RISD Celebrates Staff Dedication

RISD staff members gathered in the auditorium on Thursday for the fourth annual RISD Recognizes Staff Celebration. Chair of the committee Cathy Davis (bottom photo), Interim President Rosanne Somerson 76 ID, HR Vice President Candace Baer and Staff Council President Karen Pietropaoli welcomed the crowd and congratulated the 92 individuals who won awards for excellence and the 182 Make Your Mark award winners. “Today we celebrate our work,” said Somerson – “the contributions that make us one RISD.”

After pausing for a moment of silence in memory of two longtime employees who recently passed away – Steven Bailey and Harold Grattage ­– COO Jean Eddy presented this year’s Excellence Awards.The award for Leadership went to the Career Center’s Susan Andersen (pictured below), the driving force behind RISD’s hugely successful Portfolio Review Days. Associate Registrar Alison Sherman took the prize for Efficiency/Innovation for revising RISD’s grading system.

The award for a team or department working above and beyond the call of duty went to the Capital Oversight Committee, which included Janine Connelly, Ned Draper, Bob Hanke, Paul Mullen, Anthony Petrocchi, Anj Shaw and Jack Silva.

A newly created award for Diversity/Inclusion went to Human Resources’ Alicia Luzon, who volunteers her time to translate for Spanish-speaking RISD employees, making sure that everyone is heard and included.

And this year’s Service Excellence award went to Alumni Relations and Special Events Planner Pat Brown (above, center), who was described in her nomination as “the perfect ambassador for RISD.”

all photos by David O’Connor