Employee Recognition

Employee recognition acknowledges employees for exemplary performance or service. Recognizing your colleagues goes a long way in creating a positive working environment. At Smith, we have a few formal ways of recognizing and appreciating our employees.

Benefits of Employee Recognition

Increased productivity
Job satisfaction
Better employee retention
Better networking opportunities
Positive employee-employer relationship
A healthy, positive environment

Staff Spotlight Award

The Staff Spotlight Award recognizes employees for going above and beyond the everyday scope of their responsibilities. Smith employees can nominate colleagues for recent accomplishments that reflect contributions in the following areas:

Service excellence
Process improvement/development
Problem solving
Fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment
Other (to be described by nominator)

Employees are encouraged to nominate colleagues—inside or outside of their departments—by submitting a Staff Spotlight Nomination Form. Human Resources will review all nominations.

Please Note

The April 1, 2024–March 15, 2025 nomination period has passed. There are two nomination periods annually. Nominations should highlight accomplishments that occur within the current award cycle, which generally spans a full academic year.
Nomination and award timelines may vary slightly from year to year. Be sure to watch for announcements about when nomination windows open.
Employees may receive a maximum of one award per year.
Employees may not nominate their supervisors.
Students are not eligible to participate.

What is a Staff Spotlight Award?
The Staff Spotlight Award recognizes staff for going above and beyond the everyday scope of their responsibilities.

Why is it important to have a Staff Spotlight Award?
Employees feel more connected to the workplace culture when they receive recognition for service excellence. Through a nomination system, the Staff Spotlight Award celebrates achievements and reinforces values and behaviors. Recipients receive a monetary gift shortly after their nominations and are invited to a special Staff Spotlight Award celebration in the spring.

How will nominees be categorized?
Nominees will be categorized by the following:

Service excellence
Process improvement/development
Problem solving
Fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment
Other (to be described by the nominator)

Service Excellence

Justin Allard
Kamlyn Allman
Tina Atkinson
Carie Congleton
Tom Cote
Michelle Daley
Kala'i Ellis
Rhonda Fowler
Raven Fowlkes-Witten
Mary Giles
Anna Goudreau
Martin Green
Erin Grice
Gina Hall
Bridget Hart Martin
Austin Hatch
Regina Hunt
Kate Jamieson
Graydon Kaplan
Clayton Kennedy
Patricia Kingston
Leilia (Lil) Knight
Christina Kuralt
Cameron LaRochelle
Ruthie Lee
Irma Lopez-Gottlieb
James Lucey
Glen Mahoney
Becca Maloy
Scott Marrocco
Paul Matylas
Ann Mayo
Michael McCarthy
John McCarthy
Nora Molloy
Abril Navarro
Megan Nolan
Zachary Parker-Mayforth
Marie Petrie
Kim Philbrook
James Purcell
Susan Rees
Michael Rigali
Laurie Rohrer-Wildhagen
Kaitlin Rooks
Heather Rosenfeld
Eric Sergel
Amy Smith
Thomas Spooner
Caitlin Szymkowicz
Jamie Warren
Sherry Wingfield

Problem Solving

Becca Banach
Sarah Brickey-Nguyen
Deborah Doulette
Andrew Gnatek
Jodi Hoover
Charlotte Ljustina
Mike Makoski
Heather McQueen
Gail Murray
Chris Shea
Sunny Windorski

Fostering an Inclusive & Collaborative Work Environment

Frank Citino
Melissa Jacobs
Oliver Kelly
Lisa Page
Daisy Pereira-Tosado
Kathy Robbins
Marjorie Valdivia

Process Improvement & Development

Jamil Asad-Ubinas
Emily Beaudry
Mairin Brady
Amy Donahue
Ferron Dooley Fairchild
Cristina Guevara
Lucie Mancari
Dan Michelson
Rob O’Connell
Dana Olivo
Allison Page
Suzanne Palmer
Xochitl Quiroz
Brandon Reed
Esther Roth-Katz
Elizabeth (Iola) Sylvan
Laura Tiktin-Sharick
Lucinda Williams

Other

Lauren Correnty
Angelo Pisano
Claire Seely
Hope Watroba
Bena Williams

Years of Service

Smith College recognizes and honors employees who have reached certain service milestones. Awards are presented to employees in recognition of years of service beginning at 10 years and every five-year milestone through 35 years and beyond. Each spring, a special event is held in their honor.

After addressing the honorees, the president presents a special gift to staff reaching their 25th year of service with the college, thereby inducting them into the Twenty-Five Year Club.

All honorees are presented with a certificate signed by the president of Smith College.

