2025 Staff Award Winners Recognized for Exceptional Dedication, Service, and Leadership

2025 Staff Award Winners Recognized for Exceptional Dedication, Service, and Leadership

The College of Arts & Letters honored its Staff Award Winners at the 2025 College of Arts & Letters Faculty and Staff Welcome Reception on Sept. 29 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.

The 2025 Staff Award winners are:

The College of Arts & Letters recognizes these staff members for having contributed to the success of the college and demonstrating exceptional dedication, service, and leadership.

Jo-Ann Vanden Bergh Award

Tom Hakes, Director of Office and Technology Operations, is the 2025 recipient of the Jo-Ann Vanden Bergh Award, which is the gold standard of staff awards within the College of Arts & Letters. Award winners are dedicated to problem solving and fostering high-quality work; treat others with dignity, respect, and integrity; promote teamwork that enhances effectiveness and efficiency in the workplace; and show evidence of superior work performance.

A man wearing a bright blue collared shirt and glasses stands next to a man in a navy suit and tie. They are holding a framed plaque together.They stand in front of a projector screen and window blinds.
Tom Hakes (left), Director of Office and Technology Operations, receives the Jo-Ann Vanden Bergh Award from Thomas Stubblefield (right), Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. (Photo by Ryan Frederick)

Ashley Housler, HR Coordinator, nominated Hakes for this award and wrote that “Tom works tirelessly and selflessly to foster a positive work environment, promote efficiency and reliability, and improve our workplace in countless ways. His exceptional work ethic, performance, and unwavering willingness to help others truly set him apart…Tom is not only an exceptional leader, he is also a deeply respected and valued member of our college. He approaches every task with purpose, efficiency, and respect. He is known as someone you can always rely on, with a talent for solving problems and building systems that work. He has successfully improved two vital departments in our college, and the impact of his work is felt daily. 

Established in 2011, this award is named in honor of Jo-Ann Vanden Bergh, who served the College of Arts & Letters for more than 25 years in various staff positions. Award winners exemplify the qualities displayed by Vanden Bergh and whose attainment of excellence deserves this special recognition.

Outstanding Leadership Award

Leann Dalimonte, Director of Academic Operations for the College of Arts & Letters, is the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award, which recognizes a member of the College of Arts & Letters support staff who embodies exceptional leadership by building community, nurturing a culture of care and support, exhibiting strong stewardship of institutional resources (time, talent, financial, etc.), and developing a shared vision of institutional excellence.  

A woman in a tan sweater and patterned skirt stands beside a man in a navy suit and tie as they hold a framed plaque together. They are framed against a window with greenery visible outside.
Leann Dalimonte (left), Director of Academic Operations, receives the Outstanding Leadership Award from Thomas Stubblefield (right), Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. (Photo by Ryan Frederick)

Mary Beth Heeder, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Student Learning and Educator Success and Co-Director of the Arts & Humanities Health and Wellbeing Initiative, nominated Dalimonte for this award and wrote that “Leann consistently embodies exceptional leadership. She nurtures a culture of care and support by recognizing the humanity of her colleagues and ensuring that empathy is central to the work we do together…Her leadership reflects integrity, resilience, and emotional intelligence. She anticipates challenges, reaches out to colleagues across the university to ensure the work her team does not only meets but exceeds expectations set by MSU and the College of Arts & Letters…In every way, Leann embodies the spirit of this award.” 

Established in 2018, Outstanding Leadership Award recipients consistently seeks to improve operations while focusing on the experience of students, staff, faculty, and college friends. Demonstrating emotional intelligence, integrity, resilience, and flexibility, award winners actively work to provide an environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion by fostering a sense of belonging for all members of the College of Arts & Letters and MSU communities.

Exceptional Service Award

Suzie Reed, Fiscal Officer, is the 2025 recipient of the Exceptional Service Award, which recognizes support staff members who have worked for the College of Arts & Letters for at least three years and have consistently demonstrated outstanding performance and a commitment to delivering exceptional service. 

A woman in a lavender jacket over a bright blue blouse stands next to a man in a navy suit and tie. They are holding a framed plaque titled. She smiles toward the camera while standing in front of a sunlit window.
Suzie Reed (left), Fiscal Officer, receives the Exceptional Service Award from Thomas Stubblefield (right), Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. (Photo by Ryan Frederick)

Charlene Polio, Professor and 2024-2025 Interim Chair of the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures, nominated Reed for this award and wrote that “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having a reliable financial officer, especially in such a large department with different pots of money. I was able to compartmentalize budget issues as something that did not always require my immediate attention because I could rely on Suzie to be proactive and to not make mistakes. It is not only I who benefited from Suzie’s hard work, but her responsiveness to all the faculty which made everyone’s job a bit easier…Suzie also is one of the most cheerful and positive people that I have worked with. This is quite impressive when her job is dealing with the budget. The College of Arts & Letters is incredibly fortunate to have Suzie.” 

Established in 2016, recipients of the Exceptional Service Award anticipate the needs of the college and are proactive and forward-thinking in addressing those needs. They also promote productive relationships across the college and university while demonstrating diplomacy and responsiveness.   

Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Award

Beth Bonsall, Public Relations and Digital Strategist for the College of Arts & Letters Marketing and Communications, is the 2025 recipient of the Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Award, which honors support staff members who demonstrate adept skills in engaging across differences among the communities in which they work.

A woman in a green shirt. In the background is green foliage.
Beth Bonsall, Public Relations and Digital Strategist, received the 2025 Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Award.

