The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Office of Equity and Diversity today, virtually hosted the 2020 Annual Awards ceremony to recognize exceptional employees with the Thomas Connell Lichterman Employee of the Year Award and the Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award.
This year’s winners were Amaya Kumar, MA, coordinator in the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Pharmacy, who received the Lichterman Award, and Lisa Hall, executive director for Business Productivity Solutions in the Department of Information Technology Services, who received the Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award.
Award recipients are given plaques and a one-time award of $1,500. Lichterman Award winners also get their named added to a plaque of past award honorees in the Student-Alumni Center.
This year for the first time, the Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award recognized a 1st place runner up, Anesha Jones, MBA, manager of Employee Compliance in the Office of Human Resources, with a one-time award of $500.
In addition to Jones, finalists for the Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award were Kimberlee Norwood, MA, medical educator in the Office of Medical Education in the College of Medicine, and Dan Young, administrator in Instructional Technology in the Department of Information Technology Services.
Finalists for the Lichterman Award were Gina Curry, insurance coordinator in the Office of Human Resources, Roylynn Germain, MLS, nursing program coordinator in the College of Nursing, and Jean Perdicaris, administrative coordinator in the Office of Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs.
The Thomas Connell Lichterman Employee of the Year Award is presented to a non-exempt employee who demonstrates the high standards and positive characteristics exemplified by Lichterman, who was a messenger for UTMG and UTHSC for 11 years.
The Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award was established during the Health Science Center Family Campaign, a fund-raising initiative of the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs for families of UTHSC. The award recognizes non-faculty exempt employees who have demonstrated outstanding service and/or who have made significant contributions to the university community beyond that normally expected for their positions. Individuals can assist with growing the Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award through payroll deduction, outright gifts, or deferred gifts. Those interested in making a confidential donation, single or continuous, can contact the Development Office at 901.448.5516.