Members of Pitt Public Health’s staff were honored at the 2026 Staff Awards & Recognition Ceremony on Aug. 11. Staff milestones recognizing five to 40 years of service were also celebrated.
The awards recognize staff who make exceptional contributions to the School of Public Health through their work, leadership, service and impact on the community. Colleagues were invited to nominate staff members and share specific examples of how their work exemplifies those contributions.
“Our staff are an essential part of everything we do at Pitt Public Health,” said Maureen Lichtveld, MD, MPH, dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. “From student services to award administration, each person plays a pivotal role in advancing our mission. I am incredibly proud of the dedication and excellence they bring to our school and community every day.”
Staff awards were presented to Kathleen Ali, assistant to the chair in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Adrianna Gradisek, experiential learning specialist in the Office of the Dean; Julia Lewand, project coordinator in the Department of Epidemiology; and Jocelyn Runyon, grants and contracts manager in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology.
Additional Staff Award nominees included Helen Chen, academic administrator in the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science; Mindy Coccari, research lab manager in the Department of Epidemiology; Caroline Deasy, personnel administrator in the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science; Ryan Gordon, pathways program manager in the Office of the Dean; Rebecca (Becky) Meehan, research assistant in the Department of Epidemiology; Tina Micale, administrator in the Department of Health Policy and Management; Ali Pittman, administrator in the Department of Health Policy and Management; Jonette Suiter, administrative coordinator in the Office of Student Affairs; Rhonda Toth, administrative assistant in the Department of Health Policy and Management; Katie Walters, executive assistant to the chair in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health; and Kristy Wright, associate administrator in the Department of Epidemiology.
Tamara Dubowitz, PhD, chair of the Department of Epidemiology, recognized staff members in the department who reached service milestones.
“I am grateful to recognize this group of Epidemiology staff members who are celebrating a variety of years of service at the University,” Dubowitz said. “Their dedication, hard work, and contributions have made a meaningful impact on our department and school. Congratulations on your milestones and thank you for your commitment here at Pitt!”
Lichtveld said the celebration is an opportunity to recognize the work staff members do every day to support the school and its mission.
–Ava Dzurenda
The Staff Committee thanks those that submitted nominations and congratulates those that were nominated. A special thank you as well to all eight review panel volunteers. View photos from the event on Flickr.
Excerpts from Awardee Nominations
Kathleen Ali
Kathleen leads without a formal mandate — and that is precisely what makes any demonstrated leadership so meaningful. She identifies needs before they become problems, steps into gaps that fall outside her role description, and guides those around her with patience and confidence. Her influence is not through authority but through the standard she sets every single day.
Kathleen does not wait to be asked to make someone feel welcome: it is simply how she operates. Across her 8 years at the School of Public Health and four years as Assistant to the Chair in BCHS, she has quietly and consistently built the kind of environment where people feel seen, supported, and able to do their best work. Woven through all of her work are her initiative, problem-solving, grace, and integrity.
Adrianna Gradisek
In addition to her daily work in student affairs, Adrianna stepped up to lead an initiative and meet student and community needs when I approached her about starting a Pitt Public Health Resource Locker, and her guidance and support were instrumental in that process. Adrianna's initiative and unwavering support of student ideas like mine goes beyond just her job title, and she steps up everyday to make the Pitt Public Health community stronger and healthier.
A specific time that Adrianna made a difference in my life as a student was the support she gave me throughout the spring semester, when I was balancing many personal and academic responsibilities. It was a challenging semester for me, and Adrianna knew that and continuously checked in on me, and even brought me leftovers from her Easter dinner when she knew I couldn't go home to my family. She made a world of a difference in my personal wellbeing and success as a student, like I know she does for so many other students in the Pitt Public Health community. I could not think of a better recipient of the 2026 Staff Award, and I am honored to be the one to present it to her today.
Julia Lewand
Julia is an exceptionally proactive, resourceful, and collaborative team member who consistently takes ownership beyond her formal responsibilities. Her outstanding organization, attention to detail, and command of NIH requirements make her invaluable in coordinating complex grant activities, while her initiative in developing new skills allows her to anticipate and address emerging team needs. Equally important, Julia brings warmth, humor, and inclusiveness to the workplace, fostering a cohesive and welcoming environment for faculty, staff, and trainees.
Jocelyn Runyon
Jocelyn Runyon has become a vital part of our IDM department in a short amount of time. In less than two years, Jocelyn has mastered our complex pre- and post-award processes and become someone our faculty can genuinely rely on. She manages competing deadlines and major grant submissions while staying calm, professional, and positive. She follows up with others on deadlines multiple times, not just once, to make sure nothing slips through the cracks. I can speak to this personally. When a Just-in-Time request came up on my recently awarded R01, Jocelyn worked on it extensively despite juggling other projects, followed up directly with the program officer, and made sure everything was submitted on time. But beyond her expertise, Jocelyn is just a great teammate. She is friendly, approachable, patient, and always willing to help, especially when things get stressful. Congratulations!
Milestone Service Anniversaries
40 Years
Jeffrey Martin – Epidemiology
30 Years
Angela Pattison – Epidemiology
20 Years
Susan Charie – Office of the Dean
Karrie Lukin – Office of the Dean
Caitlin McCullough – Office of the Dean
Daniel Stump – Behavioral and Community Health Sciences
Chunyan Wang – Epidemiology
10 Years
Renee Hill – Office of the Dean
Jessica Roberts – Human Genetics
Emily Snyder – Office of the Dean
5 Years
Beth Coonrod – Epidemiology
Kerri Freeland – Epidemiology
Joshua Froess – Epidemiology
Iris Olson – Epidemiology
Janie Olson – Epidemiology
Chelle Pronko – Epidemiology
Myla Stiegler – Epidemiology
Jon-Francis Winkles – Epidemiology
Matthew Zourelias – Epidemiology