Higher ed HR professionals across the country are taking bold steps every day to support their institutions — whether by launching leadership development initiatives, expanding mental health resources, or strengthening employee engagement. CUPA-HR’s Higher Education HR Awards program recognizes some of the best and brightest in higher ed HR and honors HR professionals who have given their time and talents to the association.
Here are our 2025 honorees.
Donald E. Dickason Award
This award, named for the association’s founder, is CUPA-HR’s highest honor and recognizes an individual for exceptional leadership and service to CUPA-HR.
Jay Stephens
Jay Stephens, vice president for people and culture at the University of Montana, is a long-time member of CUPA-HR and served as chair of the board of directors during the 2022-23 fiscal year.
Prior to his election as chair of the board, Stephens served in many association leadership roles, including at-large member of the CUPA-HR board of directors and the Western Region board of directors; chair of the Public Policy Committee; vice-chair of the Research Advisory Committee; member of the Learning and Professional Development, Budget and Finance and National Awards committees; and co-chair of the Governance Task Force. Stephens continues to be an active member of the association, serving as a program leader for the Emerging CUPA-HR Leaders Program and speaking at CUPA-HR conferences.
Thanks to the generous support of award sponsor TIAA, CUPA-HR is pleased to offer an $8,000 contribution to the institution of Stephens’ choice.
Distinguished Service Award
This award recognizes an individual for distinguished leadership and service to CUPA-HR. In 2025, three of our past leaders received the award.
Heather Hart
Heather Hart, interim chancellor at Ivy Tech Community College Lake County Campus, has served in many CUPA-HR leadership positions. She was selected to participate in the 2015-16 Emerging CUPA-HR Leaders cohort.
Since that time, Hart has served as an at-large member and chair of the Midwest Region board and as an at-large member of the national board. She has also been a member of the Learning and Professional Development, Public Policy, Research Advisory, National Awards, Budget and Finance, Spring Conference, and Creating Inclusive Communities Steering committees.
CUPA-HR is pleased to make a $4,000 contribution to an institution of Hart’s choice.
El pagnier (EK) Hudson
El pagnier (EK) Hudson, senior vice president for human resources at Florida International University, has served in many CUPA-HR leadership positions, including at-large member of both the Florida Chapter board and the national board of directors. She has also chaired the Public Policy Committee and has been a long-term member of the Creating Inclusive Communities Steering Committee.
CUPA-HR is pleased to make a $4,000 contribution to an institution of Hudson’s choice.
Kristi Yowell
Kristi Yowell, chief people and culture officer and associate vice president for human resources at Loyola University Maryland, has served in many CUPA-HR leadership positions, including as founding president of the Maryland Chapter, at-large member and chair of the Eastern Region board, and Eastern Region representative on the national board. She has been a long-time member of the Public Policy Committee in addition to serving as chair of the Learning and Professional Development Committee for 2023-24. Yowell will also serve as a navigator in the new CUPA-HR Navigators program in 2025-26.
CUPA-HR is pleased to make a $4,000 contribution to an institution of Yowell’s choice.
Chief Executive HR Champion Award
Recognizing that what makes an institution great are its people, this award honors the president or chancellor of a higher ed institution or system who has demonstrated significant support for the institution’s HR work.
Philomena Mantella
Under the leadership of Philomena Mantella, president of Grand Valley State University, GVSU has taken steps to embed the human resources function into its strategic goals and institutional priorities. Several key leadership decisions underscore President Mantella’s commitment to elevate the role of human resources at the university. In 2021, the role of the HR team was transformed from a compliance-driven model to a hybrid of the universal and strategic business partner models. This successful transition was made possible by President Mantella’s vision and the support of her senior leadership team.
President Mantella has also supported leadership development at the university by funding and engaging in initiatives like Leading Lakers, a tiered leadership development program that uses the university’s newly developed eight employee competencies as a framework for cultivating leaders. President Mantella collaborated with the university’s talent management team to develop the objectives and learning experience for the program’s lead session, “Empowering,” and personally engages with each cohort to deliver the session.
Thanks to the generous support of award sponsor Segal, CUPA-HR is pleased to offer an $8,000 contribution to Grand Valley State University.
Workplace Excellence Award
This award recognizes and celebrates institutional initiatives and programs that have made a significant impact on institutional culture by improving employee access, opportunity and engagement.
