Staff Service Awards
The 2026 winners of the Superior Staff Awards top from left Jennifer Williams, Joanna Evans and Paryn Browning; and bottom: Crystal Beshears Duncan, Crystal Evans and Dani McCool.
Winners
Congratulations to the 2026 Staff Service Award winners!
Excellence in Service Awards — Jennifer Williams, Office of Innovation for Education, and Joanna Evans, Eleanor Mann School of Nursing
Excellence in Mentorship Awards — Paryn Browning, Boyer Center for Student Services, and Crystal Beshears Duncan, Office of Innovation for Education
Emerging Staff Leader Award — Crystal Evans, Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods
Distinguished Staff Leader Award — Dani McCool, Eleanor Mann School of Nursing
Read more about them at "College of Education and Health Professions Announces 2026 Staff Awardees," University of Arkansas News, April 23, 2026.
The council has revamped the award categories to encompass more of our staff members and encourage college members to submit more nominations. The six awards in four categories recognize our staff members who display excellence in service, mentorship and leadership.
Excellence in Service Awards — two recipients
The council names two recipients of the Excellence in Service Award. These awards recognize staff members who consistently go above and beyond in service to students, faculty/staff, the college or the broader community. To be eligible for consideration, nominees must have completed at least one full year of employment with the college as of January 2026.
Excellence in Mentorship Awards — two recipients
The council names two recipients of the Excellence in Mentorship Award. These awards recognize staff members who consistently exhibit exceptional mentorship skills toward their peers and/or students. To be eligible for consideration, nominees must have completed at least one full year of employment with the college as of January 2026.
Emerging Staff Leader Award — one recipient
The council names one recipient of the Emerging Staff Leader Award. This award recognizes a staff member who has been employed with the college for one to three years as of January 2026 and has demonstrated significant emergent leadership qualities and promise for a bright future with the college.
Distinguished Staff Leader Award — one recipient
The council names one recipient of the Distinguished Staff Leader Award. This award recognizes a staff member who has been employed with the college for more than three years as of January 2026 and has a long-standing track record of exceptional and proven leadership qualities marked by their dedication to their colleagues and the college.
☞ Nominations for the 2027 Staff Awards will open early in 2027; please check back. ☜
Nominees must be 100% appointed to be eligible for consideration. Self-nominations are not accepted.