University of Utah Human Resource Management is pleased to announce the eight recipients of the 2025 University of Utah Presidential Staff Excellence Awards (USEA). USEA was established in 1992 to recognize superior service and ongoing contributions by the university’s full-time and part-time employees.

The final eight awardees were selected from the pool of District Staff Excellence recipients by a committee coordinated by the president of the University’s Staff Council, and approved by Chief Human Resources Officer, Jeff Herring. To be selected as a USEA recipient is a very high honor and is a sign that their commitment and contributions are valued by their colleagues, supervisors and leadership of the university.

Our USEA awardees and all district awardees will be recognized at an awards ceremony in November. Congratulations to all of our awardees—we look forward to celebrating your achievements in the fall!

The final eight Presidential Staff Excellence awardees include:

Ricardo Rodrigues de Souza
Occupational Safety Specialist III
Environmental Health & Safety – College of Pharmacy and Facilities District
Administration District

Brian Parrott
Academic Program Manager
UCL English Language Institute
Academics & Student Affairs District

Sophia Friesen
PR Specialist IV
Public Affairs
Health Academics District

Taylor Ostmark Beidler
Manager, Operation Projects/Program Management
Pediatric Administration
Health Academics District

Mary Mitchell
Ambulatory Nurse III
Musculoskeletal & Orthopedics Clinic, SJHC
Hospitals & Clinics District

Ireland O’Dell
ICU Nurse IV
Surgical ICU, University Hospital
Hospitals & Clinics District

Samantha Relias
Pharmacy Manager
Huntsman Mental Health Institute
Hospitals & Clinics District

Brian Young
Principal OD & Talent Strategy
Organizational Development
Hospitals & Clinics District

This year’s District awardees include:

Administration District

• Alice Bishop, Post-Award Grants & Contracts Officer IV, HCI Research Admin Department
• Nina Earnest, PR Specialist II, HCI Public Affairs
• Anthony Ferrara, Manager of Procurement Management, Purchasing
• Tara Mleynek, Graphic Designer V, VP for Research

Academics & Student Affairs District

• Susan Anderson, Student Program Manager, Honors College
• Kirsten Macquillin, Designated School Officer, English Language Institute
• Courtney Phillips, Graduate Student Coordinator, Civil & Environmental Engineering (part-time)
• Madeline Rencher, Manager of Early Engagement in Advising, Campus Advising Solutions

Health Academics District

• Doris Dalton, Associate Director, Utah Physician Assistant Program
• France Davis, APC Medical Director, Psychiatry – Adult Clinical
• Melanie Real, Medical Assistant, Clinical Dermatology (part-time)
• Carmin Smoot, Archivist, Eccles Health Sciences Library

Hospitals & Clinics District

• Junko Fowles, RCSS Supervisor, Patient Financial Advocacy, HCI/HMHI
• Stephanie Gosbee, Nursing Manager, Acute Care Admin, University Hospital
• Kristen Hassan, Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Acute Pulmonary Medicine Unit, University Hospital
• Keri Kubilius, Donation Education Liaison, Organ Donation Program, University Hospital
• Alex Longe, Informatics Quality Nurse, Nursing Quality, University Hospital
• Jane Tumusiime, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Social Services, University Hospital