Rice University recognized six outstanding staff members with the 2025 Staff Excellence Award during the annual staff appreciation event April 23, celebrating their extraordinary dedication and service to the university community.
The award was created and presented by the Rice Staff Council with support from Kelly Fox, executive vice president for finance and administration, and the Division of Operations, Finance and Support. The accolade honors the achievements of staff members who exemplify the university’s core values of responsibility, integrity, community and excellence and make a positive impact on the Rice community.
The Rice Staff Council’s staff recognition subcommittee chaired by Amy McCaig, senior national media relations specialist, had more than 100 nominations this year — an increase of more than 30% from the prior year.
“It’s been inspiring to see so many individuals being recognized for their hard work, dedication and contributions to our community,” McCaig said.
Due to an unprecedented tie, this year’s program featured six award recipients rather than five, reflecting the depth of exceptional service across the university.
The award winners include:
Charles Brown, custodian in the residential colleges
“Charlie consistently strives for excellence,” a nominator wrote. “He is known for his punctuality, always arriving to work early and for giving much of his personal time to serve Rice and its community.”
Anna Julia, department administrator in the Department of Art History
“Anna has infused so much energy and positivity into our department every single day, which has truly boosted morale for everyone who is lucky enough to work with her,” a nominator wrote. “She is eager and proactive with meeting administrators and faculty from other departments both to learn how to better the efficiency and processes of our own department and simply because she is genuinely interested in getting to know others to form a stronger community on campus.”
John Martinez, catalog and scheduling assistant in the Office of the Registrar
“John’s commitment to integrity extends beyond policy explanations — he ensures that processes are carried out in a way that upholds our shared values of honesty, responsibility and respect for students,” a nominator wrote.
Tonyamas Moore, operations specialist in the Office of the Dean of Undergraduates
“In her short time in our office and at Rice, her drive to serve our staff, the wider community and, by extension, our students has been invaluable,” a nominator wrote. “She has provided the tools and resources for staff to better serve others, significantly enhancing the mission of our university.”
Nubia Quintanilla, custodian in the residential colleges
“True to Rice’s values of caring for one another, Nubia consistently extends hospitality to everyone she encounters,” a nominator wrote. “Whether it’s her cheerful greetings or her willingness to lend a helping hand, Nubia creates an environment of warmth and inclusivity.”
Anita Walker, course administrator in the Department of Chemistry
“Anita’s empathy for people’s experiences coupled with her knowledge of university resources allows her to serve the students of the chemistry department to overcome challenges they never thought they could overcome,” a nominator wrote.
“These six individuals exemplify what makes Rice such a remarkable place,” said Janine Berrill, chair of the Rice Staff Council. “Their hard work and dedication are an inspiration to the entire university community.”
The Rice Staff Excellence Awards reflect the university’s ongoing commitment to recognizing the essential contributions of its staff, who often work behind the scenes to ensure Rice’s continued excellence.
More information on the Rice Staff Excellence Awards is online at https://staffcouncil.rice.edu/awards.