Employee Shoutouts 2026

Jennifer Crawford

Procurement

After 25 years (!!!) in various roles throughout the Procurement Office, Jennifer jumped into formal solicitations for the first time this year. She took on a new challenge, grew professionally, and had a great attitude throughout the (sometimes frustrating) process. SHOUT OUT TO JENNIFER!

Finance IT and Innovation Team

FITI team, thank you for being such a supportive group. Working with you has been one of the best parts of my time at VT. I’ve learned so much from the way this team collaborates, solves problems, and looks out for one another. I’ve always felt included and heard, and that means a lot. Thank you for giving me the chance to contribute wherever I could.

Amy Li

Real Estate Management

Shout out to Amy Li for processing over 1,200+ different fiscal related items in 2025 for Real Estate Management! Your attention to detail, accuracy and charisma does not go unnoticed. We so very much appreciate everything you do, Amy! Keep up the great work!

Dean Ramsey

Procurement

Dean regularly goes above and beyond with a smile on his face. He has been a great addition to the Procurement Team and is quick to help his teammates through issues. This year, Dean finished two complex contracts for research participant recruitment, a result of 1.5 years of consistent negotiation, that directly impact the research and finance division.

Bruce Heath

Budget and Financial Planning

Shout Out to Bruce for setting up all the accounts associated with the university acquiring the Turner Street buildings. He patiently explained the new structure to Real Estate staff and his solution made it easy to collect rent and expenses from new retail tenants. 

Lexi Gruber

Controller

I appreciate Lexi's willingness to help others, find solutions, and work through complicated tasks with such a positive attitude.

Erin Griffin

Procurement

Erin is always willing to help others! It is evident that she has a heart for service. I really appreciate her kindness! 

Suzanne Gooding

Capital Budgeting and Financing

Suzanne did an incredible job developing over 50 residential renovation models that were insightful and helped leadership make informed decisions.

Kim Myers, Jolene Lucas, Courtney Smith

Controller

A big shoutout to the International Tax Team for successfully completing more than 450 I-9 reverifications since August 2025 through the new online meetings process. Your adaptability and dedication have made a huge impact! 

Third Party Team

Bursar

Every day, this team goes above and beyond to support one another, as well as other team members to help keep our office running smoothly, and most importantly, serve the students who rely on us. Your willingness to collaborate, step in to help each other, and handle complex work with professionalism and care does not go unnoticed. The work you do behind the scenes plays a vital role in ensuring students receive the support they need, and your commitment makes a real difference in their experience. What truly sets this team apart is the way you show up for each other. You foster a supportive environment where teamwork, trust, and accountability thrive. That spirit not only strengthens our office but also reflects the values we strive to uphold as a department. Thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and the pride you take in what you do. I am incredibly grateful for each member of the Third Party Team and proud of the impact you make every day. Your efforts are deeply appreciated.

Shu Pan

Controller

Shoutout to Shu Pan who supported the International Tax Team in updating and transitioning their reports into the SAS program. Your expertise and support helped make the process smoother and set the team up for continued success! 

Apurv Deshpande, Charlie Lisanti, Andrew Brown, Kris Buhrdorf

Finance IT and Innovation

Recognition to the IT team for their outstanding work in development and deployment of the Fringe Benefits Application over the span of several months. Your persistence and innovation helped create a solution that benefits the broader university community! 

Annie Harris, Jennifer Tabor, Heather Reed, Jenny Zhu, Amy Burchett

Controller

A big shoutout to the team behind the testing and implementation of the Fringe Benefits App. Your hard work and dedication are having a positive impact across the whole university community!

Tracy Shirley

Bursar

Thanks for your work on the collections team! 

Karen Sapp

Controller

Karen is the strong and steady force behind two of our division's most critical compliance achievements: the University's annual ARMICS certification to the State and the Financial and Business Compliance survey. Beyond that, she proactively ensures SOC reports reach the right reviewers — shielding the University from financial audit findings and resolving control issues before they become problems. For an institution of this size, the dedication required to drive any one of these efforts to completion is immense. Karen does all of them, and she does them well. What truly sets Karen apart, though, is the person she is while doing it. Her genuine warmth and kindness create an atmosphere of comfort and positivity that everyone around her feels. She is dependable in the truest sense — not just in delivering results, but in showing up for the people she works with. Her commitment, compassion, and quiet excellence deserve to be celebrated. The Controller's Office and I are deeply grateful to have her. Thank you, Karen! 