Virginia Tech
Managed by the Virginia Tech’s Hokie Wellness team under the direction of Bryan Garey, vice president for human resources, the Hokie Wellness employee mental health program uses a comprehensive, four-level approach to support employee well-being: individualized support and connection, workshops and training, partnerships and outreach, and resource promotion. In late 2023, the program partnered with TimelyCare, a virtual health and well-being provider specializing in higher education, to launch their virtual mental health platform for employees. Among the benefits, employees receive on-demand support, an online library of mental health content, and up to 12 free counseling appointments per academic year.
In 2024, Hokie Wellness mental health programming reached approximately 2,000 people through workshops or training sessions, 1,200 people through campus outreach events, and 100 people through direct consultations, totaling approximately one-third of the university’s full-time employees.
Thanks to the generous support of EyeMed, CUPA-HR is pleased to offer a $5,000 contribution to the institution.
HR Innovation Award
The HR Innovation Award honors transformative thinking in higher education HR, recognizing a new and innovative HR team, project or program that resulted in significant and ongoing organizational change within an institution.
University of Louisville
Established in 2020 as a result of the University of Louisville’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan, the Employee Success Center plays a pivotal role in supporting employee engagement. Though the center operates independently, it is aligned under the university’s human resources department, encouraging collaboration between the departments and strengthening their shared commitment to supporting employee success. The center fosters a growth-oriented culture at the institution by focusing on several forward-thinking initiatives: a year-long onboarding process designed to help new employees integrate more fully into university life; leadership development, mentoring and career guidance for all employee groups; and innovative recognition programs including CARDGrams, university-themed e-cards designed to make daily employee recognition simple, accessible and meaningful.
The Employee Success Center has made a significant impact through its people-centered initiatives. In 2024 alone, the revamped onboarding program welcomed 935 new hires, with 90% reporting a positive experience. Also in 2024, the center launched a career coaching program to support employee growth and internal mobility. Of the 42 employees who participated in coaching sessions, 95% reported a stronger sense of belonging. Additionally, the CARDGrams program has seen enormous success in the three years since its launch, with over 7,500 e-cards sent in recognition of colleagues.
CUPA-HR is pleased to make a $5,000 contribution to the University of Louisville in recognition of the award.
Higher Ed HR Rock Star Award
This award recognizes a CUPA-HR member who is serving in the first five years of a higher education HR career and has already made a significant impact.
Stacey Ellis
Stacey Ellis, faculty and staff engagement program manager at George Mason University, has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to fostering collaboration and engagement across the institution. Stacey is deeply involved at the university, volunteering as a well-being mentor with the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and contributing to campus events, including the 9/11 Day of Service. She also serves on several committees that promote university-wide initiatives focused on well-being, community service and professional development.
Stacey has also demonstrated innovative leadership on campus. She played a pivotal role in transforming the Outstanding Achievement Awards ceremony, introducing new award categories for part-time wage workers, early-career professionals, and employees who contribute to a positive campus culture, ensuring the program represents and celebrates the university’s diverse workforce. Additionally, she created a monthly schedule of HR news articles to keep faculty and staff informed about key updates and initiatives, expanded access to professional development opportunities, and co-founded Mason Throughout the Nation, an employee resource group that supports and connects hybrid and remote faculty and staff.
National Chapter Excellence Award
This national award recognizes a chapter that is making a significant impact through its commitment to CUPA-HR and to the higher ed HR community.
Missouri Chapter
The Missouri Chapter demonstrates its commitment to facilitating meaningful connections by hosting in-person and virtual events, including an annual fall conference, quarterly virtual professional development seminars, and in-person networking events. They also partner with the CUPA-HR Kansas Chapter to collaborate on an annual joint-chapter conference that supports both chapters’ shared goals of community building and engagement.
The Missouri Chapter demonstrates its commitment to developing the next generation of higher ed HR leaders through strategic leadership cultivation and inclusive engagement. To create a leadership pipeline for the board, the chapter has established several volunteer committees where emerging leaders gain hands-on experience and contribute to the chapter’s success.
Do You Know Someone Doing Award-Worthy Work?
CUPA-HR invites nominations for the Higher Education HR Awards beginning in January each year. In addition to an engraved award and national recognition, some awards include a monetary contribution to the award recipient’s institution, made possible through the generous support of our award sponsors.