff. Stacey is a problem solver. Another example of this pertains to a centralized liquid nitrogen system that serves Goodwin Hall. In the summer of 2023, there was a near accident relating to dispensing from the main tank outside Goodwin Hall into a portable dewar. Stacey sprung into action by collecting keys from all users who had access to the main tank and then coordinating with our laboratory safety manager to ensure that everyone with key access had up-to-date training; separately, the liquid nitrogen supplier was brought in to ensure that the system was working properly. It is quite possible that Stacey’s action will prevent potential future accidents and avoid serious injuries.”

Melissa Vidmar, communications and marketing specialist for the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, has worked for Virginia Tech since 1998.

Matthew Holt, professor and department head for agricultural and applied economics, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Melissa updated and streamlined the department's webpage. She implemented a plan to systematically spotlight our alums, interviewing them and creating a focused series on our webpage. Melissa launched a quarterly newsletter highlighting notable activities in the department – a newsletter now broadly circulated. She developed and implemented a viable marketing strategy for our nascent online M.S. program. From the start, Melissa has been an active member of the department's Bridge Experience committee. She has elevated corporate engagement – Melissa was instrumental in the department launching a successful college-wide career fair in 2022. She has promoted the creation of a departmental Young Alumni Council, which is now coming together. Over the past two years, visits to the department’s webpage have nearly doubled, and our social media followers have increased by 32 percent. We have had 23 stories in Virginia Tech News highlighting our program and nearly 50 altogether. She initiated articulation agreements for 4+1 programs with Radford University and Roanoke College. We have increased applications to the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Melissa constantly looks for opportunities to contribute more broadly. Last year, she asked if she could serve on the communications team focused on the Virginia Tech Advantage.”