2025 President’s Award for Excellence Nominees

Sherri Albert, HR coordinator for the School of Education, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2000.

Cynthia Ellis, fiscal technician for the School of Education, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Sherri consistently displays leadership and excellence in the quality of her work and her work ethics. Sherri’s attention to detail, knowledge of university policies and procedures, and willingness to go beyond the normal eight-hour business day is phenomenal. She is the ‘go to’ person when I or my colleagues have questions about hiring and/or leave policies and procedures. She never shows pressure if under a deadline and always has a kind word to give to everyone.”  

Melanie Darden, financial specialist for the Department of Computer Science, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2002.  

Deborah Zier, receptionist and program support tech for computer science, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Melanie has an unbeatable work-ethic and commitment to her role in the department. She is adept at handling all aspects of the hiring process for wage students and overseeing their payments. Melanie also excels in managing relationships with faculty and overseeing the ordering of equipment for new faculty and staff. One of Melanie’s strengths is her proactive communication. She regularly checks in with faculty and staff to ensure their needs are met and addresses concerns before they escalate. Melanie is an invaluable resource to everyone in the department, her knowledge of university policies and procedures is amazing, and she is always available to help in any way that she can. Her mentorship and willingness to share her knowledge and provide guidance has had a lasting impact on me and others, making her an indispensable asset to our team.” 

Laura Gazda, executive assistant for the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2023.

Luiz Pereira da Silva, executive director for Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Laura has shown exceptional initiative and leadership, expanding the scope of her contributions much beyond the traditional expectations for the role. Laura was the lead administrator in organizing the first U.S./European cybersecurity workshop, held in partnership between Virginia Tech and KU Leuven, one of the leading universities in Europe. Laura led every aspect of logistics, in close coordination with the team from KU Leuven. This included, among other aspects: negotiation of the venue, organization of the event banquet, interactions with catering, communications with the U.S. Embassy, coordination with the host hotel, devising the agenda, invitations and communication with all participants, support, and master of ceremony duties during the workshop. Her role in the project was a real tour de force that highlighted her unique organizational and leadership skills.”  

Elizabeth (Liz) Gibson, financial services associate for the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2021.

James Smyth, associate professor for the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute (FBRI), wrote in a letter of nomination: “One specific achievement I would like to highlight is Liz’s organizing and centralizing resources for FBRI employees in providing childcare opportunities. This was no small undertaking and was long overdue for our growing Institute. Liz has literally left a legacy in that space as she made working at FBRI so much more feasible and positive for those with young families. Another example of her positive attitude and commitment to FBRI and Virginia Tech is when I was casually asking her about how I should advertise the undergraduate program that I direct, cardioSURF. Remarkably, Liz independently created a spot at the reception for this purpose. I did not ask her to do this and was simply seeking an opinion. Imagine my delight when I came in to work the next day to see a hard-copy display of not just cardioSURF, but all summer undergraduate opportunities at FBRI. Liz was quick to educate herself and be able to field questions on these programs for visitors encompassing prospective students and potential community donors alike.” 

Debra Harry, program support technician for the Virginia Tech Army ROTC, has worked for Virginia Tech since 1991.

Daniel Harrison, Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry, U.S. Army for ROTC Army, wrote in a letter of nomination: “As the only university employee at Virginia Tech Army ROTC, Debra has countless university authorities critical for the completion of the ROTC mission. She is personally responsible for processing approximately $9 million in Department of Defense (DoD) scholarship money into Virginia Tech each year. Debra's amazing impact is reflected by her immense daily contributions and responsibilities. She has been the single most important person in enhancing the image of Army ROTC at this university. Her efforts were instrumental and critical to Virginia Tech Army ROTC being selected by the Secretary of Defense for the DoD ROTC Partnership Excellence Award for the 2022-23 and the 2023-24 academic years, recognizing our program as first of 274 Army ROTC programs in the nation two years in a row, an unprecedented honor in the history of this extremely prestigious award! This clearly elevated the image of not just Army ROTC, but the Corps of Cadets and Virginia Tech as this feat was celebrated nationally by U.S. Army Cadet Command and the Department of Defense.” 

Marcus Haynie, facilities and operations manager for the School of Performing Arts (SOPA), has worked for Virginia Tech since 2022. 

Karine Dupre, associate dean for research and creative scholarship for the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design (AAD), wrote in a letter of nomination: “Marcus’s work and actions have constantly brought positive attention to the university by not only providing an excellent management of the SOPA facilities, but also by demonstrating proactive leadership in anticipating, organizing, and solving last minute problems across teaching, research, and service and during big events. With the new college structure for AAD (2022) and our quest to improve all our research facilities at the college level, I have been specifically impressed by how Marcus provides a methodological approach that displays creative and innovative thinking that helps us reconsider our facilities from a new angle and would help in decreasing the amount of leased spaces. Being a facility manager rarely suggests inventive, creative, or problem-solving approaches to their responsibilities, yet Marcus embraces the latter for the challenges posed by his colleagues, whether they are a theater director or a musician.” 

Kimberly (Kim) Kinzer, business operations coordinator for the Division of Human Resources, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2022.

