Congratulate UVA's OCA winners for 2025!

For more than two decades, Sherri Baker has exemplified UVA’s core values of dedication, integrity, compassion, and excellence in service. Her work has shaped the culture of support within faculty affairs and left a lasting impact on colleagues and thousands of faculty members.

Since 2002, Sherri has been the primary steward of the promotion and tenure process, ensuring accuracy and fairness for approximately 250 faculty members each year. She has provided invaluable support to every Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, guiding them with deep institutional knowledge and collaborative spirit. As Dr. Sharon Hostler reflected, “Sherri gently guided me through the labyrinthine processes… At all times, she mentored me with kindness and authority.”

Her leadership extended to launching UVA’s first institution-wide New Faculty Orientation in 2009, supporting faculty development programs that engaged over a thousand faculty annually, and coordinating major academic events and awards. Beyond her formal responsibilities, Sherri is a mentor, role model, and steady presence whose calm, thoughtful approach inspires confidence and community.
Sherri’s behind-the-scenes contributions have been critical to advancing UVA’s mission, making her truly deserving of this recognition.

Samantha “Sam” Bryant, PhD, the award setup manager in the Office of Sponsored Programs, was nominated for her exceptional leadership, dedication to service, and transformative impact on research administration at UVA. Sam consistently goes beyond expectations, demonstrating a deep commitment to improving processes, supporting colleagues, and strengthening the University’s research enterprise.

As manager of the Award Setup team, she has streamlined complex operations and significantly improved efficiency across the research administration workflow. She developed comprehensive procedure manuals and quality control checklists that have reduced award setup time by 26% and modification processing time by 40%, ensuring timely and accurate management of more than 1,000 active research projects. These resources not only improve accuracy but also make intricate processes easier for both new and experienced administrators to navigate.

Sam’s leadership extends far beyond process improvements. She mentors her team through weekly office hours, individualized training, and professional development opportunities, fostering a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture. Her colleagues note that “Sam’s guidance makes challenging work feel manageable and inspires us to excel,” reflecting the respect and appreciation she has earned.

Most recently, Sam shared her expertise nationally by co-presenting at the SRAI (Society of Research Administration International) Conference, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing the profession and strengthening research administration as a whole.

Nic Miceli was nominated for her tireless commitment to improving employee access to family services. In a region facing a childcare shortage of more than 8,000 slots, Nic’s leadership has brought meaningful change to families balancing the demands of work and caregiving.

As program lead, she has expanded access to childcare services in Charlottesville, streamlined and consolidated application processes across multiple centers, opened access to the Virginia childcare subsidy with local providers, and coordinated the launch of a new childcare center to increase capacity. Beyond childcare, Nic has also raised awareness of elder care resources available through UVA, ensuring support for employees with caregiving responsibilities across generations.

Her work reflects stewardship, professionalism, and empathy. As one colleague shared, “Nic’s leadership has had a direct impact on the quality of life for employees and their families, while strengthening UVA as a workplace.”

By harnessing untapped resources and advocating for equitable access, Nic has not only supported individual families but also enhanced UVA’s ability to retain and engage its workforce. Her efforts are both timely and essential, making her a deserving nominee for this honor.

For more than three decades, Trudy Tucker has been a steady light in the University of Virginia community, embodying the values of service, integrity, and care. From her early days in the Bursar’s Office to her current role as Assistant Director of Student Finance, Trudy has consistently bridged professionalism with humanity, shaping the culture of Student Financial Services.

Her accomplishments are both remarkable and enduring. During the height of the pandemic, she volunteered to be on Grounds daily, often the only staff member present, ensuring students and families received care when the world felt uncertain. She stepped in to lead the Contact Center during a leadership gap, balancing those duties with her full-time role. Most notably, she oversaw the complex closeout of UVA’s Perkins Loan Fund, coordinating across seven decades of records and multiple agencies with precision and compassion.

