The following MIT community members have been recognized for going the extra mile. Thank someone today.
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Mary Markel Murphy
The FGLIWG is deeply grateful for Mary Murphy’s generous support of our efforts to put resources and systems in place to support some of our most resilient students. At a time when leadership and support is needed, Mary has done an excellent job guiding our work. Mary, please know that we acknowledge and appreciate you. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you again for your partnership
Kester Barrow on behalf of FGLIWG, First Gen/Low Income Working Group
All the staff who have been coming in and preparing meals for the Ashdown House
I want to talk my fellow co-workers who continued to go to work and provide meals for the students that are located in the Ashdown House on campus. I want to thank my General Manager, Mike Fitzgerald for keeping us in the loop and holding weekly zoom meeting. For asking our opinion and supporting our ideas. For making those of us that worked from home still feel important.
Mary J Von Schoppe, MIT Endicott House
Joanna Chen
Joanna has been an invaluable support for leadership in the VPCSS group in mobilizing periodic webinars to disseminate important operational information and to share personal stories from colleagues to keep us all feeling connected.
Jennine Talbot, Facilities
Lou DiBerardinis
I'm guessing Lou has been constantly fielding questions on all aspects of Environment, Health and Safety, especially with the lab ramp up process. Yet, Lou responds to questions quickly, thoughtfully, and follows through on everything our department has asked about. If Lou doesn’t know the answer directly, he connects to who does and then gets back with answers. Much appreciated Lou!
Heidi Demers, Laboratory for Nuclear Science
Deborah Liverman
Deb has led our office through this difficult time with grace and compassion. She has maintained a high level of service for students while also being accommodating to staff needs. Her foresight in implementation of technology before this crisis hit allowed us to be more adaptable. Moreover, she has been in constant meetings about student needs, especially with employment trends. And yet she is still available to her staff.
Kimberly Benard, OVC
Tamara Menghi
She has been working diligently to create a bank of summer opportunities for students during this time. All of that work was on top of an already overwhelming amount, as she has also had to fill in for work normally done by others (unfilled positions that were frozen). She has taken extraordinary amount of work upon herself, and yet executes it to the highest levels.
Kimberly Benard, OVC
Kathleen MacArthur
As someone who works with various faculty committees regarding academics and curriculum, she has had to do the normal work she does, while also assisting with the effort to transform our educational methods/models. In particular, the transformation of subject evaluations have been particularly time consuming. She has gone above and beyond!
Kimberly Benard, OVC
Ramona Allen
When I listened to Ramona Allen speaking at the most recent Town Hall I felt and thought a few things. First, that the people who chose her for her job couldn't have chosen better, second, listening to her talk she was humble and really empathic towards support staff and third, reassured that she understands what this adjustment to remote working is for many of us. Thank you Ramona!!
Rachel Batista, NSE
RLE Headquarters
Thank you to everyone in RLE Headquarters--from the top administrators who are tackling the big issues moving forward to all the staff members working on the details and keeping our labs running. There is no question that they don't seem to find an answer to, or a solution that will fit. Thank you all for your dedication in supporting us admins and our research groups. Can't wait to see you when we return.
Dorothy Fleischer, RLE
Dorothy Curtis
We would like to thank Dorothy for being available during a deadline at all hours. While imparting her vast knowledge of the system, she was courteous, professional and kind. She navigated us through a complex process, and explained the maze of guidelines and principles with exacting detail and a healthy side of humor. We are grateful to Dorothy. MIT is lucky to have her on its team.
Diane Ramirez-Riley, Schwarzman College of Computing
David Elwell & ISO Staff
David an the ISO team have answered a million "what if this happens" questions for concerned students and staff. Always with empathy and positivity. I especially appreciate David's willingness to join town hall meetings with students and help them understand their options.
Maura Herson, MIT Sloan
Tasker Smith
Tasker was chosen by Professor Marty Culpepper to be a member of a specialized team working on and off campus to design and prototype PPE and COVID-19 related equipment. Over the past two months Tasker has been deeply involved in these extremely important activities and I would like to acknowledge his extraordinary effort skills and talent as a designer and builder but most of all for his dedication and compassion to keep the MIT community safe.
Thank you Tasker
Thank you Tasker
Steve Haberek, ME Building 3 Pappalardo Lab
Judit Pokos
She is a proactive team member who has helped us a lot with her ability to see through complex situations.
Klara Orsos, Communications
OVC Desktop Support
Donyatta, Anthony, Paul, and Terre have been outstanding as we have needed numerous help sessions to get our home computers in shape to work remotely. They have been patient and quick to respond. I could not ask for better IT support!
Jennifer Smith, Campus Activities Complex/DSL
Beatriz Cantada
For "walking the talk." Being an awesome remote mentor, and remaining committed to equity, inclusion, and authenticity.
