Congratulations to our 2025 University of Utah Staff Excellence Awardees!
University of Utah Human Resource Management is pleased to announce the eight recipients of the 2025 University of Utah Presidential Staff Excellence Awards (USEA). USEA was established in 1992 to recognize superior service and ongoing contributions by the University’s full-time and part-time employees.
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. To be selected as a Presidential recipient is a very high honor and is a sign that their commitment and contributions are valued by their colleagues, supervisors, and leadership of the university.
Our Presidential USEA winners and all District winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony in November. Congratulations to all of our winners – we look forward to celebrating your achievements in the fall!
Our Top Eight final Presidential USEA recipients for 2025 are:
Academics & Student Affairs District
Jason Atherton
Associate Director, Belonging Cohorts
Student Services
Micah Rollins
Database Analyst
Office of Admissions
Administration District
Jewel Morgan
Administrative Officer
University Neighborhood Partners
Kiera Hamilton
IT Project Manager
KUEN/Utah Education Network
Health Academics District
Janet Hood
Clinical Research Manager
Internal Medicine Administration
Valois Feneziani
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
CON Practice & Comm. Collab.
Hospitals & Clinics District
Alma Estiva
Case Manager
Redwood Health Center
William Black
Advanced Critical Care RN
University Hospital Surgical ICU
District Awardees
Our District recipients include:
Academics & Student Affairs District
- Michaela Paine | Youth Education Program Specialist, UCL Personal Enrichment Programs
- Brett Gaffney | Community Events Program Manager, Bennion Community Center
- Matthew Morales | UU - Student Research, College of Law *part-time awardee
Administration District
- Anna Marsden | Senior Manager, Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination
- Ju-Fen Zhu | Senior Laboratory Specialist, HCI Benjamin Myers Lab
- Whitney Mackay | Executive Assistant, VP for Research
- Carla Lloyd | Patient Research Advocacy Coordinator, HCI Research Administration Department *part-time awardee
Heath Academics
- Jamuna Jones | Social Worker, Chief Wellness Office
- Josh Taylor | Program Manager, PHS - Health System Innovation & Research
- Lisa Smith | Nurse Manager, Pediatric Administration
- Barbara Saffel | Program Manager, Biomedical Informatics Administration *part-time awardee
Hospitals & Clinics
- Brian Hamilton | Project Manager, University Hospital Neurosciences Outreach
- Kara Nazminia | Clinical Pharmacist, University Hospital Pharmacy
- Kaysen Walker | Occupational Therapist, Gender Affirming Care Program
- Lou Negron | Applications Systems Analyst, ITS Clinical Information Systems
- Marisa Hansen | Surgical Technician Coordinator, CNC Operating Room
- Melanie Thelin | Flight Nurse, University Hospital Air Ambulance
- Troy Mangum | Psychiatric Technician II, Huntsman Mental Health Institute
- Lindsey Davis | Medical Assistant II, Pulmonary *part-time awardee