This year, multiple USF College of Public Health staff members were awarded the 2022 Outstanding Staff Awards for representing the core values of USF and demonstrating their commitment to the pursuit of excellence.

Nominated by fellow colleagues, these individuals showed commitment to inquiry, innovation, integrity and inclusion through their projects at the college. Additionally, the award aims to highlight the contributions of staff who are essential workers, veterans and/or members of historically marginalized groups.

Of the recipients, the COPH received two individual award nominations and two team nominations.

Individual Award – Patricia Roque

One of the recipients of the individual award was Patricia Roque, who has been with the COPH for over 10 years and has worked for the last three years as the academic services administrator for Experiential Learning.

“I am extremely honored to receive the Outstanding Staff Award. I am sincerely grateful for the recognition I have received. I would also like to thank Dr. Somer Burke for encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone. I am incredibly thankful for the level of support you and our team continue to show me,” Rogue said, “My work means everything to me; it is my commitment and independence. I will always be committed to doing my best no matter what I am doing and always giving it 110 percent.”

Burke, director of student success and assessment for Experiential Learning, wrote in her nomination letter that Rogue exemplifies integrity and emphasized Roque’s willingness to go above and beyond in her work and how, in turn, students feel genuinely supported.

“She works to ensure that our students are getting the best service, accurate information, timely responses and genuine care,” Burke said. “She performs at the highest level of honesty and professionalism.”

Individual Award – Sheri Lee Shakes

Another recipient of the individual award was Sheri Lee Shakes, the director of faculty recruitment.  She is responsible for hiring new faculty and acting as a line of communication between the college’s faculty and administration.

“Due to the ongoing pandemic, there has been a need to hire many new faculty members in the college. This may have daunted others and certainly meant an incredible increase in her workload, but Sheri-Lee was unphased. She took on this challenge through her incredible organizational skills and accepted the difficult task of recruiting talented and diverse faculty with effortless grace,” undergraduate instructor Patrick Rodriguez said. “It is because of people like Sheri-Lee that we see our college and the university grow and establish the commitment to diversity and excellence simultaneously to further the success of faculty, staff and students.”

Team Award – COPH Lifelong Learning Academy (COPH LLA)

The COPH Lifelong Learning Academy (COPH LLA) is an initiative created by the COPH to provide educational opportunities to people worldwide and create innovative approaches to teaching and learning beyond degree programs. The academy serves as an online resource for public health professionals to develop the necessary skills to succeed in the field, providing everything from lectures and resources to networking opportunities.

Some courses available at the COPH LLA include micro-certificates in genomics, disease intervention specialization training, infectious control for emergency responders and more.

For their contributions to making the COPH LLA possible, Andres Abril, Samantha Haylock, Evan Itle, Ann Joyce and Anna Mayor have been recognized for the team award.

Dr. Janice Zgibor, professor and associate dean of Academic Affairs, spoke about how members from different offices offered their expertise and did their part to make the academy possible. In her nomination letter, she mentions how the COVID-19 pandemic revealed a great need for public health workers and how the teams’ work helps address these challenges and issues in the field.

“With all the competing demands, the team was able to pivot and make workforce development a priority for the community, stakeholders and alumni,” Zgibor said. “The team worked in concert to deliver a high-quality product that is receiving regional and national recognition.”

Team Award – Salud Latina USF (SLU)

Anna Mayor, Carlos Montoya and James Taylor have been recognized for their contributions to Salud Latina USF, an organization formed during the COVID-19 pandemic to combat the spread of misinformation. Since its founding, all three individuals have taken responsibility for a large portion of the organization needed to run the program, including communication outreach, messaging and logistical support.

“The process of creating any marketing collateral in a language that is not your first language is lengthy and at times complicated. Still, this duo [referring to Mayor and Taylor] was committed to making sure the imagery and messaging was appropriate for their specific and diverse audience—Spanish speakers and a multitude of different dialects within,” said Natalie Preston, director of the Office of Engagement and Constituent Relations.

On top of their regular workload and duties, these three employees have shown dedication to connecting with the community and growing the program.

Mayor mentioned how thankful she is to her colleagues and the faculty of Salud Latina USF for the work she’s been able to do for this organization.

“Being part of this initiative since its inception and being witness to its amazing growth is a testament to the fervor behind its mission,” Mayor said. “I am thankful for the opportunity to assist in getting these important health messages out to the Latino community and stakeholders who need it most. It’s a privilege to take part in such significant work while also getting to work with such a dedicated group of public health practitioners and researchers.”

Story by Parker Guevarra, USF College of Public Health