Staff members honored with 2025 Excellence Awards, Collier Medal, and Staff Award for Distinction in Service
On Thursday, June 5, 11 individuals and four teams were awarded MIT Excellence Awards — the highest awards for staff at the Institute. Cheers from colleagues holding brightly colored signs and pompoms rang out in Kresge Auditorium in celebration of the honorees. In addition to the Excellence Awards, staff members received the Collier Medal, the Staff Award for Distinction in Service, and the Gordon Y. Billard Award.
The Collier Medal honors the memory of Officer Sean Collier, who gave his life protecting and serving MIT. The medal recognizes an individual or group whose actions demonstrate the importance of community, and whose contributions exceed the boundaries of their profession. The Staff Award for Distinction in Service is presented to an individual whose service results in a positive, lasting impact on the MIT community. The Gordon Y. Billard Award is given to staff or faculty members, or MIT-affiliated individuals, who provide "special service of outstanding merit performed for the Institute."
The 2025 MIT Excellence Award recipients and their award categories are:
Bringing Out the Best
- Timothy Collard
- Whitney Cornforth
- Roger Khazan
Embracing Inclusion
- Denise Phillips
Innovative Solutions
- Ari Jacobovits
- Stephanie Tran
- MIT Health Rebranding Team, Office of the Executive Vice President and Treasurer: Ann Adelsberger, Amy Ciarametaro, Kimberly Schive, Emily Wade
Outstanding Contributor
- Sharon Clarke
- Charles "Chip" Coldwell
- Jeremy Mineweaser
- Christopher "Petey" Peterson
- MIT Health Accreditation Team, Office of the Executive Vice President and Treasurer: Christianne Garcia, David Podradchik, Janis Puibello, Kristen Raymond
- MIT Museum Visitor Experience Supervisor Team, Associate Provost for the Arts: Mariah Crowley, Brianna Vega
Serving Our Community
- Nada Miqdadi El-Alami
- MIT International Scholars Office, Office of the Vice President for Research: Portia Brummitt-Vachon, Amanda Doran, Brianna L. Drakos, Fumiko Futai, Bay Heidrich, Benjamin Hull, Penny Rosser, Henry Rotchford, Patricia Toledo, Makiko Wada
- Building 68 Kitchen Staff, Department of Biology, School of Science: Brikti Abera, AnnMarie Budhai, Nicholas Budhai, Daniel Honiker, Janet Katin, Umme Khan, Shuming Lin, Kelly McKinnon, Karen O'Leary
The 2025 Collier Medal recipient was Kathleen Monagle, associate dean and director of disability and access services, student support, and wellbeing in the Division of Student Life. Monagle oversees a team that supports almost 600 undergraduate, graduate, and MITx students with more than 4,000 accommodations. She works with faculty to ensure those students have the best possible learning experience — both in MIT’s classrooms and online.
This year’s recipient of the 2025 Staff Award for Distinction in Service was Stu Schmill, dean of admissions and student financial services in the Office of the Vice Chancellor. Schmill graduated from MIT in 1986 and has since served the Institute in a variety of roles. His colleagues admire his passion for sharing knowledge; his insight and integrity; and his deep love for MIT’s culture, values, and people.
Three community members were honored with a 2025 Gordon Y. Billard Award.
William "Bill" Cormier, project technician, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering
John E. Fernández, professor, Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Planning; and director of MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative, Office of the Vice President for Research
Tony Lee, coach, MIT Women's Volleyball Club, Student Organizations, Leadership, and Engagement, Division of Student Life
Presenters included President Sally Kornbluth; MIT Chief of Police John DiFava and Deputy Chief Steven DeMarco; Dean of the School of Science Nergis Mavalvala; Vice President for Human Resources Ramona Allen; Executive Vice President and Treasurer Glen Shor; Lincoln Laboratory Assistant Director Justin Brooke; Chancellor Melissa Nobles; and Provost Anantha Chandrakasan.
Visit the MIT Human Resources website for more information about the award recipients, categories, and to view photos and video of the event.
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