Bilal Ali

Bursar

Thank you so much for all your hard work this year! You are very much appreciated! 

Andrew Brown

Finance IT and Innovation

I’d like to give a big shout‑out to Andrew Brown for his outstanding work on the Accrual Budget Report changes. This was his first major project after joining the FIT Solutions Team, and he approached it with professionalism, curiosity, and determination. Andrew dove into the requirements, learned the system quickly, and delivered high‑quality updates that significantly improved the report’s accuracy and usability. His strong effort, positive attitude, and ability to take ownership of a complex project so early on made a real impact. We're grateful to have him on the team and excited to see what he takes on next!

Amie Howard, Carrie Haney

Bursar

Thank you both for being the best co-workers that any team can have! Your kindness and caring are appreciated every single day. 

Tracy Christensen

Controller

A big thank you for your outstanding support of division operations and for consistently keeping everything running smoothly. Your reliability, attention to detail, and willingness to step in wherever needed make a real difference. Equally appreciated is the positive energy you bring to the office — it truly enhances our work environment. We appreciate all that you do! 

Aaron Reece

Finance IT and Innovation

I’d like to recognize Aaron Reece for his exceptional contributions across our RPA initiatives, ABBYY invoice processing, and multiple Accounts Payable projects. Aaron consistently brings a rare combination of deep technical skill and calm, reliable leadership. His work has strengthened several critical workflows, and he approaches every challenge with a solution focused mindset that makes a noticeable impact. On top of his project work, Aaron has played an instrumental role in leading FITI through the update of our application development framework. His guidance, thoughtful input, and ability to balance technical detail with big picture direction have helped set the foundation for how we’ll build and maintain applications moving forward. Aaron’s efforts have improved our tools, our processes, and our team’s long-term efficiency. Thank you, Aaron, for your dedication, expertise, and your work makes a meaningful difference every day. 

Jordan Crockett

Treasury Services

Jordan has been such a pleasure to work with! She always has a great attitude, is always willing to learn and is a diligent worker. Thank you for all your hard work! 

Ashley Bell

Controller

Thank you, Ashley, for all of your help in Accounts Payable! You help people all day long and still manage to get a lot of work done and you're always so cheerful and pleasant. You're a great team player and I always appreciate your guidance and opinions. 

Jule Bostick

Finance IT and Innovation

I’d like to give a big shout out to Jule for the fantastic work he has done building out the new API connection to Banner. Eventhough he just joined the team, Jule jumped right in and delivered a solution that has an immediate and meaningful impact. His API work is allowing our applications to connect directly to Banner data, a capability that opens the door for cleaner integrations, more accurate information, and faster, more reliable workflows across our systems. We’re incredibly glad to have Jule on the team, his contributions in such a short time have been outstanding. 

Kelly Mabe

Bursar

Thank you for sharing your institutional knowledge and skills, it truly makes a difference. Your ability to figure things out and resolve complex issues keeps our office running smoothly. 

Jenni Zhu

Controller

For her outstanding support in helping get the Fringe Benefit application off the ground and taking initiative in developing new training resources. Her dedication, creativity, and willingness to step in assist with building processes from the ground up have made a meaningful impact on the team’s success. 

Heather Reed

Controller

For her help with adjustments during busy periods,her eagerness to learn new processes, and her consistent support of fellow team members, sharing her extensive knowledge make her a valuable part of the team. 

Veronica Barajas

Controller

For her leadership in updating procedures, maintaining strong organization, and consistently completing her work with a high level of accuracy and compliance. Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence set a great example for the team. 

Cheyenne Witt

Controller

We’d like to recognize Cheyenne Witt for her dedication to accuracy and attention to detail. Cheyenne consistently double-checks her work to ensure clean, accurate results every time. Her thorough approach helps prevent errors and keeps processes running smoothly for the entire team. Thank you, Cheyenne, for your commitment to precision and excellence — you make a meaningful impact every day! 