Rachel Ornitz, ICEO
SEED Academy Staff and Instructors
In early March, our SEED Academy team had to quickly take our in-person program, currently provided to 135 middle and high-school students from local public schools, and relaunch it online. This 'change of plans' required everyone to be quick in our response, creative, and attuned to issues around equity and access for our students. We conducted our last online session this past Saturday and students were so grateful for the opportunity to continue to engage as a community through these uncertain times. I really appreciate all of the hard-work from the entire team to keep this transformative program going, as well as, the patience and engagement of the students as we made this transition.
Eboney Hearn, MIT OEOP
Zan Barry and Jimmy Doan
Zan and Jimmy, thank you for all the incredible Super Coaching you provide for us coaches!!!
Carol Matsuzaki, DAPER
Heather Williams
Heather has done an excellent job of keeping the lines of communication open in the School of Science during these last several weeks of working in a remote environment. She has found ways to maintain connections within the science community through regular email updates, zoom check-ins, and offering Learn@Lunch meetings. Thank you Heather!
Heidi Demers, Laboratory for Nuclear Science
Executive Education Operations Team
In a matter of days, the team pivoted and shifted spring open enrollment and custom programs to a live online format. We had a few members, Amy Davagian, Bella DiMambro and Jaclyn Molewyk, step up to help lead the charge, but the entire operations team dove right in. Endless hours were spent editing websites, creating processes and documentation and crafting communications. The team upskilled themselves in Zoom and then went on to train other staff, faculty and participants. They've now gone on to managing a complimentary webinar series to engage participants until our summer season kicks off in June. It was inspiring to witness the collaboration, innovation and leadership! Well done team!
Rachel Hutton, Sloan Executive Education
Elizabeth Hawley
Elizabeth is endlessly helpful on every project she works on, and is asked to work on. She is upbeat, resourceful and a never-ending font of good ideas. I am grateful that I get to work with her so much. Thank you for all you do and never change!
Cori Champagne, HR
Jared and Laurie Berezin
The handmade face mask was a great reminder that people still care during these days with social distancing! You guys are the best!!!
Anonymous
Brian O'Rourke & Jack McGlashing
Brian and Jack consistently have an "I'd be happy to do it" attitude and go out of their way to pitch in and help their colleagues. Thank you both for your roles in sorting and getting important documents to me so LNS business could continue efficiently.
Heidi Demers, Laboratory for Nuclear Science
Pamela Knop, Business Manager
We all know that life is all about the little, meaningful things. You started in this role at a very difficult time. However your weekly missives have been educational and enjoyable, and they keep all of us upbeat and bonded. Thank you for reaching out to all of us and offering all the right ingredients -- hope, optimism, awesome observations, coupled with meaningful information that we need.
Anonymous, Contracting Services Department, Lincoln Laboratory
Peggy Bryan
As a international scholar at MIT, I was concerned about the continuity of my research activities in these chaotic times. Peggy has, over recent weeks, worked hard to get me the answers that I needed on my employment situation and to ensure that I have stability in my work and personal life. At a moment in which health, finances, and politics are ever more affected by chaos, Peggy provided me with a grounding and hopeful counterpoint. Colleagues like Peggy are hard to come by and invaluable to succeeding in what we do at MIT.
Daniel Gallagher, Urban Studies and Planning
Michael DeBenedictis
Campus Police Officer Michael DeBenedictis exemplifies what a good police officer should do: enforce laws and look out for a community's safety while also showing courtesy, kindness, and compassion. Thank you.
Pamela Siska, Writing, Rhetoric and Professional Communication
Dillan Cohen, Sean Motherway, Karma Mulug, and Michael Seaberg
Thank you for moving so many crates and boxes from Medical to W34. You solved a major logistics problem for us, and have been a pleasure to work with.
Ruth Evensen, MIT Medical - Purchasing
Christopher J. Brown
Chris was hired as a Financial Assistant in our department HQ's office and, as such, spends the majority of his day dealing with financial matters. Having said so, he always stands at the ready to pitch in wherever needed, be it something as mundane as moving tables/set up for an event, to something more complex such as technical support. As we all transitioned to online communication in a matter of days, Chris learned Zoom and Webex in the blink of an eye, and subsequently helped his Biology colleagues install the platforms, offered one-on-one sessions, and even conducted a formal training session for all staff. In no way is technical support of this type part of Chris' normal job, but this effort is indicative of his can-do, ever-generous nature to zoom up to the plate and provide help.
Rebecca Chamberlain, Biology
Our Students
I want to thank our Intro to Making students for remaining positive, energetic, and engaged while persevering through what I know are incredibly difficult situations to make fun, awesome, and inspiring projects for our class - even with very few tools and methods at their disposal. You all are amazing!
Angelina Jay, Project Manus - Intro to Making
Santiago Benavides
Thank you for running and then transitioning to hosting the WhizKey seminars virtually!
Rohini Shivamoggi, EAPS
Julia Wilcots
Thank you for being an awesome ESAC president!
Rohini Shivamoggi, EAPS