55 Years

Leonard Berkman
Theatre

50 Years

Kiki Smith
Theatre

45 Years

Susan Kurian
Campus School

40 Years

Al Evans-Perez
Information Technology Services

Kathleen Eva Gauger
East Asian Languages and Cultures

Donna Rhea Gouger
Campus School

Allan J. Gutbier
Facilities Management

Deborah Haas-Wilson
Economics

Ann M. Mayo
Museum of Art

Joseph J. Menzyk
Dining Services

Robert Jerome Pare
Facilities Management

Phil Peake
Psychology

Valerie Anne Schumacher
Student Financial Services

Allan David Shepard
Dining Services

Lucinda M. Williams
Libraries

Marlene M. Wong
Libraries

Barbara E. Wright
Campus School

35 Years

Ernest Benz
History

Joanne Cannon
Information Technology Services

Paul Cernak
Facilities Management

Christopher M. Curtis
Dining Services

Patricia A. Dion
Facilities Management

Susan J. Haynes
Biological Sciences

Martha L. Knieriem
Campus School

Oeuy Lip-Ross
Facilities Management

Glen K. Mahoney
Libraries

Lori A. McFarland
Dining Services

John Moore
Art

Jacquelyn A. Murphy-Henderson
Facilities Management

John M. Pierson
Facilities Management

Rick A. Rubin
Dining Services

Kathleen Santos
Facilities Management

Carol Zaleski
Religion

30 Years

Frank J. Citino
Clark Science Center Administration

Nathanael Fortune
Physics

Mary Elizabeth Irwin
Libraries

Kimberly Lebron
Career Development

Karen L. LeHouiller
Information Technology Services

Dana Leibsohn
Art

John MacMillan
College Relations

Sheri Lyn Peabody
Botanic Garden

Louise F. Rouleau
Facilities Management

Ileana Streinu
Computer Science

Marea J. Wexler
Alumnae Relations and Development

Nancy Whittier
Sociology

25 Years

Maria C. Aguilar
Dining Services

Kamlyn M. Allman
Alumnae Relations and Development

Tiphareth R. Ananda
Campus School

Bob Andrews
Information Technology Services

Maria Bickar
Chemistry

Tony Caldanaro
Clark Science Center Administration

Ginetta Candelario
Sociology and Latin American & Latino/a Studies

Betsy Carpenter
Alumnae Relations and Development

Floyd Cheung
English Language and Literature

Lynn A. Cocco
Human Resources

Cheryl A. Dellecese
College Relations

Jonelle Dennis
Alumnae Relations and Development

Lauren Duncan
Psychology

Joyce C. Follet
Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality

Jay Garfield
Philosophy

Damian A. Gawle
Facilities Management

Kiki Gounaridou
Theatre

Edna Howe
Facilities Management

Scott Johnson
Athletics

Emily C. Juster
Dining Services

Jeremy V. Kenneson
Campus Safety

Lori A. McKenna
Center for Early Childhood Education

Jayne Ann Mercier
Institutional Research

Ruth E. Morgan
Graduate Programs

Brenda J. Olinski
Registrar’s Office

Kimberly LeRoy Philbrook
Alumnae Relations and Development

Brian E. Subocz
Dining Services

Meg Thacher
Astronomy

Rebecca Thomas
Chemistry

David W. Trott
Facilities Management

Hélène Visentin
French Studies

Tina L. White
Facilities Management

Deborah Wijnhoven
Career Development

Judith Wopereis
Biological Sciences

Pamela A. Wright
Student Financial Services

Nanci A. Young
Libraries

Timothy Paul Zima
Dining Services

20 Years

David J. Belanger
Student Financial Services

Joanne A. Benkley
Center for the Environment, Ecological Design & Sustainability

Michael Byrne
College Relations

Emily J. Dunn
Theatre

Hannah L. Durrant
Student Affairs

Benita Jackson
Psychology

Christina M. Kuralt
Office of the Class Deans

Daphne Lamothe
Africana Studies

Naomi Miller
English Language and Literature

Barry Moser
Art

Ellen M. O’Neil
Athletics

Hayley D. Spizz
Provost/Dean of the Faculty

Atsuko Takahashi
East Asian Languages and Cultures

Valerie E. Thompson
Dining Services

Michael R. Yargeau
College Relations

Tina Young
Student Financial Services

15 Years

Kim A. Alston
Religious and Spiritual Life

Payal Banerjee
Sociology

Jesse Bellemare
Biological Sciences

Joshua Birk
History

Carrie Ann Burgielewicz
Dining Services

Patrick P. Carey
Facilities Management

Yalin Chen
East Asian Languages and Cultures

Carlos J. Cintron
Facilities Management

Annie DelBusto Cohen
Wurtele Center for Leadership

Carie Congleton
Office of the Class Deans

Deanna E. Dixon
Admission

Charles H. Dougherty
Facilities Management

Deborah O. Doulette
Admission

Beau M. Ducharme
Campus School

Brent Durbin
Government

Anita M. Durfer
Dining Services

Sara A. Eddy
Jacobson Center

Kathleen M. Foley
Institutional Research

Makani Rey Freitas
Admission

Chad Gagnon
Facilities Management

Jennifer D. Graveline
Facilities Management

Megan Harding
School for Social Work

Michael K. D. Ireland
Student Financial Services

Julia A. Keller
Information Technology Services

