President Vanya Quiñones announced the 2024 President’s Award winners at the annual Staff and Faculty Appreciation Breakfast on Jan. 17. The award recognizes “exceptional work and commitment to the mission and values of our university,” Quiñones said. 

The honorees in the three categories were: MPP/Managers, Vivian Waldrup Patterson, director of Teaching, Learning and Assessment; Staff, Joanna Iwata, Associated Students senior coordinator of governance and operations; and Faculty, Danielle Burchett, associate professor in psychology.

Quiñones praised Waldrup Patterson for her dedication to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion, including her work with the Mandla Mentoring Program, the African Heritage Faculty and Staff Alliance, and as co-lead for the Building Community Through Dialogue co-op.

“You always find ways to support both students and colleagues, and you are always willing to share your deep understanding of the needs of our BIPOC community members so that we can all create a more inclusive and welcoming environment,” Quiñones said.

Iwata earned the award for her integral role in launching the university’s Basic Needs initiative, bringing healthy food options to campus through the AS Farmer’s Market, and always having “the best interests of our students in mind,” Quiñones said.

“You serve as an inspiring and compassionate leader for our students, and helped them through the ambitious challenge of a student fee referendum last year that successfully increased the fees for the first time on our campus.”

As for Burchett, “Danielle has proven herself to be a dedicated mentor and educator who has worked with more than 40 research students at Cal State Monterey Bay and nine early-career faculty members,” Quiñones said.

“Danielle, you have supported the professional development of our students through course design and have provided peer mentorship opportunities for them, all while maintaining an impressive record of scholarship and service to our campus community.”

Staff and Faculty Appreciation Breakfast Program 2024