Karey Gray

Controller

For her outstanding collaboration with Shu in re‑creating all payroll exception reporting. Karey’s initiative and attention to detail were instrumental in rebuilding these reports from the ground up, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and usability for the team. Her dedication, collaborative spirit, and willingness to take on complex process work have made a meaningful impact on the team’s success. 

Jennifer Tabor

Controller

For her invaluable assistance in getting the Fringe Benefit application off the ground and for her unwavering support of her team. Her dedication, wit, and kindness create a positive environment and make a lasting impact on those around her.

Bryan Long

Controller

We’d like to recognize Bryan Long for his outstanding attitude and dedication to growth. Bryan consistently steps up and takes initiative, always asking what he can learn next and how he can continue to improve. His willingness to grow and support the team does not go unnoticed. Thank you, Bryan, for your commitment, positivity, and drive to learn — you make a real difference!

Jennifer Hollins

Controller

We’d like to give a big shoutout to Jennifer Hollins for her keen attention to detail and proactive approach. Jennifer consistently catches deduction discrepancies before payroll runs, helping to prevent issues before they happen. Her diligence ensures accuracy and saves valuable time for both the team and employees. Thank you, Jennifer, for your thoroughness and commitment to getting things right. 

Jenni Wheaton, Rosa Lucas, Angela Cox, Renata Gargioni

Bursar

You guys are an amazing team and I'm glad to have worked with you all!

Beth Santolla

Controller

We’d like to recognize Beth Santolla for her outstanding collaboration and positive impact on the team. Beth consistently partners with HR to ensure funding updates are processed correctly the first time, helping to maintain accuracy and efficiency across the board. Her proactive approach makes a meaningful difference in keeping everything on track. In addition to her great work, Beth brings a positive attitude to the team each day, uplifting those around her and fostering a supportive environment. Thank you, Beth, for your teamwork, initiative, and positivity — you are truly appreciated! 

Erin Evans

Controller

We’d like to recognize Erin Evans for her dedication, teamwork, and initiative. Erin has done an outstanding job training a co-worker in a new position, providing guidance, patience, and ongoing support to help ensure their success. She also continues to be a reliable resource for other team members whenever support is needed. In addition, Erin took all the extensive steps needed to register three new states for tax reporting, helping expand and strengthen our processes. Thank you, Erin, for your commitment to teamwork, knowledge sharing, and going above and beyond — you are truly appreciated! 

Ainsley Doyle

Controller

We’d like to recognize Ainsley Doyle for her excellent customer service, strong organization, and dedication to supporting the team. Ainsley consistently goes above and beyond to assist others, ensuring questions are answered and needs are met with professionalism and care. Her organizational skills help keep processes running smoothly, and her willingness to support her teammates makes a positive impact every day. Thank you, Ainsley, for your commitment to service, teamwork, and excellence — you are truly appreciated! 

Ashlyn Dodd

Controller

We’d like to give a shoutout to Ashlyn Dodd for the incredible work she does behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. Ashlyn’s reliability and steady support help ensure that daily operations stay on track by ensuring questions are answered, and needs are met with professionalism and care. Thank you, Ashlyn, for all that you do to keep things moving seamlessly—we truly appreciate you! 

Annie Harris

Controller

We’d like to recognize Annie Harris for her innovation, advocacy, and dedication to her team. Annie played a key role in the creation of the Fringe Benefits application, contributing to improvements that support efficiency and better processes. Her forward-thinking approach continues to make a lasting impact. In addition, Annie is a strong advocate for her team—consistently going to bat for recognition to ensure their hard work is valued. Thank you, Annie, for your leadership and initiative - you make a difference! 

Elena Cirmizi, Brad Foster, Heidi Bucher, Annie Harris

Controller

A tremendous thank you for the significant effort to complete the IRS audit. This was a significant amount of work on top of other projects and daily responsibilities, but each of your efforts was critical for ensuring the proper analysis was performed and appropriate documentation provided.

Kelly Moles

Controller

Thank you so much for the ongoing efforts to support the new VTF Private fund activity! It would not be successful without your dedication!

Lexi Gruber

Controller

Huge shoutout to Lexi for always being willing to help and answer questions! Your support makes a real difference and allows for others to learn and succeed. Thank you for being such a great resource and teammate! 

General Accounting Team

Controller

Thank you for all the behind the scenes work you do every day that underpins our financial operations. It's often not visible work, but is key to our success!