Josh Morey, Creative Director and Senior Designer for the College of Arts & Letters Marketing and Communications, nominated Bonsall for this award. He wrote that “Beth has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to the vales of this award through her storytelling in the arts and humanities, her collaborations with colleagues across the college, university, and broader community, and her strong advocacy for accessibility…Her work and dedication to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusivity exemplify what every Spartan should strive for – and help create a better, more equitable world.” 

Established in 2018, the Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion Award honors efforts to actively work to make Michigan State University a more accessible and welcoming place by understanding the complex, intersectional nature of identity, and employing such knowledge to improve the student, faculty, academic staff, and support staff experience. It recognizes College of Arts & Letters staff members who seek diverse perspectives, practice inclusive behaviors, champion accessibility in the college, and foster belonging for marginalized communities. 

Flying Under the Radar Award

Marilyn Duke, Human Resources Coordinator, is the 2025 recipient of the Flying Under the Radar Award, which acknowledges the contributions of support staff members who shine in their roles quietly but with remarkable efficacy, without the desire for recognition.

A woman wearing glasses, a striped shirt, and a dark cardigan holds a framed award plaque beside a man in a navy suit. Both are smiling, with window blinds in the background.
Marilyn Duke (left), Human Resources Coordinator, receives the Flying Under the Radar Award from Thomas Stubblefield (right), Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. (Photo by Ryan Frederick)

Ruth Nicole Brown, MSU Research Foundation Professor and inaugural Chairperson of the Department of African American and African Studies, nominated Duke for this award and wrote that “Marilyn is a critically core member of the College of Arts & Letters Human Resources Team and is fully deserving of this honor and recognition as she embodies the spirit of the award through her steadfast commitment, exemplary performance, and cooperative spirit…Marilyn is a quiet achiever. Those who have the pleasure of working with Marilyn know her presence and leadership skills make a positive difference in our work lives. While full of personality, good will, and expansively affirmative ideas, Marilyn flies under the radar only because she eschews the spotlight in favor of showing up and shining through our common good. The “quiet achiever” that is Marilyn allows us all to do our jobs with greater confidence and assuredness. She does her job well and with great humility.”  

Established in 2024, the Flying Under the Radar Award is designed to celebrate those essential individuals who, through their steadfast commitment, exemplary performance, and cooperative spirit, make significant impacts behind the scenes. The award serves to honor the unsung heroes whose efforts, though not always visible, are fundamental to our collective success. 

Rising Star Award

Beth Mugavero, Project Manager, is the 2025 recipient of the Rising Star Award, which recognizes support staff members who have worked in their position at MSU’s College of Arts & Letters for less than three years and have shown promise early in their College of Arts & Letters careers with a potential for growth and advancement.  

A woman in a navy wrap dress, wearing a necklace, stands next to a man in a navy suit and tie as they hold a framed plaque together. They are positioned in front of a window with blinds, with a projected slide partially visible on the left.
Beth Mugavero (left), Project Manager, receives the Rising Star Award from Thomas Stubblefield (right), Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. (Photo by Ryan Frederick)

Michael O’Rourke, Executive Director of the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative Center, nominated Mugavero for this award and wrote that “Since joining the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative Center in 2023, Ms. Mugavero has been an exceptional teammate and professional. She has served TDI Center and MSU in ways that demonstrate managerial talent and leadership. Thanks to her efforts, TDI Center has improved its efficiency, its transparency of operation, its compliance with university policy, and its resilience in the face of changing circumstance…Overall, Ms. Mugavero has been an absolute godsend to TDI Center. I’m not sure how we were able to get by without a project manager before, and I now realize that there is no going back – we absolutely need a project manager to be successful, especially in the current historical moment. Of course, I want that project manager to be Ms. Mugavero.”

Established in 2016, the Rising Star Award honors staff members who have exhibited exemplary dedication to the mission of the college and Michigan State University while consistently demonstrating outstanding performance in fulfillment of their job responsibilities.

Golden Staff Award

Deanna Thomas, Executive Assistant to the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters, is the 2025 recipient of the Golden Staff Award, which was established in 2015 as a special way to recognize an individual, department, program, or group in the College of Arts & Letters for demonstrating exemplary service, hanging in there when the going gets tough, or just being a good model for the rest of us.  

A woman in a colorful floral dress with a dark cardigan smiles while holding one end of a golden staff. A man in a navy suit and tie holds the other end. They are standing in front of a window with natural light coming through the blinds.
Deanna Thomas (left), receives the Golden Staff Award from Thomas Stubblefield (right), Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. (Photo by Ryan Frederick)

Thomas embodies the spirit of the Golden Staff Award through her professionalism, resilience, and consistent service to the College of Arts & Letters. Over the past year, she has been instrumental in guiding two leadership transitions, ensuring both Interim Dean Yen-Hwei Lin and Dean Thomas Stubblefield were able to acclimate quickly and effectively to their roles. By placing the needs of others before her own, she created stability across the college during a period of significant change. 

Her strengths — Maximizer, Harmony, Empathy, Achiever, and Discipline — are evident in her daily work. She nurtures the talents of others, fosters collaboration, and delivers consistent results, all while maintaining a calm, steady presence in high-pressure situations. Her ability to anticipate needs, ask the right questions, and keep people on track has improved processes, reduced stress, and set a positive example for colleagues across the college. Her professionalism, proactive approach, and commitment to excellence make her a true role model and a deserving recipient of the Golden Staff Award. 

By Kim Popiolek

Categories: Award / News / Staff