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Learn about current recipients of the Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year Awards.
Every year, UCSD recognizes exemplary staff employees.
To find out more about the program and how recipients are selected, see Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year Award Program.
For a list of past honorees, see Exemplary Staff Employee of the Year Award Past Recipients.
Terry Alexander
Administrative Nurse III - Supervisor
Health Sciences: Neurosciences
Terry Alexander positively contributes to research and education at the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC). He voluntarily serves on the Human Subjects Research Protections Program and the Medical Center Interdisciplinary Practices Committee, both of which require extensive time commitment, attention to detail, and dedication to research and medical ethics. He continuously contributes to the implementation of policies and procedures at the HNRC that adhere to the strictest standards for protecting human research subjects.
Terry designed and implemented an international training program in neuroAIDS through which he communicates complicated protocols and procedures to physicians and technical staff. He conducts training to HNRC visitors and to units in other countries including India, Brazil, and Romania.
Faced with numerous organizational challenges, he demonstrates exceptional flexibility and organizational and planning skills. Terry encourages people to pursue their goals and constantly challenges colleagues to take on new projects and become more effective leaders.
Jeffrey Borden
Senior Inspector – Planner – Estimator
Business Affairs: Facilities Management
As a licensed C10 electrical contractor with 25 years of experience, Jeff is invaluable to Facilities Management. His commitment to the highest standards while ensuring campus safety, minimizing costs and promoting sustainability is exemplified through his willingness to work holidays and weekends, ability to discover electrical problem sources, and make repairs without disrupting daily operations.
Always willing to share his knowledge, Jeff trains and empowers his team to thrive in their careers and volunteers as a mentor through the newly instituted Facilities Management mentorship program. He also shares his knowledge of the master specs to help contractors meet the strict university building codes.
Jeff volunteers as a contractor and project manager to build houses and churches in Baja California. He actively supports the City of Children orphanage, California Veterans with Disabilities, and Helping Hands of El Cajon. A devoted husband and father of 4, Jeff also coaches baseball and softball teams.
Sean Crowder
Buyer III
Business Affairs: Business and Financial Services
This past year, Sean demonstrated his ability to serve the SIO and Campus communities through offering excellent procurement services while exceeding expectations during a staffing shortage.
Sean has strengthened supplier relationships, created a single point of contact for suppliers and internal concerns, and ensured suppliers are adhering to UC negotiated contracts. Sean’s leadership saved over $200,000 that was directly realized by various UCSD departments. By negotiating with the fuel suppliers, Sean was able to help one client realize over $70,000 in cost savings. This is an approach Sean has taken campuswide, and he is now leading a team to standardize janitorial products in hopes of becoming more sustainable.
When his sister was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Sean found out that a patient support group did not exist in North San Diego. He is in the initial stages of creating a support group for patients, survivors, and loved ones affected by Lymphoma.
Trina Limberg
Respiratory Therapist IV
UCSD Medical Center: Pulmonary Division
Trina Limberg has found ways to keep Pulmonary Rehab fiscally sound by negotiating rates from other medical groups and providers and ensuring the program is structured to maximize reimbursement. Trina also provides service and leadership for national organizations that led to the recent passage of new legislation in the US Congress directing Medicare to establish a national coverage policy for pulmonary rehabilitation.
Actively involved in the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the American Association of Respiratory Care, Trina is a knowledgeable, respected leader in this field and has spoken at 8 national conferences.
Patient care is one of Trina's specialties, and her patients frequently give testimonials on their experiences in Pulmonary Rehab, calling it life-changing and describing Trina as a “miracle worker.” Trina plans and coordinates the annual UCSD Walk for Wellness, holiday parties, and special events to bring patients, their family, and staff together in celebration.
John Newhart
Respiratory Therapist IV
UCSD Medical Center: Respiratory Therapy
Since 1988, John Newhart has been known as an innovator and problem-solver. That summer, John was instrumental in the creation of a transport ventilator that assured consistent tidal volume, rate and oxygen concentration. His talent was needed again when oximeters were purchased that easily dislodged and damaged. John created a housing system for the units, then negotiated with the vendor to pay for the housing systems and repair the damaged units.
John's reputation in innovation coupled with his easygoing nature helped Respiratory Care to partner with medical industries, becoming the beta testing site for ventilator companies. John has been instrumental in securing software upgrades from several ventilator vendors and securing 6 new state-of-the-art ventilators at no cost.
John's "Yes, we can do that, let me look into it" attitude has created respiratory care medical breakthroughs and makes him a pleasure to work with.
