Outstanding Pacific Faculty & Staff Recognized at 2023 Honors & Awards Ceremony
Pacific University celebrated its outstanding employees May 10 at the 2023 Faculty & Staff Honors and Awards Ceremony. The annual ceremony recognizes employees for excellence in teaching, service, and student support. 
President Jenny Coyle '90, OD '93, MS '00 thanked faculty and staff as well as community and family members in attendance for carrying on the legacy of Pacific University’s mission and work.
“Pacific is a community,” she said. “We’re a community that cares about one another and a community that cares about the world. That really starts with you.”
This year's event was hosted by Isaac Gilman, dean of University Libraries, and Fraser Horn ’00, OD '04, dean of the College of Optometry, who kept the audience entertained with trivia questions and prizes while awardees had commemorative photos taken.
Awards recognized excellence in teaching, service and scholarship, for outstanding service to the university, and for work to advance diversity and inclusion.
- Shana Reece, Operations & Finance Manager, College of Education | Splendid Audacity Award
- Jennifer Hardacker, Media Arts Professor, College of Arts & Sciences | President’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
- Mónica Sarmiento, Dental Hygiene Studies Professor, College of Health Professions | Provost’s Junior Faculty Award for Teaching
- Aimee Wodda, Criminal Justice Assistant Professor College of Arts & Sciences | Provost's Junior Faculty Award for Scholarship
- Brenda Marroquin, Patient Services Coordinator, Dental Hygiene Studies, College of Health Professions | Boxer Spirit Award
- Pam Arnold, Director, Hillsboro Campus Operations, Executive Assistant to the Executive Dean & Vice Provost, College of Health Professions | Outstanding Leadership Award
- Hossein Rikhtehgar Berenji, Operations Management Assistant Professor, College of Business | Kate Garrison “Overcoming the Odds” Award
- Mari Fujimoto OD ’19, Assistant Professor, College of Optometry | University Diversity & Justice Award
- Fan Chen, Finance Associate Professor, College of Business | President’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching
- Renee Vanzant, Accounts Receivable Manager, Business Office | Dedication to Students Award
- Scott Tuomi, Music Professor, College of Arts & Sciences | Distinguished University Professor
Awardees are nominated by their
peers and selected by a committee of fellow faculty and staff members. Make a nomination now for the 2024 award season.
Pacific also said goodbye to the following 12 retirees and wished them well on their future adventures.
- Mike Francis, Associate Director of Communications, University Advancement
- Narce Rodriguez, Vice President of Student Affairs & Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer | Creighton Honored Retiree
- Helen Sharp, Director, Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Education | Faculty Emeritus
- Patrick Boyle, Physician Assistant Studies Professor, College of Health Professions | Faculty Emeritus
- Arlene Adamson, Technical Specialist, Mail Services
- Kim McAuliffe, Lead Chemistry Resource Coordinator & Lab Instructor, School of Natural Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences | Creighton Honored Retiree
- Lisa Rowley, Dental Hygiene Studies Professor, College of Health Professions | Faculty Emeritus
- Mark Andre OD, College of Optometry Professor | Faculty Emeritus
- Judy Cook, Mail Services Assistant Supervisor | Creighton Honored Retiree
- Lynda Irons, Associate Professor, University Libraries | Faculty Emeritus
- Donna Hepler, Mail Services Supervisor | Creighton Honored Retiree
- Steve Klein, Director, University Center & Student Activities, Student Affairs | Creighton Honored Retiree
The Faculty and Honors Awards Ceremony also recognized 136 employees for work anniversaries ranging from five to 40 years.
