Caltech Staff Honored at 69th Staff Service & Impact Awards Ceremony

Caltech honored 213 staff members on May 22 at the 69th Staff Service & Impact Awards ceremony held in Beckman Auditorium.

Julia McCallin, associate vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer—who was herself among the 20-year honorees—served as emcee for the event, which honored staff members for their contributions to Caltech's research and education mission. McCallin began the program by reading part of a letter she received from Philip T. Hoffman, Rea A. and Lela G. Axline Professor of Business Economics and History, Emeritus, in which he praised not only the staff within his own division but everyone who makes the Institute work, such as 25-year honoree Modesto McQueen, who works on Caltech's HVAC systems.

"If there were a Nobel Prize for HVAC repair, he and his colleagues would deserve it," Hoffman's letter said.

Charlie Lane, vice president and chief operating officer, served as keynote speaker. "The average tenure for people working in an organization these days is between four and a half and five and a half years," he said. "People circle through organizations pretty quickly. And so, it's pretty remarkable today that we're celebrating some of the anniversaries that we are."

The ceremony honored Caltech staff members who have served on campus for 10 years or more, including 45 years for Michelle Vine, an administrative assistant in the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy. The ceremony also included the presentation of two Institute awards—one honoring individual achievement and another recognizing the impact of one of more teams—as well as staff appreciation awards from ASCIT, the Associated Students of the California Institute of Technology.

Kim Mawhinney, associate registrar in the Registrar's Office, received this year's Thomas W. Schmitt Annual Staff Prize, named for former associate vice president for human resources Tom Schmitt and endowed by trustee Ted Jenkins (BS ‘65). The Schmitt Prize recognizes staff members whose contributions "embody the values and spirit that enable the Institute to achieve excellence in research and education."

Said one nominator of Mawhinney: "Kim is a huge asset to Caltech—one of those core people you can count on knowing the answers, responding quickly and accurately, and always being helpful with follow up. My colleagues and I have really relied on Kim's professionalism and institutional knowledge over the years."

The teams from International Student Programs and the Office of Student Experience received the Team Impact Award, which recognizes "teams that make significant contributions to the work and mission of the Institute," and demonstrate work that has impacted and supported its research or education programs.

Among its many programs that support Caltech students, OSE was honored for the Caltech Summer Ambassador (CSA) program. Together with the Student-Faculty Programs Office, OSE selects, trains, and supports 27 student leaders who welcome non-Caltech students (approximately 350) to the Caltech community and ensure that they have received both support and social engagement during their time on campus.

One nominator wrote of ISP: "Without the help of Laura Flower Kim [associate director, international student programs], I would have not been able to start and finish my PhD at Caltech. I was stranded in my home country awaiting my visa approval when the term had already started, and Laura moved mountains and helped me navigate every tricky situation there was so I could work full time on my degree and graduate in five years with two first author publications. Without ISP and Laura and Daniel [Yoder, international student advisor], Caltech would not have international students that contribute tremendously to the sciences."

The ASCIT Staff Appreciation Award recognizes exceptional contributions of Caltech staff members on behalf of the undergraduate community. For 2024, ASCIT honored Tashiana Bryant-Myrick, director of the Caltech Center for Inclusion and Diversity; Jeni Campbell, options manager in the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering; and Oswaldo Penaloza, sous chef with the Meal Plan Program.

Bryant-Myrick's nominator noted: "She brings a warm and friendly personality to administration by being so down to earth that it feels like you can talk to her about anything. Not only that, but she's gone repeatedly above and beyond for the students she encounters even off the clock."

A nominator said of Campbell: "Jenni does an amazing job of helping students solve any and every problem they have concerning course requirements and conflicts, forms that need to be signed, room reservations for hosting office hours, and so much more."

Penaloza "is always willing to help (especially if something went wrong with a special meal). He always has a positive attitude and is joking around in a fun way, which definitely brings a smile to your face, and because he really cares about us students."

Employees celebrating anniversaries from 10 to 45 years at Caltech were called to the stage during the ceremony. Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum, who himself has been at Caltech for a decade, spoke of the commitment staff members bring to the Institute during his closing remarks.

"It's such an honor to be surrounded by so many indispensable people at Caltech. You really make such a huge difference," Rosenbaum said. "You care. You're committed to Caltech. You understand how your actions will change the world."