Meet your Brightest Buffs

Congratulations to the following Staff Members who have been nominated for the Brightest Buffs program!听

Brightest Buffs: October 2025

Molly Beck

Molly has been a valued member of the Student Services team within the Graduate School for just over a year and her contributions have already made quite an impact. She excels in her interactions with graduate students and program staff. Molly's positive and proactive approach to the role has significantly improved our team's workflow and has made her an indispensable part of our team. We appreciate all that she has done for our students and staff!

Meagan Therese D'Souza

Meagan goes above and beyond to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students, always bringing extra snacks and water to ensure those in the front row are comfortable and cared for. These thoughtful gestures may seem small, but they have a big impact on building community and enhancing the game day experience. One of Meagan鈥檚 standout qualities is her ability to form genuine connections with students. She takes the time to get to know them personally, and because of her approachable and positive nature, she now has a group of recurring students who intentionally return to her section each game. This speaks to the relationships she builds and the sense of belonging she fosters. As a CU alum herself, it is inspiring to see Meagan continuing to give back to the Buffs community in such a meaningful way. Her consistent positivity, reliability, and innovative approach to engaging students make her an invaluable ambassador for our university.

Miranda Fabian

Since joining our team in September 2024, she has been an integral member of the day-to-day operations and strategic planning of academic advising for the Mechanical Engineering department. She consistently demonstrates a commitment to supporting students; specifically, she is passionate about well-rounded academic experiences and helping students structure their time in college to reflect their individual goals, interests, and areas of expertise. Miranda took the initiative to provide training and planning materials to Mechanical Engineering students who are planning to study abroad and how to intentionally include this in their long-term degree plan. Oftentimes it is very challenging for Engineers to study abroad and she wanted to create more opportunities for students to be able to have this experience despite the challenging courseload of an Engineer. Miranda consistently shows leadership and drive to excel in her position and as a member of our team.

Janelle Henderson

Janelle helped create a campus room database that includes specifications and photos. This is an idea that came out of the A&S Course Scheduling Working group. This is an internal resource for A&S. They have achieved this by crowdsourcing and it is an incredible resource!

Alexa Holland-Plum

Since starting my position a year ago, Alexa has been a constant pillar of support and mentorship as I acclimate to my role and to the department. She has an admirable ability to manage various projects at once, provide efficient and professional work in all that she does, and encourage me and other staff members to cultivate our own strengths in both professional and personal contexts. Alexa is an outstanding example of of resilience, meticulousness, and empathy -- all traits crucial to student success. She has made my transition into this role seamless, and always offers a helping hand for the most basic of questions or the most complex of situations. I, and the rest of our team, greatly appreciate all of her hard work!

Jackie Lindabury

I am delighted to nominate Jacklyn Lindabury for her exceptional contributions to instructional design and training at 蜜桃传媒破解版下载 Finance. Jackie brings a rare combination of professionalism, creativity, and efficiency to every project she leads. Her ability to apply learning theories and best practices results in impactful, learner-centered experiences that resonate with staff across campus. Jackie鈥檚 work is consistently of the highest quality鈥攃lear, engaging, and thoughtfully designed. She delivers results with remarkable speed, often exceeding expectations and timelines without compromising excellence. One of Jackie鈥檚 most innovative achievements is her creative use of Microsoft tools to build a centralized, LMS-like structure. This platform now hosts online learning experiences in one accessible location, streamlining training for 蜜桃传媒破解版下载 Finance staff and enhancing engagement across departments.

Deanna Main

I want to highlight the work Deanna has made outside of her role. Deanna is one of the Game Day Ambassadors for Student Life giving up her time to support the fan experience in Folsom and specifically the students attending the game. Additionally, Deanna is a active member of the Blood Drive and Community Service committee within staff council and volunteers her time to committee meetings and committee events and initiatives even while not currently serving on staff council. Deanna's willingness to support the campus community in a variety of ways should be noted and appreciated.

Josie Moe

Josie welcomes guests, faculty, students, and staff with a warm and kind smile, treats at her desk, and answers any questions they may have. The students enjoy talking with her, and they trust her for her help and guidance when they are in the building. She has updated our locker system, which was no small feat, allowing for a more streamlined and accessible way for students to get and find their instrument lockers. She is always looking at processes and procedures to make them better for everyone that is involved. The front office to the College of Music runs smoothly and is welcoming because of Josie and she is much appreciated!

Kylie Sambirsky

As a Professional Research Assistant at 蜜桃传媒破解版下载, Kylie brings kindness, curiosity, and deep integrity to everything she does. She consistently goes above and beyond to support both her colleagues and the adolescent and postpartum populations her work serves. Known affectionately as the 鈥淨ueen of Email,鈥 she makes sure her peers never miss an opportunity, from 蜜桃传媒破解版下载 or otherwise, by forwarding resources, events, and programs that might otherwise be overlooked. She leads with compassion, strives to make her colleagues鈥 work easier, and lifts those around her with encouragement and genuine care.

Brightest Buffs: September 2025

Avery Hatch

Avery Hatch is an exceptional Laboratory Coordinator II in the Department of Chemistry. She is a true subject matter expert, that leads with empathy and understanding. Avery is a role model for what a great staff member at CU should be, always maintaining a positive attitude even during the most difficult times. Her innovative and impactful contributions have made a significant difference in the department. Avery authored pre-lab quizzes that have been highly effective in helping students perform their chemistry labs safely and effectively. She played a critical role in the planning and design of the General Chemistry renovation project, and her insights will continue to benefit thousands of students for years to come.

