Congratulations to our 2026 University of Utah Staff Excellence Awardees!
The final eight Presidential Staff Excellence awardees were selected from a pool of District Staff Excellence recipients by the Executive Committee coordinated by the President of the University’s Staff Council, and approved by Chief Human Resources Officer, Jeff Herring. The Presidential awardees embody the University’s Six Commitments to our Community, and were selected for their commitment and many contributions to both the University and community. To be selected as a Presidential recipient is a very high honor and is a sign that their work is valued by their colleagues, supervisors, and leadership of the university.
All 2026 awardees, including our final eight Presidential awardees, will be recognized at an awards ceremony in November attended by university leadership. Congratulations to our awardees – we look forward to celebrating your achievements in the fall!
Our top eight final Presidential USEA recipients for 2026 are:
Academics & Student Affairs District:
Brian Parrott
Academic Program Manager
UCL English Learning Institute
Administration District:
Ricardo Rodrigues de Souza
Occupational Safety Specialist III
Environmental Health & Safety - College of Pharmacy and Facilities District
Health Academics District
Sophia Friesen
PR Specialist IV
Public Affairs
Taylor Ostmark Beidler
Manager, Operation Projects/Program Management
Pediatric Administration
Hospitals & Clinics District:
Mary Mitchell
Ambulatory Nurse III
Musculoskeletal & Orthopedics Clinic, SJHC
Ireland O'Dell
ICU Nurse IV
Surgical ICU, University Hospital
Samantha Relias
Pharmacy Manager
Huntsman Mental Health Institute
Brian Young
Principle OD & Talent Strategy
Organizational Development
District Awardees
Academics & Student Affairs District
- Susan Anderson, Student Program Manager, Honors College
- Kirsten Macquillin, Designated School Officer, English Language Institute
- Courtney Phillips, Graduate Student Coordinator, Civil & Environmental Engineering (part-time)
- Madeline Rencher, Manager of Early Engagement in Advising, Campus Advising Solutions
Administration District
- Alice Bishop, Post-Award Grants & Contracts Officer IV, HCI Research Admin Department
- Nina Earnest, PR Specialist II, HCI Public Affairs
- Anthony Ferrara, Manager of Procurement Management, Purchasing
- Tara Mleynek, Graphic Designer V, VP for Research
Heath Academics
- Doris Dalton, Associate Director, Utah Physician Assistant Program
- France Davis, APC Medical Director, Psychiatry – Adult Clinical
- Melanie Real, Medical Assistant, Clinical Dermatology (part-time)
- Carmin Smoot, Archivist, Eccles Health Sciences Librar
Hospitals & Clinics
- Junko Fowles, RCSS Supervisor, Patient Financial Advocacy, HCI/HMHI
- Stephanie Gosbee, Nursing Manager, Acute Care Admin, University Hospital
- Kristen Hassan, Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Acute Pulmonary Medicine Unit, University Hospital
- Keri Kubilius, Donation Education Liaison, Organ Donation Program, University Hospital
- Alex Longe, Informatics Quality Nurse, Nursing Quality, University Hospital
- Jane Tumusiime, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Social Services, University Hospital