2023

The 2023 Service & Excellence Celebration was held on 1/10/2024. Click to view the presentation slides that were presented during the ceremony. The slides include a listing of all milestone anniversaries for faculty & staff that were celebrated. 

Awards for Excellence

The winners  and nominees are listed below. 

Department of Psychiatry Values Award

Eligibility: All
This award was to recognize an employee that had embodied one of our core values in an exceptional way. This award was open to anyone whose primary work was done in the Department of Psychiatry. 
Five awardees were selected from among the nominations received.

Winners:

Caring: Erin Hughes-Krieger

Inclusion: Syma Khan

Innovation: Joanna Quigley

Integrity: Alyssa Wealty

Teamwork: Meriam Issa

Nominees: 

  • Alejandra Arango
  • Carrie Bourque
  • Carmen Calkin
  • Renee Cassidy
  • Sherry Catell/Kim Weber
  • Antione Currie
  • Christina Cwynar
  • Patricia Dawson
  • Paul Edick
  • Anne Fernandez
  • Gloria Harrington
  • Nicole Hodder
  • Elise Hodges
  • Victor Hong
  • Erin Hughes-Krieger
  • Meriam Issa
  • Syma Khan
  • Amanda Lass
  • Alivia Lawrence 
  • Julieanne Lock
  • Danielle Nicholls-Slovinski 
  • Loree O'Jack
  • Jessica Pierce
  • Anna Pryor
  • Debbie Richley
  • Ahmad Shobassy
  • Karen Smith
  • Kathy Suliman
  • Steve Taylor
  • Joanna Quigley
  • Maureen Walton
  • Alyssa Wealty

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Anti-Racism Champion Award

Eligibility: All
This award was to recognize someone who had championed the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (DEI & A) in a meaningful and impactful way. This award was open to anyone whose primary work was done in the Department of Psychiatry.
Two recipients were selected from the nominations.

Winners: Emily Alfafara and Jennie Jester

Nominees: 

  • Emily Alfafara
  • Carly Brin
  • Elizabeth Hoffman
  • Jennie Jester
  • Annalise Rahman-Filipiak
  • Taylor Schmitt

Research Impact & Innovation Award 

Eligibility: Staff & Early Career Faculty
This award was to recognize a staff member or early career faculty member whose work is impacting the field of psychiatric research in a significant way above and beyond what would be expected for their role. This award was open to any staff or early career faculty member whose primary work was done in the Department of Psychiatry.
Two recipients were selected from the nominations. One award was given to a staff member. The second award was reserved for an early career faculty member.  

Winners: Linda Mobley and Dr. Jessica Riggs

Nominees (staff): 

  • Carrie Bourque
  • Asha Hill
  • Meredith Kotov
  • Kate Lorang
  • Linda Mobley
  • Kristin Mannella
  • Olivia Oates
  • Loree O'Jack
  • Stephen Schlaefflin

Nominees (faculty): 

  • Erin Bonar
  • Soo-Eun Chang
  • Ewa Czyz
  • Jessica Riggs
  • Sarah Sperry
  • Kara Zivin

Excellence in Clinical Service and Professionalism Award 

Eligibility: Staff & Early Career Faculty
This award was to recognize exceptional contributions to the care of our patients. This award was open to any staff or early career faculty member whose primary work was done in the Department of Psychiatry.
Two recipients were selected from the nominations. One award was given to a staff member. The other award was reserved for an early career faculty member.  

Winners: Michele Brown (staff) and Dr. Natalie Prohaska (faculty)

Nominees (staff): 

  • Michele Brown 
  • Kate Bullard 
  • Dustin Curtis
  • Malinda Dobyne 
  • Liz Jewell 
  • Jonathan Marin 
  • Alison Postiff 
  • Lauren Rentschler 
  • Jessica Singley 
  • Joshua Thielker 

Nominees (faculty): 

  • Morgan Bolen 
  • Dorothy Bourdet 
  • George (Cam) Coleman 
  • Tyler Grove 
  • Ellen Keefe-Garner 
  • Natalie Prohaska 
  • Joanna Quigley 
  • Samantha Shaw 
  • Jami Socha 

Impact and Innovation in Education Award

Eligibility: Staff & Early Career Educators 
This award was to recognize exceptional contributions to our department's mission to educate and train the next generation of mental health care providers. This award was open to staff members or early career educators whose primary work was done in the Department of Psychiatry.
Two recipients were selected from the nominations. One award was given to a staff member. The other award was reserved for an early career educator (e.g. Faculty, Social Workers, Advanced Practice Providers).  

Winners: Kenneth Ester, Jr. (staff) and Dr. Nathan Menke (educator)

Nominees (staff): 

  • Katie Bresky 
  • Kenneth Ester, Jr. 
  • Rachel Fogelberg 
  • Fawn Kieliszewski 
  • Karyn Kitchen 
  • Jonathan Marin 

Nominees (educators): 

  • Jennifer Baumhauer
  • Mary Grambeau​
  • Katie Kruse​
  • Nathan Menke
  • Ahmad Shobassy​
  • Carrie Tamarelli​
  • Melissa Webster​

Excellence in Outreach and Public Service Award

Eligibility: All
This award was to recognize an employee who had shown excellence in connecting the public with the department's work or in working within our communities to promote mental well-being. This award was open to anyone whose primary work was done in the Department of Psychiatry. One awardee was selected from among the nominations. 

Winner: Kat Bergman

Nominees: 

  • Kat Bergman
  • Melissa Demarse
  • Will Heininger
  • Nasuh Malas
  • Sheila Marcus
  • Anne Kramer
  • Chelsea Wilkins

Excellence in Project Administration and Quality Improvement Award 

Eligibility: All
This award was to recognize an employee who had made an impact on the department by leading a project or initiative that has improved our processes, allowing us to better reach our tripartite mission. This award was open to anyone whose primary work was done in the Department of Psychiatry. One awardee was selected from among the nominations. 

Winner: Laura Stchur

Nominees: 

  • Simon Austin-Sprite
  • Jacqui Grisdale
  • Gloria Harrington
  • Nicole Hodder
  • Meredith Kotov
  • Kristin Mannella
  • Kamirah Martin
  • Diana Saum
  • Susan Selter
  • Jacob Sierocki
  • Laura Stchur
  • Haley Stevens
  • Jen Sullivan
  • Josh Thielker
Staff & Faculty who received awards and were present in-person at the Rachel Upjohn Building auditorium

Milestone Anniversaries Faculty & Staff

The Service and Excellence Celebration also recognized faculty and staff years of service, dedication, and commitment by honoring them with Milestone Anniversary Awards.

We celebrated those employees who have worked at the University of Michigan for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40+ years. 

We’d like to thank our Psychiatry recognition committee 2023:

  • Simon Austin
  • Kat Bergman
  • Deirdre Conroy
  • Stephany Daniel
  • Jacqui Grisdale
  • Gloria Harrington
  • Tanya Johnson
  • Andy Ludwig
  • Nasuh Malas
  • Alyssa Wealty