Natalie Powell
Administrative Analyst
Academic Affairs: Mathematics
Natalie Powell has brought significant positive change as Contracts & Grants Manager in the Mathematics Department. Her extensive research and familiarity with UCOP's G28 has been instrumental in addressing many PI reimbursement questions. Her tenacity and research led the International Center to change their interpretation to more directly comply with stated federal regulations, and IC is now working to help the Travel office to update their Web site with the correct policy.
Natalie served as president of the Staff Association in 2007-2008. During her tenure, she advocated for staff and created the first "UCSD American Idol" competition at the Staff Association picnic. In addition, Natalie participates in "Celebrate the Night," is a member of UJIMA, and volunteers with the university's Special Events Office.
Natalie is an active member of her church where she participates on the Bereavement Committee and has been nominated for the "2009 Women, Inc. Community Award."
Richard Rambo
Electrical Technician, Supervisor
UCSD Medical Center: Clinical Engineering Services
Rick Rambo is dedicated to providing the best equipment program for the safety of our patients and financial viability of the organization. He serves on numerous committees to ensure policies and practices for medical equipment selection and handling support an environment of safety, and he was essential in the change from Medtronics defibrillators to Zoll defibrillators after identifying critical failure trends and excess recalls. Rick recently took the initiative of bringing ultrasound service in-house, saving the Medical Center $175,000-$300,000 annually.
Rick is a founding member and board member of the San Diego Chapter of the California Medical Instrumentation Association (CMIA), dedicated to the promotion, education, and information exchange of the state's biomedical engineering community. Rick constantly looks for ways to improve processes and holds staff and vendors accountable. As an expert in his field, he uses this knowledge to collaborate with his colleagues to improve policies and service.
Cynthia Rowe
Principal Administrative Analyst – Supervisor
UCSD Medical Center: Workers’ Compensation
Under Cynthia’s leadership, the Workers’ Compensation Unit has guiding organizational practices to significantly reduce the rate paid for Workers' Compensation. Cynthia built a committed team of dedicated professionals with a focus on excellence in claims handling and employee safety making the Medical Center a safe and caring place.
Cynthia and her team participate in Hospital Week events and coordinate offsite events for staff who are not able to participate at the hospitals. Offsite employees comment that they appreciat being acknowledged as part of the Medical Center community.
Cynthia is an avid crafter and donates blankets that she knits to the Moores Cancer Patient and Family Resource Center with an inscription that reads, "Stitched with love and prayers for healing. UCSD Medical Center Workers' Comp Unit."
Cynthia serves on the UCSD Medical Center’s Pandemic Planning Committee and participates in tabletop drills to keep the Medical Center in a constant state of readiness.
Jessica St. Clair
Senior Paralegal Specialist
Student Affairs: Student Policies and Judicial Affairs
Jessica exceeds all expectations in executing her duties as Legal Education Coordinator for Student Legal Services. Jessica provided free and confidential individual and group counseling. She conducted, arranged, and/ or participated in over 100 workshops on a variety of legal issues, and she created "Discover the Law," a student certificate program with over 125 participants this year. Jessica spearheads the “Tax Outreach Program” and oversees the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
A constant learner, Jessica is a licensed attorney, completed specialized training in mediation and alternative dispute resolution, and recently earned her Master's degree in Forensic Science.
She volunteers as the United Way/ CHAD campaign department coordinator and suggested the theme “U Can Spark Dreams (UCSD).” Jessica serves on the Juvenile Justice Commission for San Diego County, a 4-year appointment. On Sundays, she teaches families at the San Diego Museum of Natural History about the mysteries of science.
Marguerite Wilson
Hospital Laboratory Technician IV – Supervisor
Health Sciences: Ophthalmology
Margie Wilson wears many hats at the Shiley Eye Center — she is a supervisor, technician, teacher, mentor, volunteer, mediator, and friend. Margie oversees many aspects of patient clinical care and is in charge of the daily triage unit and fields emergency calls from distressed patients. She handles everything promptly, with confidentiality and care. Many patients “only want to talk to Margie” when they call.
Through her work as a teacher and her efforts to build relationships, Margie has helped implement best patient practices and cost effective strategies while creating employee career paths.
Margie volunteers once a month for the Flying Samaritans at a Tecate, Mexico eye clinic for all ages. She screens 30-40 patients, carries out refractions, and refers serious cases to American ophthalmologists. She has collected hundreds of donated eyeglasses for dispensing at the clinic. Margie also trains volunteers who want to get involved with the Flying Samaritans and the clinic.
Notice: The information on this page summarizes provisions of university policies and/or collective bargaining agreements. Refer to the Personnel Policies for Staff Members (PPSM) or applicable collective bargaining agreement for full text of referenced information.