May Update from President Carmen Twillie Ambar — 2023 Service Awards Honorees

This is an exciting time of year on Oberlin’s campus. A time when our faculty are preparing our students for their final recitals, exams, productions, and exhibitions. A time when our staff are in high gear getting ready for all the festivities around commencement and reunions. And it’s the time when high school students have visited our campus—met with many of you—and are now getting ready to join our community in the fall. All this happens because of the work you do for Oberlin. 

Your dedication and love for this campus, for our students, and for the mission of Oberlin does not go unnoticed. Your work and service are sometimes understated, but your energy, creativity, and dedication, makes all the difference. You lead by example. I am so proud to work alongside you—and together, we provide our students with an exceptional experience—so they also can make a difference in the world. 

To those who have served Oberlin College and Conservatory for the milestones of 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 years, thank you for your commitment to this institution.

40 Years
Susan Colley, Delaney Professor, Mathematics
Pat Day, Professor, English
Fred Lowery, Client Support Analyst, Client Services/CIT
Stephan Mayer, Professor, Psychology
Alison Ricker, Head, Science Library, Science Library
Lisa Walker, Departmental Assistant, Admissions
Milton Wyman, Mail/Parcel Service Technician, Service and Transportation Pool

35 Years
Wendy Brill, Office Manager Printing Services
Bobby Ferrazza, Professor Jazz Studies
Sarah Schuster, Professor Studio Art
Ann Sherif, Professor East Asian Studies
Clovis White, Associate Professor Sociology

30 Years
Twila Colley, Departmental Secretary, Biology
Bart Harrah, Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Center
James Howsmon, Professor, Keyboard Studies
David Kamitsuka, Dean Arts and Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Wendy Kozol, Professor, Comparative American Studies
Kai Li, Senior Lecturer, East Asian Studies
Tom Newlin, Professor, Russian
Haewon Song, Professor of Pianoforte, Keyboard Studies
Nanette Yannuzzi, Professor, Studio Art

25 Years
Dorothy Auble, Departmental Technician, Biology
Joyce Babyak, Associate Professor, Religion
Leslie Braat, Senior Associate Director Admissions, Admissions
Amy Eckhart, Campus Security Supervisor, Campus Safety
Myrna Fechko, Departmental Technician, Planned Giving
Stephen FitzGerald, Professor, Physics
Jennifer Gendics, Departmental Technician, Dean of Conservatory
Yumi Ijiri, Professor, Physics
Gillian Johns Associate Professor, English
Rebecca Leydon, Professor, Music Theory
Laurie McMillin, Professor, Writing and Communication
Manish Mehta, Professor of Chemistry, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Pipo Nguyen-Duy, Professor, Studio Art
Barb Prior, Head, Clarence Ward Art Library, Art Library
Martin Thomson-Jones, Professor, Philosophy
Kelly Viancourt, Exec Director of Communications, Communications
Jim Vidovich, Equipment Technician, Client Services/CIT
Elizabeth Wilmer, Professor, Mathematics

20 Years
Darrett Adkins, Associate Professor, String Studies
Nathan Broome, Manager Digital Infrastructure, Operations and Production Services
David Bugher, Assistant Technical, Director Theater
Bonnie Cheng, Associate Professor, Art History
Hsiu-Chuang Deppman, Professor, East Asian Studies
Kimberlie Fixx, Library Assistant, Conservatory Library Operations
Josh Levy, Associate Director, Admissions, Admissions
Lori Lindsey, Animal Caretaker, Neuroscience
Kristina Mani, Professor, Politics
Mike Newman, CHP Operator, Heat and Cooling Plant
Gina Perez, Professor, Comparative American Studies
Baron Pineda, Professor, Anthropology
Edith Raible, Departmental Technician, Admissions
Laura Romberg, Associate Professor, Biology
Annemarie Sammartino, Professor, History
Katherine Thomson-Jones, Associate Professor, Philosophy

15 Years
Zeinab Abul-Magd, Professor, History
Jennifer Ackerman, Administrative Secretary, Admissions
David Cannon Jr., Campus Safety Supervisor, Campus Security
John Congdon, Leadership Gift Officer, Leadership Giving
James Conway, Director, Research, Development Operations
Debra El-Amin, Counseling Center Assistant Director, Student Counseling
Claudia Ferrini, Environmental Safety Manager, Environmental Safety
Jacquelynn Gaines, Director of Interaction Experience, Client Services/CIT
Raymond Harris, Assistant Coach, Men's & Women's CC/Track & Field, Athletics
Sara Hasley, Library Technician, Library Operations
Lauren Haynes, Advancement Chief of Staff, Advancement
Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway, Professor, Anthropology
Elizabeth Houston, Assoc Director of Admissions/Dir. Systems, Admissions
Ben Jones, Assistant Vice President, Director of Admission Communications, Admissions
Kasia Karapuda, Associate Director of Investments, Investment
Matt Koperdak, Department Technician, MCT Tech Services/Library
Doug Krucinski, Carpenter Foreman, Carpenter Service Center
Greggor Mattson, Professor, Sociology
Christina Neilson, Associate Professor, Art History
Renee Romano, Professor, History
Anne Salsich, Associate Archivist, Library Archives
Lisa Schuster, Associate Director, Advancement Ops, Advancement
Deb Stanfield, Administrative Secretary, Alumni Affairs
Marla Thompson, Library Assistant, Library Operations
Richard Wood, Facilities Manager, Arts and Sciences
Annessa Wyman, Manager, Res. Education for Conference Services, Residential Education