Trudy’s impact extends beyond her formal responsibilities. She created a food pantry in Carruthers Hall to support students facing food insecurity and launched the “red cup” initiative to help students clear small balances that might otherwise prevent graduation. As one colleague shared, “She transforms institutional processes into human experiences, making UVA feel like home.”

Her constancy, compassion, and quiet excellence make her a truly deserving nominee for the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award.

For more than 17 years, Tim White has been a steady and trusted resource across the University of Virginia, exemplifying the values of excellence, integrity, and compassion. Known as UVA’s go-to expert on employment-based immigration, Tim consistently exceeds expectations by offering personalized, expert-level guidance to faculty, staff, and departments across Grounds.

His impact is profound. He has supported faculty recruitment through complex visa cases, facilitated the hiring of more than 120 international nurses for UVA Health, and guided postdoctoral researchers whose specialized work strengthens the University’s mission. During recent national immigration policy changes, Tim advised University leadership—including the President—on the implications of a new $100K annual H-1B fee, ensuring UVA remained compliant and prepared.

Colleagues describe him as someone who “always goes the extra mile to find creative solutions, even in the most unpredictable cases.” His professionalism and compassion reassure new hires that UVA is a welcoming community, directly enhancing the University’s ability to recruit and retain global talent.

Tim’s influence extends beyond UVA, with other institutions seeking his expertise. His calm demeanor, strategic foresight, and unwavering dedication make him a truly deserving nominee for the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award.

Sally LeBeau has been a steadfast presence at UVA Health for nearly three decades, embodying the values of honesty, hard work, and care. A true “UVA Lifer,” Sally currently serves as Director of Support Services and the Patient Experience Office, where her leadership continues to shape the culture of compassionate care.

Throughout her career, Sally has spearheaded initiatives that improved both operations and patient satisfaction. She enhanced interpretation services by developing medical language proficiency testing and training, streamlined parking operations to save $500K annually, and re-established the Patient & Family Advisory Council to ensure diverse voices inform system improvements. Her leadership also raised patient food experience scores from the 35th to the 66th percentile through Lean methodologies and Gemba rounding.

Most recently, Sally negotiated cafeteria discounts and healthy vending options for nearly 900 GME trainees, demonstrating her commitment to supporting those who serve UVA Health daily. Colleagues note that “Sally is motivated not by recognition, but by doing what is right in every situation.”

Her humility, consistency, and quiet excellence make her a trusted colleague and a deserving nominee for this award.

Heather Holland, social worker at UVA Pediatrics in Orange, exemplifies the values of compassion, service, and dedication. Serving a largely rural and disadvantaged pediatric population, Heather has become an essential partner in connecting families to vital community resources and providing counseling for children struggling with anxiety, depression, and other challenges.

Her daily commitment is evident—she rounds with clinicians each morning to anticipate patient needs and checks in personally with families to ensure ongoing support. Beyond her counseling work, Heather has led the creation of a clinic-based food pantry to address food insecurity affecting 12% of patients. She secured $19,500 in grant funding, partnered with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, and organized a community advisory board to guide the initiative.

Colleagues note that “Heather’s positive ‘can do’ attitude and willingness to tackle difficult issues really shapes our clinic’s work.” Her leadership ensures that every child who enters the clinic will have access to food and resources before they leave, reinforcing the message that UVA Pediatrics at Orange genuinely cares for its families.
Heather’s tireless efforts strengthen both patient well-being and the clinic’s mission, making her a deserving nominee for recognition.

For more than two decades, Reba Moyer Childress has embodied UVA’s values of excellence, service, and innovation through her leadership as Nursing Professional Development Specialist and Clinical Leader. Her work has transformed professional development at UVA Health, creating welcoming, efficient, and high-impact learning environments for hundreds of clinicians and new hires. Colleagues affirm that “Reba sets the tone for psychological safety, ensuring every learner feels valued and heard.”

Reba’s vision and dedication have streamlined onboarding processes, advanced simulation-based education, and strengthened UVA Health’s reputation for clinical excellence. She approaches every challenge with creativity, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to doing what is right for patients, staff, and the broader community.

