2019 Staff Award Winners Announced

Three staff members and one department have been named as winners of the 2019 Staff Awards. The winners embody the dedication and forward-looking spirit that drive DU to be its very best. The winners will be recognized at DU’s annual Faculty and Staff Awards Luncheon on Oct. 29.

Distinguished Service Award: Jasmine Pulce

As assistant director of affinity group support, Pulce works with DU undergraduate student alliances to strengthen and expand leadership and programming, coordinate planning for heritage and history months and LGBTIQA programs. She founded the DU Pride Lounge, an area on the first floor of Centennial Hall that is committed to cultivating an inclusive and supportive space for students of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities. In 2017, Pulce also helped launch the DU Transfer Living Community residential program, which provides students with opportunities to connect with their peers to build their social networks, learn about available resources and get involved on campus.

According to her colleague Cameron Simmons in undergraduate admissions, Pulce is an example of what collaboration and cooperation look like. “Jasmine has been a visionary leader in the pursuit of a more diverse and inclusive campus,” Simmons writes. “She goes above and beyond to make sure [affinity] groups are well informed and equipped with the tools they need to put on amazing programming and stand up for their issues they care deeply about.”

Innovator Award: Krista Beckman

Beckman began working at the Bonfils-Stanton Music Library in the Lamont School of Music in 2017 as a public services staff member retrieving, circulating, preparing and processing materials and assisting users with directional and information questions. Even with all the work that her job entails, Beckman finds time to go above and beyond her duties to make a difference. This year, she developed the Lamont Career Series in collaboration with the career and professional development team and the Office of Alumni Engagement. Each quarter, she coordinates efforts to bring alumni, faculty and students together in underused spaces of the music library for meaningful connection and career networking.

“As an alumna of Lamont, she has a unique understanding of the needs of students and alumni,” says Erin Dietrich, director of alumni engagement in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. “This has driven her to think creatively as a staff person about how to engage student and alumni audiences in meaningful ways through the library services and resources.”

Crimson & Gold Award: Chad King

It would be difficult to find someone on campus who has not worked with or heard about Chad King. As director of the Center for Sustainability, King is charged with improving the institution’s sustainability practices. He is responsible for leading all sustainability efforts on campus, assisting faculty in incorporating sustainability projects into existing courses and guiding campuswide sustainability decision on a variety of topics from the built environment to operational practices.

In addition to his work on campus, King works with the city and county of Denver on sustainability and transportation planning. He also serves on the executive committee of the board of directors for Transportation Solutions.

“He has built the Center for Sustainability from a one-person office to a hub of action and engagement around solving problems on campus,” says Emily Schosid, a sustainability program coordinator. “[He] allows students to turn their passion into purpose and to pilot new and innovative solutions when others are not ready for change.”

Departmental Award: Student Outreach and Support

Student Outreach and Support (SOS) helps students’ success by connecting them to resources, developing a plan of action to meet their goals and by helping them navigate challenging situations. The SOS staff creates an environment for students to develop skills in self-awareness, self-advocacy, resilience and navigation to maximize their educational experience.

The program manages a referral system for crisis support and behavioral intervention. The staff consults and trains on supporting students in navigating challenging situations and creates access to resources for students to maintain their safety, health and well-being.

“The SOS team is always innovating to make their services easier to access,” says Brianna Johnson, a program manager in the Living & Learning Communities. “Last year they started drop-in hours to support students in crisis. They do some of the most caring and challenging work on campus.”

Click here to RSVP for the 2019 Faculty and Staff Awards Luncheon.