10 Years
Yveline Alexis, Associate Professor, Africana Studies
Mike Baker, Assoc Director Donor Relations, Donor Relations
Erich Burnett, Director Content and Strategic Storytelling, Communications
Tim Croy, Assistant Swimming and Diving Coach, Athletics
David Dorsey, Multifaith Chaplain and Director of OSD, Religious Activities
Aaron Goldman, Associate Professor, Biology
Creg Jantz, Senior Associate Director, Athletics, Athletics
Dana Jessen, Director, Conservatory Professional Dev., Conservatory Career Development
Jessica Lear, Departmental Secretary, Allen Memorial Art Museum
Stiliana Milkova, Associate Professor, Comparative Literature Program
Shannon Miller, Departmental Assistant, Facilities Administration
Charles Peterson, Associate Professor, Africana Studies
Brittnei Sherrod, Director, Bonner Scholars Program, Bonner Ctr for Service and Learning
Eric Steggall, Managing Director/Lecturer, Theater
Michael Straus, Associate Dean Art Administration & Operations, Dean of Conservatory
Paul Thibodeau, Associate Professor, Psychology
Gavin Tritt, Executive Director, Shansi Program, Shansi Operations
Kirk Warren, Laboratory Technician, Chemistry and Biochemistry

5 Years
Chris Anderson, Director, Oberlin Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Studies
Emily Barton, Associate Professor, Creative Writing Program
Rebecca Belford, Technical Services Librarian, Conservatory Library Operations
Leah Brockman, Associate Dean, Student Academic Affairs, Dean of Conservatory
Shawn Camera, HVAC Technician, Heating and Air Conditioning
Stephen Checkoway, Associate Professor, Computer Science Program
Thai Dang, Professor, Keyboard Studies
Alex de la Pena, Head Coach, M/W Swimming and Diving, Athletics
John Duca, Professor, Economics
Yorki Encalada Egusquiza, Visiting Assistant Professor, Hispanic Studies
Rachel Eveleth, Assistant Professor, Geosciences
Clara Margaret Flood, Geology Lab Manager/Instructor, Geosciences
Curt Galloway, Electrician, Electrician Service Center
Jose Garcia, Director of People Analytics and HRIS, Human Resources
Jeff Gonser, Assistant Director of Advancement IT, Advancement
Natalie Gutierrez-Negron, Library Assistant, Conservatory Library Operations
Melanie Hawkins, Interim Assistant Director of Residential Ed, Residential Education
April Herner, Director of Finance/Controller, Controller
Tom Hopkins, Senior Lecturer, Creative Writing Program
Erin Kehn, Assistant Coach, Women's Lacrosse, Athletics
Josh Koller, Assistant Director, Career Development, Career Services
Tammy Kwilecki, Communications Officer, Campus Safety
Kevin Liebenguth, Finance and HR Info System Analyst, Center for Information Technology
Juan Maldonado, HVAC Technician, Heating and Air Conditioning
Michael Miller, Equipment Technician, Mechanician Shop
Connie Nagle, Student Employment Coordinator, Human Resources
Abe Reshad, Director, Language Tech and Academic Support, Language Laboratory
Kim Russell, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse, Athletics
Tony Ryno, Director Srv Delivery and Security Architecture, Client Services/CIT
Ted Samuel, Deputy Director, Shansi, Shansi Oberlin
Rachel Saylor, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jennifer Shults, Assistant Professor, Dance
Nicole Slatinsky, Art Director, Communications
Heather Spellman, Asst. Director of Admin Computing Services, Administrative Computing Services
Andrew Stewart, Departmental Assistant, Printing Services
Lara Straka, Payroll Manager, Human Resources
Elizabeth Sullivan, Assessment and User Experience Librarian, Library Operations
Cynthia Taylor, Associate Professor, Computer Science
Alyssa Traster, Education Assistant, Art Museum Operations
Bill van der Sloot, Professor of Violin, String Studies
Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Finance and Administration
Ben Wach, Asst Coach, Men's & Women's CC and Track & Field, Athletics
Jess West, Head Coach, Women's Field Hockey, Athletics
Matt Wilkinson, Senior Analyst/Programmer, Administrative Computing Services