2026 Student Affairs Staff Awards

This year’s Staff Awards Ceremony brought an atmosphere of gratitude and celebration, which filled the room as Student Affairs staff from across the division gathered in the Tate Theater to honor their colleagues. From years of service milestones to outstanding achievement awards, this event highlighted the excellence and commitment that drive our division forward.

Ellie Hansen, assistant director for talent management, opened the ceremony by honoring staff members for years of service. Most notably, Stacey A. Jewell (Housing Facilities Maintenance) and Donnie Lee Smith (University Health Center Facilities Maintenance) were each honored for their thirty years of service with the University of Georgia.

The Accessibility and Testing unit took home numerous awards, including the Supervisor of the Year award, the Removing Barriers award, and the Vice President’s Dwight Douglas award.

This year’s Supervisor of the Year award was given to Rebecca Carter-Gunby for her dedication to fostering a culture of excellence and support within Accessibility and Testing.

The Removing Barriers Award recognizes an individual or group that implemented a program, system, or event aimed at reducing barriers for students. The UGA Autism Peer Support Group exceeds these criteria, marrying research from the Mary Frances Early College of Education with Accessibility and Testing’s resources to champion autistic students on campus.

The Vice President’s Dwight Douglas award honors a staff member who has a demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of UGA Student Affairs. The auditorium rose in a standing ovation as Vice President Michelle Cook announced this year’s winner, Dr. Erin Benson. As Benson accepted the award, her colleagues’ applause reflected the impact of her work across the campus community.

“Being acknowledged and celebrated by colleagues I deeply admire and value is an incredible feeling—and a powerful reminder of why collaboration matters,” noted Dr. Benson. “I am honored to work with a team, division, and university that prioritize collective effort in support of student success and well-being.”

The ceremony concluded with a shared appreciation for the staff members whose dedication, leadership and service continue to strengthen the Student Affairs community at UGA.

Writer/Contact: Katie Morgan, 706-542-3564, Katelyn.Morgan@uga.edu