Outstanding staff honored at Models of Excellence award ceremony
Dozens of staff representing various divisions across the University were recognized during the 2025 Models of Excellence event for their exceptional, impactful efforts at Penn.
3 min. read
Audience members clapping, cheering, and holding celebratory signs at the 2025 Models of Excellence award ceremony.
(Image: Allie Ippolito for Margo Reed Studio)
Pom-pom rustles, tambourine jingles, and audience cheers reverberated throughout Penn Museum’s Harrison Auditorium last Monday during the 26th Models of Excellence award ceremony, where 52 staff honorees were recognized for remarkable contributions to the Penn community.
Vice President of Human Resources Felicia A. Washington on stage during the 2025 Models of Excellence ceremony.
(Image: Margo Reed Studio)
“These staff members have earned their place in the spotlight alongside the University’s world-renowned faculty, students, and alumni,” said Vice President of Human Resources Felicia A. Washington. “The honorees not only make research, education, and service possible every day—they show us the power of our principles and the results of our best practices.”
The annual event included a video montage of awardees reflecting on their purposeful, rewarding work at Penn—with their colleagues and supporters erupting in cheer each time an honoree graced the screen. Following the compilation was a “Survivor”-like multimedia intro featuring heroic action shots of award recipients paired with still portraits. Finally, the Penn Glee Club delivered a performance to set the stage and welcome the speakers.
President J. Larry Jameson, Provost John L. Jackson Jr., and Senior Executive Vice President Craig R. Carnaroli joined Washington to present the awards—including Model Supervisor, Pillars of Excellence, and Models of Excellence—to individual and team recipients.
During his speech, Jameson cited Penn’s strategic framework In Principle and Practice, highlighting how the University’s “exceptional and diverse people” anchor, guide, and catalyze all that Penn does locally, regionally, and beyond.
President J. Larry Jameson with Models of Excellence Award recipient Leslie M. Levin.
(Image: Margo Reed Studio)
“I want to take a moment to recognize how essential our staff is,” Jameson said. “You do everything—from keeping the lights on, to laying the groundwork for the big, bright moments like today.”
Washington presented the Model Supervisor Awards, first given in 2007 to Penn managers who excel in service-oriented leadership, encourage their colleagues to lead on great challenges, and strengthen campus and staff community. This year’s recipients were Edwin Berrios of Residential and Hospitality Services, Adrian Madison Cario of Wharton San Francisco, Melissa Kelly of the Provost’s Center, and Katia Strieck of Penn Libraries.
Jackson and Carnaroli announced recipients for the Pillars of Excellence and Models of Excellence categories.
Those bestowed with a Pillars of Excellence Award are noted for their vital contributions informed by Penn’s guiding principles. This award, introduced in 2014, also honors staff for efforts like improving complex processes, providing exemplary customer service, and cultivating positive, collaborative work environments. In 2025, the honorees were Anthony DeValerio of Facilities and Real Estate Services, Weining Guo of Student Services, and Hitomi Yoshida of the Penn Women’s Center.
The Joint Research Practices Working Group on stage with President J. Larry Jameson.
(Image: Margo Reed Studio)
Over 26 years, Penn has awarded more than 1,800 honorees. Washington noted the large volume of nominations received for 2025 and credited the team of Penn leaders and former honorees who make these recognitions possible.
“Last fall, we received a record-high number of nominations, thanks to all the nominators who took the time to share your peers’ stories,” said Washington, who was marking her first Models of Excellence ceremony since taking the helm of Penn’s Division of Human Resources last September. “We are especially grateful for the dedication and commitment of the selection committee, comprising University leaders, as well as former Models of Excellence nominees. They truly rose to the task.”
Speaking to the recipients, Jameson underscored the enthusiastic support from their peers and communities. “Your colleagues have come to celebrate your incredible purpose at Penn,” he said. Audience members held appreciative signs and gave standing ovations throughout the hourlong festivity.
In a nod to University tradition, the Penn Glee Club brought the afternoon ceremony to a harmonious close with the singing of The Red and Blue, followed by an evening reception at the Museum’s Chinese Rotunda.
In Senegal, the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life. With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises, Ph.D. candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar, that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt.
From a desert to an oasis: Penn engages in ambitious greening effort in the Sahel
Students from the Weitzman School of Design journeyed to Senegal to help with a massive ecological and infrastructural greening effort as part of their coursework. The Dakar Greenbelt aims to combat desertification and promote sustainable urban growth.
As part of an undergraduate course, Penn faculty and students curated an Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition of works from the Neumann family’s extensive collection of modern and contemporary art.
The University’s nexus for technology transfer supports researchers in their innovative efforts, from CAR T to mRNA advancements that have dramatically reshaped the world.
