SEAS Recognition Awards
The SEAS Recognition Awards celebrates the incredible contributions of SEAS staff and faculty members. SEAS staff are invited to participate in the awards by submitting their nominations through our 2024 SEAS Recognition Awards Nomination Form. The nomination period is open from February 22 - March 8, 2024, and includes:
- Harvard Heroes Award, a University-wide award that honors high-performing staff that support the mission of Harvard at the highest levels of contribution, impact, and excellence.
- Dean's Distinction Award, an award that recognizes a small number of staff members for their outstanding collaboration and exceptional contributions to SEAS.
- Venky Award for Mentoring and Community Building, an award that is intended to encourage and recognize staff members who have made a significant contribution to mentoring and community building at SEAS.
- Abacus Award for Faculty Collaboration with Staff, a SEAS award that recognizes a faculty member's dedication to excellence in collaboration with staff members.
About the SEAS Recognition Awards
How do I submit a nomination?
Please submit your nominations through the 2024 SEAS Recognition Awards Nomination Form between February 22 - March 8, 2024 at 11:59 pm. Please note that for each nominee submission, you will need to include a brief, but descriptive nomination narrative that highlights why your nominee(s) should be considered for the award.
Can I nominate more than one person for an award?
Yes, you can submit multiple nominees for a single award, however you can only submit one nominee per award within a single form submission. If you wish to submit multiple nominees for the same award, you will need to complete a new form for each individual.
How are honorees selected for the awards and when will they be announced?
All nominations will be reviewed by the SEAS Recognition Awards Committee and honorees will be selected after the nomination period has ended. Honorees for all awards will be announced at the All-Hands Meeting in April.
What is the nomination criteria?
Each award has specific nomination criteria, please review each award below for more information.
Am I allowed to nominate a team for an award, rather than an individual?
All awards are for individual nominations only, with the exception of the Dean's Distinction Award, which accepts nominations for teams and individuals.
Will the nominee(s) be informed of my nomination?
You may choose to be disclosed as the nominator or remain anonymous. Generally, we only share nomination information (such as nominator's name and nomination essay) with the nominee in the event that your nominee is selected as the honoree for that award. Additionally, if your nominee becomes an honoree, the content of your nomination essay may be used as part of the ceremony and announcements for that award.
Do I need to submit my Harvard Heroes Award nomination again on this form if I already submitted it through the University-wide nomination form?
No, you do not need to resubmit your Harvard Heroes Award nomination through this form if you have already submitted it through the University-wide nomination form. We accept nomination submissions from both forms; however, we prefer that you submit your SEAS nomination through this form when possible.
Who do I contact if I have questions or need support?
If you are having issues with this form or have any questions regarding the awards and/or nomination process, please contact Rowen Gray, SEAS HR Coordinator, at rgray@seas.harvard.edu.
What is the Harvard Heroes Award?
The Harvard Heroes Award is a University-wide award that honors high-performing staff. These staff members are nominated and/or selected by their peers and departments for work that supports the mission of Harvard at the highest levels of contribution, impact and excellence. To learn more, please visit: https://hr.harvard.edu/harvard-heroes-program.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to be nominated, staff must be an administrative/professional, support or hourly employees with at least one year of “benefits-eligible” service. Harvard coaches in the “other academic” group are also eligible.
What is the nomination criteria?
Nominees must meet at least one of the Harvard Heroes Attributes, as outlined in the 2024 Harvard Heroes Nomination/Selection Criteria.
How do I submit a nomination?
You can submit your nomination through the 2024 SEAS Recognition Awards Nomination Form. The submission period is February 22 - March 8, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
SEAS Harvard Heroes Honorees
- 2023: Anas Chalah and Dina Adams
- 2020-2022: Awards paused due to COVID-19
- 2019: Brandon Tilghman
- 2018: Susan Forrest
- 2017: Lashanda Banks
- 2016: Marybeth Wilcox and Kathy Lovell
- 2015: Nater Jorde and Eric Tatten
- 2014: Eliza Grinnell and Oscar Sola
- 2013: Sandra Klemm and Kate Zirpolo Flynn
- 2012: Carlos Guerrero
What is the Dean's Distinction Award?
The Dean's Distinction Award recognizes a small number of staff members for their outstanding collaboration and exceptional contribution to SEAS. Those who are nominated for Dean's Distinction Award should act with the highest integrity and serve as role models among staff.
*This award replaced the Dean's Excellence Award.
Types of Nominations:
- Individual Dean's Distinction: A staff member can be nominated for Individual Dean's Distinction for their outstanding collaboration, and exceptional contributions in support of the teaching and research mission.
