May 4, 2023
At the annual Excellence in Management awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 2, the Berkeley Staff Assembly recognized outstanding university staff employees from across campus. The 2023 theme, "Everyday Heroes: Leading the Path to Excellence," paid homage to individuals whose leadership demonstrated and encouraged mentorship, dignity, respect, and belonging. Nominees were selected and evaluated based on three main criteria:
- Intentionality: Manager/supervisor clearly defines goals for team members to strive towards; and creates a culture of inclusion that empowers the team and others to live and work intentionally.
- Raising everyone up (a rising tide lifts all boats): Manager/supervisor increases the overall level of inclusion and opportunities within an organization that benefits everyone.
- Dignity and respect: Manager/supervisor demonstrates dignity and respect to staff, encourages dignity and respect in the workplace.
Of the 28 award recipients honored this year, four are staff members from the College of Letters & Science: Tanya Chirapuntu, L&S Advising; Michelle Fong, Economics; Christian Gordon, Division of Social Sciences; and Isela Peña-Rager, L&S Advising. Congratulations to all Excellence in Management awardees!
"Tanya has not only led her team toward excellence, but she has also pushed through obstacles and created systematic change to build pathways that didn't exist previously." 
"He is intentional with promoting inclusion and opportunities to help everyone feel heard, welcome, and supported. In our regular goal-setting meetings, he looks beyond the metrics. He's focused on our personal growth and empowerment, and often seeks to know what our future career goals are so that he can position our work to help us get there."
"She has shown genuine care for each team member's well-being and dignity that makes us feel heard and our input respected. Michelle always takes great initiative to make each of us feel included and important in our contributions."
"Isela is mindful about uplifting and centering the voices and experiences of staff and students from minoritized backgrounds to promote equity."