Extraordinary Employees Build Bridges for UVA
Hoos Building Bridges celebrates cross-disciplinary partnerships and projects among UVA team members, and honors recipients for their leadership and efforts in establishing strong relationships that contribute to success and innovation across Grounds. The University launched the awards in 2019, building on a vision UVA President Jim Ryan outlined in his first Opening Convocation address – a university community of people who, when in doubt, “build a bridge.”
Six individuals and two teams were well-deserved recipients of the 2024 Hoos Building Bridges award and were honored at a reception on June 25 at the Rotunda. They have demonstrated exemplary efforts in building bridges and partnering internally across the University. Adam Weikel, Associate Vice President and Deputy CHRO, opened the celebratory evening with remarks, and the awardees were presented with framed certificates and a $250 monetary award from President Ryan that will be added to their paychecks.
Please congratulate these exceptional award winners when you see them!
Individual winners include:
- Ben Allen, Executive Director, The Equity Center
- Daman A Irby, Director of Global Initiatives, UVA Center for Politics
- Carolyn Cullen, Director, Talent Management, Human Resources
- Alexa Jeffress, Director of Professional Programs, School of Continuing and Professional Studies
- Nicole Ruzek, Chief Mental Health Officer, Department of Student Health & Wellness
- Jennifer Philips, Director of Research Education for the integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia, School of Medicine Dean's Office/iTHRIV
Team winners include:
- Mary Sherman, Shelomith Gonzalez, Emily Douglas, Chris Hoy, LaBarron Burwell, and Pamela Hamilton - Mental Health Collaboration Team
- Adam Griggs and Patrick Wood, – Hoos Making an Impact Team
Click on each name below to learn what these deserving individuals and teams did to win the Hoos Building Bridges Award. Announcements about nominations for the 2025 Hoos Building Bridges Award will come out in the spring.