iSchool Celebrates Transformation to College with Inaugural Administrative Staff Excellence Awards

As we near the end of the School of Information’s first year as a standalone college at the University of Arizona, we look back at how our organization has changed—a transformation that would not be possible without the hard work of iSchool staff members. While the iSchool hosts a variety of staff types, including our dedicated research staff, administrative staff are those dedicated to the day-to-day operations of the college.

On April 10, 2024, Interim Dean Catherine Brooks celebrated the iSchool’s more than 20 administrative staff members at a luncheon culminating in our inaugural college staff awards. In total, seven awards were presented by the dean:

• Manny Acuña, Program Coordinator, Staff Award for Excellence
• Ben Beshaw, Assistant Director of Finance and Research Administration, Staff Award for Excellence
• Holly Brown, Director of Graduate Programs and Global Student Services, Staff Award for Excellence
• Danny Downes, Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Award for Excellence in Student Advising
• Eric Gonzales, Manager of Administration, Staff Award for Excellence
• Amy Gordon, Assistant Director of Business and Finance, Staff Award for Excellence
• Jana Phillips, Events Coordinator, Staff Award for Excellence

“Our administrative staff are not only performing their duties with aplomb, they are also taking on the additional responsibilities and stresses of substantial organizational change,” says Brooks, who shared a work-related story about each staff member as she presented the awards. “I couldn’t be more delighted and proud in how we’ve pulled together in this significant year. My thanks go not only to those who have received this year’s awards, but to all of our staff for their tremendous work.”

Assistant Director of Business and Finance Amy Gordon joined the School of Information long before our transition to a college. “When I started at the iSchool eight years ago, I thought I’d be perfectly happy working on the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences business team until I retired,” she says. “It felt somewhat terrifying as the school transitioned into a college, but stepping up to the challenge ended up making me a stronger, more confident part of the team. It’s been a heck of a year, and I am so grateful to receive the award and the recognition for my effort.”

For Danny Downes, who received the iSchool’s award for advising, the honor is appreciated—but his service to the students remains his top priority. “Receiving the excellence in advising award was a welcome surprise,” he says. “I didn't expect such recognition, so to be included with the rest of the amazing awardees feels very fulfilling. But like the entire advising team, I'm here simply to help our students along their journey—and I will continue to do that!”

For the awardees—and no doubt their fellow administrative staff members—the attitude that Downes demonstrates is foundational to their work: the staff of the iSchool first and foremost strive to support our dynamic students and the faculty who teach them.

As we continue our transformation, their commitment to shaping the future of information together remains strong.
 

Support the School of Information as our transition to a college continues.