- Team Dean's Distinction: Teams consisting of up to eight staff members (and in some cases up to twelve*) can be nominated for Team Dean's Distinction for their outstanding collaboration and exceptional contributions.
Who is eligible?
- Benefits-eligible, full-time or part-time staff
- Non-HUCTW and HUCTW staff
- Hired into a SEAS benefits-eligible position on or before 1/1/2023
- Job grade levels:
- 47 through 60 for Individual Dean's Distinction
- 47 through 64 for Team Dean's Distinction
- Less than Half Time (LHT) staff may be nominated as part of a Team's Dean Distinction Award but are ineligible for the Individual Dean's Distinction Award.
What is the nomination criteria?
When considering an individual or team to nominate, please keep the following principles in mind:
- Cultivating a strong sense of community and connection at SEAS.
- Creating a humane and supportive work environment.
- Exceeding regular responsibilities and expectations (going above and beyond, even in the course of doing one’s regular job).
- Fostering diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging.
- Collaborating with the University’s best interest and mission in mind.
- Demonstrating ingenuity and creativity in their roles.
How do I submit a nomination?
You can submit your nomination through the 2024 SEAS Recognition Awards Nomination Form. The submission period is from February 22 - March 8, 2024, at 11:59 pm.
Dean's Distinction Award Honorees
- 2023: Joan Cassidy, and the Service Center Team - Dina Adams, Jessica Landry, and Lisa Trovato-Powers
- 2020-2022: Awards paused due to COVID-19
- 2018: Lisa Frazier-Zezze, Rebecca Loose, and Adam Zewe
- 2017: Leah Burrows, Pamela Choi Redfern, and Hera Daldalian
- 2016: ABET Team - David Hwang, Patrick Ulrich, Anna Dunavin, and Claudia Stearns, Michaela Kapp, and Derek Barton
What is the Venky Award?
The Venkatesh "Venky" Narayanamurti Award for Mentoring and Community Building at SEAS is made possible through a generous gift by former SEAS Dean Venky Narayanamurti. This award is intended to encourage and recognize SEAS staff members who have made a significant contribution to mentoring (including the mentoring of direct reports, colleagues, or students) or to community building at SEAS.
Who is eligible?
All benefits-eligible SEAS staff members, including full- and part-time staff on the bi-weekly payroll with primary appointments as staff members. Research and teaching appointees such as lecturers and postdocs are ineligible for this award.
What is the nomination criteria?
Your nomination should include a detailed narrative of how the staff member has supported, encouraged, and promoted professional and career development of direct reports, colleagues, or students, and/or how the staff member has made a significant contribution toward building a stronger community at SEAS. Please provide specific examples of contributions.
How do I submit a nomination?
You can submit your nomination through the 2024 SEAS Recognition Awards Nomination Form. The submission period is from February 22 - March 8, 2024, at 11:59 pm.
Venky Award Honorees
- 2023: Weiwei Pan
- 2020-2022: Awards paused due to COVID-19
- 2019: Dina Adams, John Girash, and Alexis Stokes
- 2018: Maddie Hickman, Elaine Kristant, and Kimia Mavon
- 2017: Norton Allen, Sarah Iams, and Margo Levine
- 2016: Keith Karasek, Christopher Lombardo, and Patrick Ulrich
- 2015: Pavlos Protopapas and Daniel Weinstock
- 2014: Nater Jorde and Marybeth Wilcox
- 2013: Anas Chalah, Meg Hastings, and Jill Larson
- 2012: Julie Holbrook and Arlene Stevens
What is the Abacus Award?
The Abacus Award for Faculty Collaboration with Staff is an annual SEAS award that recognizes a faculty member's exceptional ability to collaborate and partner with staff.
Who is eligible?
All faculty are eligible for this award.
What is the nomination criteria?
Excellence in collaboration is defined by effectively working with others to achieve positive results. Recipients of the award are selected based on demonstrated excellence in collaboration and the recipient's positive impact on SEAS.
How do I submit a nomination?
You can submit your nomination through the 2024 SEAS Recognition Awards Nomination Form. The submission period is from February 22 - March 8, 2024, at 11:59 pm.
Abacus Award Honorees
- 2023: Katia Bertoldi, William and Ami Kuan Danoff Professor of Applied Mechanics
- 2020-2022: Awards paused due to COVID-19
- 2018: Stephen Chong, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science, and Rob Wood, Harry Lewis and Marlyn McGrath Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences
- 2017: David Parkes, George F. Colony Professor of Computer Science
- 2016: Todd Zickler, William and Ami Kuan Danoff Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- 2015: Harry Lewis, Gordon McKay Research Professor of Computer Science