Her accomplishments are both extensive and transformative: she revitalized an abandoned clinical space into a cutting-edge simulation center, founded and grew the Virginia State Simulation Alliance (VASSA) to advance simulation-based education across 40 nursing schools and healthcare institutions statewide, and exemplified fiscal stewardship by repurposing thousands of dollars’ worth of supplies for simulation use while generously donating resources to free clinics.

Through innovation, mentorship, and stewardship, Reba has elevated UVA Health and the wider healthcare community.

Keyri Lopez-Godoy, Community Navigation Specialist at the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, exemplifies what it means to be community-first, service-driven, and selfless. Her work focuses on reducing barriers to cancer screening and connecting families to essential resources, with a special emphasis on supporting the Latino community across the Blue Ridge Health District.

Her impact is tangible. To date, Keyri has navigated more than 350 individuals toward screenings, resulting in over 80 completed—80% of which were among Latino community members. She has also helped establish medical homes for more than 100 patients who previously lacked primary care providers, ensuring long-term access to healthcare beyond cancer prevention.

Keyri’s dedication extends beyond clinical care. She champions culturally inclusive materials, strengthens community partnerships, and mentors colleagues in best practices for engagement. Whether coordinating mobile mammography appointments, supporting food distribution, or guiding families through financial assistance paperwork, she meets people where they are with empathy and persistence.

One community member shared, “Meeting Keyri connected me to important resources. Thanks to her, I was able to get a mammogram and access food through a local pantry.”
Through compassion, creativity, and unwavering service, Keyri has strengthened both UVA Health and the communities it serves, making her a truly deserving nominee for the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award.

For more than two decades, Colleen Green, PA, has set the highest standard for compassionate and expert care at UVA Health. Specializing in complex liver diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C, Colleen has devoted her career to supporting some of the most vulnerable patient populations. Her dedication is both clinical and personal—she coordinates every aspect of care while offering unwavering support to patients and families.

Colleen was instrumental in launching UVA’s Post-Transplant Hepatitis C Clinic, where her innovative work with modern therapies has enabled patients transplanted with HCV-positive organs to eradicate the virus. This groundbreaking model has allowed UVA’s transplant teams to expand access to lifesaving organs, giving many patients a second chance at life. Her outcomes consistently surpass national standards, strengthening UVA’s reputation for clinical excellence.

Beyond patient care, Colleen mentors new physician assistants and nurse practitioners, shaping the next generation of healthcare providers. As one colleague reflected, “Colleen’s mentorship profoundly shaped the way I care for patients today.” She has also helped UVA achieve a >95% hepatitis C cure rate, transforming a once-debilitating disease into a treatable condition for hundreds across Virginia.

Her humility, clinical excellence, and unwavering dedication make her a true model of service and integrity.

Jerry Mullins was nominated for his exceptional leadership, technical innovation, and unwavering commitment to excellence during two major campus technology initiatives: the Cavs Card System Replacement/Security and Access Enhancement Project and the T-Mobile iPad Distribution Project. 

Over the past year, Jerry successfully transitioned UVA Wise from outdated systems to the Atrium Card System and Lenel S2 Access Control, creating the College’s first-ever automated, data-driven access process. His innovative integration of Jenzabar, Atrium, Lenel S2, and Active Directory eliminated manual updates, improved security, and saved significant time for multiple departments. Colleagues note that “Jerry’s work has transformed access control from a time-intensive, error-prone process into one that is automatic, accurate, and secure.”

In addition, Jerry coordinated the distribution of more than 1,100 cellular-enabled iPads, ensuring each student’s data and configurations were restored seamlessly. This project expanded connectivity, improved access to learning resources, and positioned UVA Wise as a leader in academic technology.

Jerry’s dedication, collaboration, and problem-solving have created long-lasting systems that strengthen campus operations and student success. His impact exemplifies the very best of service, innovation, and commitment to excellence.