Jeremy Diaz

Jeremy exemplifies all levels of trust, integrity, excellence and inclusiveness in his work with OIT. He is extremely competent, authentic and caring in the way he services faculty, staff and students on campus. His kind and gentle ways in caring for fellow team mates create a welcome environment and sense of belonging for every one he interacts with. He is a model of selfless leadership because he goes out of his way to get to know people, provide needed resources and come along side to walk you through a problem. Plus, he supervises students and helps them develop hard and soft skills to be successful as a professional after graduation! Jeremy makes OIT a great team to be on!

Brightest Buffs: July 2025

Stephanie Montoya
Stephanie has been a driving force in envisioning impactful programs like Science Bound, helping create innovative pathways for student engagement and success. Her leadership has also been instrumental in the development of the Center for Undergraduate Belonging and Engagement in Science (CUBE), a vital initiative that builds community and connects students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in the natural sciences and mathematics to meaningful resources and professional networks. Through pre-orientation programming, peer mentorship, sophomore transition support, and a deep commitment to student belonging, Stephanie is helping to transform the student experience. Her work truly reflects the heart of inclusive excellence in higher education.

Brightest Buffs: June 2025

Claudia Acosta Lopez

Claudia joined the Awards & Staff Recognition Committee not knowing what the committee truly did but was a fast learning. It was an honor having her on the committee. Thank you so much for your commitment to CU and the staff.

Erin Datteri

Erin鈥檚 unwavering commitment to raising awareness and advancing support for students from historically excluded backgrounds has been truly inspiring, especially for our A&S advising community. Through her leadership and collaboration, Erin has helped bring forth valuable resources that empower advisors to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment where all students can thrive. Her dedication continues to make a lasting impact, and we are proud to work alongside her on this important journey. Thank you for being champions of access, equity, and community! 馃挋 #EquityInAction #InclusiveExcellence #StudentSuccess

Ashley West

Ashley has truly hit the ground running in the School of Education since April 2025, and given this new role her all. In a short amount of time, she has built meaningful connections across the entire School of Education and has quickly learned the ins and outs of her position. She brings a rare combination of dependability, thoughtfulness, and efficiency. She embodies what it means to be a collaborative, trusted colleague, and we feel lucky to work alongside her.

Brightest Buffs: May 2025

Adrian Garcia

Adrian's stellar work helps keep campus functioning, you probably aren't even aware of the work that he and his team put in on emergency repairs! Adrian is always open to learning and growing in this position. His constant smile and great communication skills make it a pleasure to work with him.听

Adam Sadoff

Adam Sadoff has worked as a graduate program advisor for the ECEE department for close to 30 years. His commitment to our students and to our programs is unquestionably of the highest caliber, and I am so thankful for all of his work. I want to specifically acknowledge his efforts around graduation. Adam is highly skilled with languages, and he spends months preparing to be our department name reader at our graduation ceremony. He is able to recite our student's names precisely and in a way that honors the student and their family. He makes every student walking across the stage feel the moment a bit brighter because of the effort he takes to make sure their name is heard. It's truly a joy to watch and experience, even as an onlooker, and I am so thankful we have someone with this skillset and this care for our students.

Brightest Buffs: April 2025

Maria Castro Barajas

Maria鈥檚 unwavering dedication, innovation, and authenticity continue to make 蜜桃传媒破解版下载 a more equitable, inclusive, and inspiring place to work and learn. Her collaborative approach fosters an inclusive work environment and inspires colleagues to lead with equity at the core of their practice.

Angie Chavez-Lopez
Angie brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to her role and is always willing to collaborate with other staff members to help students navigate the complexities of college. What makes Angie unique is her combination of being bilingual, a first-generation 蜜桃传媒破解版下载 alumna, her deep institutional knowledge across multiple offices, and her culturally responsive, relational approach.
Anna Guy

Anna has been a pillar of the graduate program, having worked in ME for about 6 years and riding the waves of grad staff turnover. If you鈥檝e worked with her, you know of all the interpersonal work she does with PhD students and research advisors, and then, the administrative work she does in the background. You rock Anna!

Christina Hertel

Chris exemplifies what it means to be compassionate, dedicated, and professional in every aspect of their work. Chris' ability to navigate complex situations, while keeping a calm and solution-oriented attitude, is a testament to their expertise and commitment.

Loren Jackson

Loren consistently makes every staff member she comes across feel seen, supported, and cared for. She constantly takes initiative on projects, provides training and insights on how to better processes, and has a unique lens and drive to support transfer students. The ME team is incredibly lucky to have her!

Melisa Jackson

Melisa left a legacy on our organization as a whole. Our five members who were mentees this semester have gained invaluable guidance, career advice, and professional development skills thanks to Melisa and her network of fellow mentors. We are so grateful for Melisa's kind, "go-getter" spirit and her willingness to lead.

Susan Nasher
Susan's patience, kindness, and unwavering work ethic are truly inspiring. Whether she鈥檚 tackling a big project or offering support to a colleague, she does it with grace and dedication. Her commitment to the mission of the university shines through in everything she does. It鈥檚 clear she cares deeply about our community and the work we do, and it鈥檚 a privilege to work alongside her.
Blake Redabaugh

Blake brings not only a sharp mind and incredible accuracy to his work, but also a level of professionalism and helpfulness that doesn鈥檛 go unnoticed. He鈥檚 one of those people who makes complex things feel manageable and always has a great attitude.

Joey Richman

I鈥檇 like to give a shoutout to Joey for being such a valuable part of the finance team and an incredible support to me and so many others. He鈥檚 always responsive, helpful, and brings a positive, solutions-focused approach to every finance-related need. Joey has a great way of making the processes feel simple and manageable, and his support truly improves the staff experience across the board. We鈥檙e lucky to have him!

Megan Varra

Megan has been a champion on creating new avenues for MS students to receive scholarships and from working with her on Grad Committee how committed she has been to providing a positive recruitment/admission experience for our MS students.