Sandee Cheynet, former associate vice present for Human Resources, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Kim consistently exemplifies the principle of Ut Prosim. She is always willing to drop everything at a moment's notice to help her teammates, whether it's answering questions, resolving issues, or providing support in times of need. Her humility and quiet spirit are equally noteworthy. Despite her outstanding work ethic and contributions, Kim remains humble and prefers to let her actions speak for themselves. She doesn't seek recognition, yet her work in managing departmental reimbursements, expenses, and ordering consistently ensures that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. She is also a true leader, even though she doesn't seek the spotlight. Through her dedication, hard work, and quiet leadership, Kim inspires others to contribute and collaborate with the same sense of responsibility and excellence. Her example speaks volumes about what it means to lead with service, respect, and humility.” 

Kenneth (Ken) Knott, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) facility manager for the Department of Chemistry, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2013.

John Matson, professor and associate department chair for chemistry, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Combined with the great working relationship and trust he has established with the NMR manufacturers, Ken is usually able to troubleshoot and fix issues without site visits for repair, saving both time and tens of thousands of dollars each year. During the pandemic, he developed protocols for submitting and running samples, several of which became a standard used by many other universities' NMR facilities. By maintaining an outstanding facility and helping researchers use these instruments to make new discoveries, Ken enhances research in my department and well beyond. In fact, his work has gone beyond Blacksburg, Ken 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 facility and helped make Virginia Tech a leader in current NMR best practices.” 

Bobby Polly, associate director of utilities distribution for Mechanical Utilities, has worked for Virginia Tech since 1994.

Nam Nguyen, executive director of energy and utilities, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Not only is Bobby capable, he is willing, always leading the way, and participating in the work with his team. His leadership and commitment to excellence set the expectations for his team and aspire them to do their best, to ‘care and serve.’ Bobby was coached and mentored by his predecessor and now he is doing the same to his team, preparing them with the same stewardship mentality.  Whether he is working in the heat of summer, dead of winter, mud, snow, ice, or the 130 degrees Fahrenheit dark and cramped steam tunnel, Bobby can be counted on to maintain services to critical academic and research activities. His measure of success is to be unknown, serving the university so well that the utility services perform without users having to give them any thoughts.” 

Dreama Price, assistant to the department head and HR coordinator for the Department of Biological Sciences, has worked for Virginia Tech since 1983.

David Popham, professor and acting department head for Biological Sciences, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Dreama projects a calm demeanor and assurance while ensuring that all matters proceed well ahead of key deadlines and in compliance with university policy and procedures. Her smooth handling of all this belies the complexity of a department with 60 faculty members; over 55 administrative, service, and research staff members; and more than 120 graduate students. Dreama is the problem solver for the department head and all other staff. The mix of knowledge, insight, imagination, focus, common sense, and compassion that she brings to any discussion always leads to a clear path forward. Dreama is very approachable and easy to work with. Dreama’s door is ALWAYS open, and she is never too busy to put down her own work to listen and help for any ‘emergency’, whether it affects an individual or the entire department. She stays in touch with every corner of the department and thus knows when attention is needed, even in the absence of someone reaching out. She is the leader in consoling and counseling through difficult times, celebration of good times, and ensuring that all department members are seen and recognized.” 

Gregory (Trey) Smith, second shift lead custodial technician for Facilities Operations, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2020. 

Bradley Lambert, assistant manager for second and third shift Facilities Operations, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Trey’s knowledge of campus and willingness to do whatever is asked makes him a vital member of our team. I can rely on him to handle any type of situation, which results in him being a go-to person for anything that comes up. Trey takes ownership of all assigned tasks and is eager to support our team however he can. Trey is always first to volunteer for any additional projects that come our way. This could be floor care, snow removal, weekend trash collection, or anything that arises across campus. He is efficient in everything he does and always strives to go beyond what is required. In his lead role, he always assists the team regardless of the situation. Trey is very considerate to all team members as well as students and faculty he encounters daily. Employees like him who work behind the scenes every day and are not heard or seen but their impacts are felt by all.” 

Andrew (Andy) Volker, pre-award grants coordinator for the Dean of Science, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2009.

John Morris, associate dean for research for the Dean of Science, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Andy’s expertise and dedication have directly contributed to the tremendous growth in research within the College of Science. His deep knowledge of grant submission systems, agency guidelines, and best practices—combined with exceptional organizational skills—makes him an indispensable member of our research team at all levels. He is always ahead of the curve on funding agency updates and requirements, proactively sharing critical changes with faculty to prevent last-minute issues. His attention to detail ensures that every proposal is complete, compliant, and competitive. This level of dedication is particularly impressive given that Andy processed nearly 300 proposals in 2024 alone. His responsiveness, especially under pressure, demonstrates his commitment to faculty success. In a profession where minor errors can determine funding outcomes, Andy’s diligence can mean the difference between success and missed opportunities.” 

Luke Wilburn, second shift custodial technician for Facilities Operations, has worked for Virginia Tech since 2021.

Bradley Lambert, assistant manager for second and third shift Facilities Operations, wrote in a letter of nomination: “Luke’s eagerness to accept any task makes him an invaluable member of our team. He is very reliable and often called upon to perform in a lead role. I have grown to trust his judgment as I do those with similar responsibilities. Luke is always willing to help a team member and volunteers for any type of project or event even if it extends into the weekend. He is always interested in learning something new and expanding his knowledge of campus operations. It is employees like him who work behind the scenes every day and are not heard or seen but their impacts are felt. I am very proud and thankful to have him on my team. He is an outstanding individual who is worthy of such an honor.”