Eight staff members and academic professionals are being honored by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences for outstanding professional contributions.
Heather Lash, Kristi McDuffie, and Jamie Thomas-Ward have been selected to receive the LAS Academic Professional Award, which provides a cash award as well as a salary increment funded by LAS alumni.
Kevin Armstrong, Anita Kaiser, Heidi Gnadt, and Victoria Huart have been selected to receive the LAS Staff Award, which comes with a cash award funded by LAS alumni.
Rebecca Riley has been selected to receive the Paula Adametz Hays Staff Award. This recognition comes with a $2,000 award supported by funds donated by Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, former dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Karl S. Rosengren, former professor in the Department of Psychology.
The awardees will be celebrated at a ceremony in Spring 2026.
Kevin Armstrong
As a facility operations coordinator for the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and the School of Earth, Society, and Environment, Kevin Armstrong oversees operations in seven academic buildings and three leased spaces that support more than 500 people. Notably, he has been instrumental in navigating the Altgeld and Illini Hall Project, one of the largest capital projects in university history. Armstrong is praised by one of his nominators for his steady composure, approachable demeanor, and ability to “consistently move things toward resolution in positive ways.”
Heidi Gnadt
As senior project manager for the college’s Office of Marketing and Communications, Heidi Gnadt facilitates intake projects, allocates resources, monitors progress, and effectively communicates with stakeholders amid a busy workflow. Through new project management tools and planning, she has been instrumental in the team’s efficiency and a dramatic rise in the number of completed projects. As her nominators note, Gnadt’s “professionalism, attention to detail, and can-do attitude enhance the image of our MarCom office and the college.”
Victoria Huart
In her role as associate director of finance and business operations for the Department of Psychology, Victoria Huart is responsible for fiscal management, control, and oversight of all department funds and supervision of business office staff. Psychology has almost 60 faculty, two dozen staff, more than 130 graduate students, and many undergraduate research assistants, work study students, post-docs, and lab managers, and Huart ensures that everyone remains in compliance with complex policies of the university and funding agencies. One of her nominators notes that “her competence, capability, and reliability are simply unmatched.”
Anita Kaiser
As associate director of the Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity, Anita Kaiser oversees staff and students, manages budgets, provides strategic guidance, executes unit programming, and supports the Gender Relations in International Development graduate minor. Her nominators note that Kaiser’s professionalism, competence, and warmth have made her one of the most visible and respected representatives of the CSGGE and Illinois Global Institute. Noted one: “Anita approaches her work with a level of mastery and diligence that is inspiring.”
Heather Lash
In her role as assistant director of controlled environment facilities for the Department of Plant Biology, Heather Lash leads the operations of the Plant Biology Greenhouses and Conservatory. This includes development and oversight of facilities, equipment, staff, and students in delivery of research, teaching, and outreach. Part of her role has included designing and implementing comprehensive greenhouse usage and hygiene protocols, reducing cross-contamination and disease outbreaks. One of her nominators noted: “Heather’s leadership over the past few years has resulted in dramatic improvements in efficiency, safety, and scientific output.”
Kristi McDuffie
As director of rhetoric in the Department of English, Kristi McDuffie provides leadership and administration of the Undergraduate Rhetoric Program, including directing instruction and curriculum, providing primary administration of the program, supervising instructors and staff, and leading outreach efforts. McDuffie has a great impact on student success and retention as she runs the university’s first-year writing program, serving up to 4,000 students per year. Wrote her nominator: “Above all, Dr. McDuffie considers her impact on students to be her primary goal and greatest achievement.”
Rebecca Riley
As assistant to the head in the Department of Sociology, Rebecca Riley’s duties include organizational, financial, human resource, course scheduling, and graduate student administration, and other administrative tasks for faculty members, instructors, staff, and the department head. Approaching her 28th year at Illinois, Riley is described by one of her nominators as “(embodying) the soul of our department,” adding that she excels at promoting positive morale and a collaborative environment, demonstrates initiative and excellence in her work, and represents the positive image of the department.
Jamie Thomas-Ward
As director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Economics, Jamie Thomas-Ward advances student success, implements innovations in curricular development, and streamlines administrative processes. One recent achievement is the development of an economics tutoring center where students can receive help from high-achieving peers, course TAs, and faculty members. She also helped to procure alumni funding. Wrote one of her nominators: “Jamie has had the greatest hand in this design, and it is a direct reflection of her drive to meet student needs and passion for supporting them in all ways possible.”