Elizabeth Klarich
Anthropology

Daniel Kramer
Theatre

Robert T. Kopinto
Facilities Management

Mona Kulp
Chemistry

Minh Ly
Institutional Research

Matthew R. Martindell
Human Resources

Paul Matylas
Campus School

Tom Neuburger
Information Technology Services

Elizabeth Pryor
History

Victor M. Ramos Gonzalez
Facilities Management

Dale K. Renfrow
Clark Science Center Administration

L’Tanya B. Richmond
Equity and Inclusion

Abby Lynn Rose
Facilities Management

Peter Sapira
Jacobson Center

Susan Sayre
Economics

Kimberly K. Shea
Facilities Management

Rachel S. Siegel
Provost/Dean of the Faculty

Erin E. Smith
Clark Science Center Administration

Lester Tomé
Dance

Angel L. Torres
Facilities Management

William Torres
Facilities Management

Joel Westerdale
German and Italian

Megan Young
College Relations

10 Years

Jonathan Alamo
Facilities Management

Kate Aloisio
Institutional Research

Amy Altwarg
Alumnae Relations and Development

German Alvarado
Dining Services

Daniel Babineau
Botanic Garden

Christina Barber-Just
College Relations

Mary Barr
Dining Services

Maureen Barry
Alumnae Relations and Development

Nikki Beck
Theatre

Dan Bennett
Information Technology Services

Andrew Berke
Chemistry

Margot R. Bittel
Campus School

Michelle L. Bouley
Admission

Kia Brown
Student Affairs

Ashleigh M. Bushey
Dining Services

Nichole Y. Calero
Libraries

Katya Melissa Cerar
School for Social Work

Daniel E. Chase
Dining Services

Melanie A. Chase
Alumnae Relations and Development

Danuta Czarnecka
Facilities Management

Adam Dubois
Dining Services

Marc Fleuryv
Facilities Management

Laura E. Fountain-Cincotta
Clark Science Center Administration

Simone Gugliotta
German and Italian/Spanish and Portuguese

Kathleen M. Guimond
Facilities Management

Gina M. Hall
Museum of Art

Megan Harding
School for Social Work

Kimberly Hoyt
Campus School

Kim Isabella Jurado
President’s Office

Ashley D. Keedy
Alumnae Relations and Development

Mike Kinsinger
Engineering

Jeannette C. Landrie
Accessibility Resource Center

Hannah Lord
Campus School

Lisa Mangiamele
Biological Sciences

Andrew James Maurer
Art

Steven Moga
Landscape Studies

Elizabeth Myers
Libraries

Madelyn Neely
School for Social Work

Amanda Catherine Newton
Campus School

Travis Norsen
Physics

Jolis C. Ortiz
Museum of Art

Suzanne C. Palmer
Clark Science Center Administration

Beth B. Raffeld
Alumnae Relations and Development

Scott D. Randall
Facilities Management

Angel Louis Rosario
Facilities Management

Barbara J. Solow
College Relations

Thomas E. Spooner
Clark Science Center Administration

Stacey M. Steinbach
Student Affairs

Marybeth Stratton
School for Social Work

Caitlin Brome Szymkowicz
Lewis Global Studies Center

Natasha Tauscher
Dining Services

Judith A. Tierney
Dining Services

Moises J. Torres
Dining Services

Dominique D. Tremblay
Libraries

Tricia A. Walter
Information Technology Services

Camille Washington-Ottombre
Environmental Science and Policy

Nathalie Ann Vaughn
Health Services

Andrew L. Weir
Information Technology Services

Bozena Welborne
Government

Louisa Wimberger
Campus School

Marianne R. M. Yoshioka
School for Social Work

Jacob Zucker
Dining Services

25-Year Club

The 25-Year Club was established in 1958 by Grace Asserson, the college’s employment manager, as a means of recognizing and expressing the college’s appreciation to those staff members—retired and still employed—who had completed 25 or more years of service. Grace retired in 1971 after 30 years of service; she passed away in 1983.

Although we now formally recognize employees with fewer than 25 years of service, this club has a special significance for employees simply by its uniqueness and by the number of years required for membership.

The symbol of club membership is a gold pin that is a replica of the Grécourt Gates (in front of College Hall), with a diamond in the center of the pin. Formal recognition and club membership is accomplished at the Years of Service Awards, held each year.

A group of employees holding signs that say "25" in front of a Smith College backdrop during the 2025 Years of Service reception

Informal Recognition

Besides these formal ways of recognizing people, here are some examples of Informal recognition that you can use to share your appreciation for a colleague’s contributions to your team:

Email on a job well done
Treat the department to lunch
Bring in a special treat (fruit dish, cake, donuts) “just because”
Coordinate a team event (bowling, etc.)
Gift card for lunch at the campus center

Take the time to acknowledge your colleagues today and tomorrow for a stronger future!