Eleven staff members were honored by UCR Staff Assembly as part of its annual Outstanding Staff Awards.
The awards were presented at a Wednesday, May 28 ceremony at the Barn Stable.
The awards recognize staff members for excellence in their work, commitment to the university’s mission, and making UCR a better place for all.
Staff and faculty nominated staff members for the awards, and the UCR Staff Assembly Recognition Committee chose the recipients. The awards were given in five main categories.
Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox attended the ceremony, presented trophies, and posed for photos with the winners.
Four people were recognized with the Staff Who Make a Difference Award, which honors staff in four different areas: administrative support, professional, service, and technical. The Tartan Soul Award, the Commitment to Diversity Award, the People Helping People Award, and the Volunteer of the Year Award were presented to individual winners.
The honorees are:
Ben Tusher, production director for the performing arts and production manager and resident lighting designer for the Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production, won the Staff Who Make a Difference award in the technical category.
He was recognized as a transformational force behind the scenes by producing major productions, mentoring student designers and stage managers, modernizing production systems, and strengthening cross-campus collaborations.
Jonathan Stiles, marketing coordinator at the Student Recreation Center, won the Staff Who Make a Difference award in the professional category.
He was praised for creating inclusive content that increased UCR’s reach to over ten thousand followers while mentoring new staff and championing campus pride.
Jeanette Westbrook, procurement analyst from the BMPN Administrative department at the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, won the Staff Who Make a Difference award in the administrator category.
She was credited for developing custom tools and training resources to simplify complex systems like Oracle and Impact23. Her reliable, innovative, and supportive attitude helped bridge procurement and research administration with creativity and precision.
Rigo Salazar, conference and events manager from Hospitality Services, won the Staff Who Make a Difference award in the service category.
He was praised for his exceptional work ethic while overseeing and executing hundreds of events each year. He also demonstrated leadership qualities by mentoring a large team of student workers.
Alisha French, senior human resources generalist from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean’s Office, won the Tartan Soul Award.
She was credited with leading the complete redesign of the CHASS STAR Award process, accurately handling over 100 nominations, and playing a key role in initiatives such as “Paths to Promotions” and the CHASS Staff Strategic Task Force. She also mentors students and serves on campus-wide committees.
Brock Cavett, director of programming and career development at the Office of Alumni Engagement, won the Commitment to Diversity Award.
He is the co-chair of the University Advancement’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee and co-leader of Highlander Advocacy Network. He also chairs as the City of Riverside’s Human Relations Commission, serves as vice president and advocacy director for Riverside LGBTQ+ pride, and contributes to the California Department of Education’s LGBTQ+ Statewide Advisory Task Force. He led the Inland Empire campaign for Yes on Prop 3, which enshrined marriage equality in the California state constitution.
Vanessa Blaylock, resident director of Residential Life, won the People Helping People Award.
She is a campus volunteer with Staff Assembly, UCR Food Pantry, and serves as a wellness ambassador. She champions opportunities as a Horatio Alger Field director, guiding low-income students to scholarships and mentoring them at the National Scholars Conference in Washington, D.C. Beyond this, she has also provided support to a foster child for nearly two years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).
Robert Stephens, complaint resolution officer at the Office of Civil Rights, won the Volunteer of the Year Award. This award recognizes an individual who is an outstanding Staff Assembly volunteer.
Staff Assembly also presented the Mary Johnson Outstanding Retiree Award in partnership with the UCR Retiree Association, which honors a retiree with an outstanding record of service to UCR.
Jorge Sanchez, who retired in 2022 as a data, program, and communication analyst in human resources, is actively serving on the UCR Retirees Association (UCRRA) board. He used his design skills to lead a major redesign for the UCRRA website in 2024 and has created materials for UCRRA events.
The Special Recognition Award is presented to individuals whose dedication has made a lasting impact on the success of Staff Assembly.
Remi Rodriguez, R’Pantry coordinator with Basic Needs, was recognized for her positivity and work in facilitating Staff Pantry events, which many staff members have come to rely on.
Alex Najera, chief human resources officer and associate vice chancellor, was recognized for being an open-minded and collaborative leader. He was praised for listening to suggestions, such as creating professional development pathways for UCR staff.
