Excellence in Stewardship Awards

Learn about the Excellence in Stewardship Awards program.

Overseen by the UC San Diego Foundation’s Donor Relations and Stewardship Committee, the annual Excellence in Stewardship Awards promotes outstanding donor stewardship. The program recognizes UC San Diego employees who, although their job descriptions may not include donor stewardship, demonstrate excellent results in engaging with and acknowledging our donors and supporters. 

2025 Excellence in Stewardship Award Winners

Faculty Category:

• Rafael Fernández de Castro, PhD
• Christopher Kane, MD

Staff Category:

• Scott Paulson '84

Who May Nominate, Who May Qualify

When you nominate such an outstanding individual, the Excellence in Stewardship Award encourages and recognizes that employee for exemplary efforts that demonstrate the impact of philanthropy and significantly strengthen a donor's relationship with the university.

Any UC San Diego employee, UC Foundation Board Trustee, or campus volunteer, who is familiar with the individual may nominate. Individuals may not self-nominate and are not eligible to win more than one award in a five-year period. Please note that employees are not eligible for nomination if their job description intrinsically requires the stewardship of donors. This includes Advancement staff, University Communications staff, Government and Community Relations staff, vice chancellors, deans and other senior administrators or campus leaders. Employees who are currently enrolled at UC San Diego as students are not eligible for nomination.

Award Categories

• Faculty
• Staff

Awardees selected by the UC San Diego Foundation Donor Relations and Stewardship Committee will be notified in April and recognized by the UC San Diego Foundation in June 2025.

Award Criteria

Our colleagues demonstrate Excellence in Stewardship through meaningful activities that:

• Demonstrate impact of a donor's philanthropy
• Are personalized and meaningful to our supporters
• Strengthens the relationship between UC San Diego and the donor
• Are innovative, original and cost-effective
• Show persistence and a long-term commitment to consistent, high-quality stewardship efforts

2024 Excellence in Stewardship Award Winners

Faculty Category:

• Robert Brill '88 , Professor of Scenic Design, Department of Theatre and Dance
• Irene Litvan, MD, FAAN, FANA, Director, Parkinson’s and Other Movement Disorder Center, UC San Diego Health

Staff Category:

• Guadalupe "Lupe" Cruz Fernandez, Director, PATHS Scholars Program, UC San Diego Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Stephanie Lehman, PhD , Lead Donor Coordinator, UC Health Milk Bank

 Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, Dr. Alexander Khalessi, Annika Nelson, Dr. Rajesh Gupta, Phyllis Epstein, and Jeff Silberman at the UC San Diego Foundation Board dinner on June 8, 2023

2021 awardees Karin Marsolais '80 and Drs. Gentry Patrick and Jason Sicklick

2020 awardees Drs. Ed Abeyta, Robert Naviaux and Stuart Sandin

2018 awardees Dr. Susan Shirk and V. Adrian Camacho

2017 awardees Dr. Ellen Beck and Rudy Murillo accepted their awards with Sandra Timmons 
at the UC San Diego Foundation Board dinner on June 22, 2017

2016 awardees Mary Beebe, Dr. Catriona Jamieson and Lynda Claassen accepted their awards
at the UC San Diego Foundation Board dinner on June 2, 2016

2015 awardees Ann Klein and Rand Steiger accepted their awards
at the UC San Diego Foundation Board dinner on June 4, 2015

2014 awardees Barbara Parker, MD and Portia Bibb accepted their awards
at the UC San Diego Foundation Board dinner June 12, 2014

2013 awardees Nigella Hillgarth and Debbie Soldano accepted their awards at the UC San Diego Foundation Board dinner on June 21, 2013