The Knight Campus Awards recognize those around us who have made remarkable contributions to our community. By going above and beyond, they inspire us all to do the same, which ultimately helps further our mission!
Diversity and Inclusion Award
Awarded to an individual or team making outstanding contributions and exceptional commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion in our community.
Maxine Wren
“Maxine is an incredibly inclusive team member and has demonstrated excellence in leadership in making KCGIP and the Knight Campus inclusive for students and employees alike. She led efforts to create a town hall and listening sessions for students and has followed through on requests heard from students during those events.”
GSA Leadership Members
24/25/26 Academic Year
Nick Pancheri
DeShea Chasko
Eyerusalem Gebreyesus
Malvika Singhal
Ander Switalla
Cameron Moore
Dominique Granville
Cora Ferguson
Andy Huang
Samantha Watson
David Frey Rubio
Maya Kasteleiner
Elizabeth Amponsem
Ben Burress-Irving
Kelsey Krusen
“The Knight Campus Graduate Student Association (GSA) has demonstrated exceptional commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within our community. Through intentional programming, advocacy, and peer support, the GSA creates spaces where all graduate students feel valued and heard. Their initiatives—ranging from inclusive social events to professional development opportunities—actively promote equity and belonging across disciplines.”
Exceptional Service Award
Awarded to an individual or team who establishes and maintains positive and effective working relationships with faculty, staff, students, and internal/external partners. They are dedicated to continuously improving, exceeding expectations, and reacting appropriately to ensure the best outcomes.
Laura McKnight
“Laura is tireless in her efforts to support the success of students in the Knight Campus, particularly those in the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program. Her thoughtful approach to partnering with employers has strengthened relationships with organizations hiring our students. She provides strong leadership for our KCGIP track directors, is an excellent listener, and consistently brings thoughtful decision-making to her work.”
Innovation and Impact Award
Awarded to an individual or team who has generated novel and valuable ideas, and translated these ideas into new or improved products, methods, processes, or systems that have led to substantial social and/or economic impact.
Nataliia Shchotkina
“Nataliia has managed and grown her start-up while successfully meeting the high expectations within Gabby’s research group. She is actively navigating U.S. regulatory requirements and has kept her Ukrainian clinical work going despite significant challenges.”
Training and Teaching Award
Awarded to an individual or team who has creatively implemented a training strategy that is interdisciplinary, experiential, applied, and/or entrepreneurial, preparing students to identify and solve problems of societal and commercial relevance.
Lindsey Rubottom
“Lindsey arrived a year ago to a new program that was still a new idea, and her work over the last year to build a passionate core of engaged undergraduate students has been truly inspirational. She's given it her all, and she is clearly passionate about what she does. Her work also reflects a larger ethos at the Knight Campus—one that is collaborative, multilayered in its engagement, and impactful in unexpected ways.”
Communication Award
Awarded to an individual or team who has gone above and beyond to widely and creatively communicate about our work in a way that effectively demonstrates our impact to both the scientific community and the public.
Rachel Bedford
“Rachel is a true go-getter who brings energy, initiative, and creativity to everything she touches. She has a remarkable ability to translate complex scientific concepts into clear, accessible stories that resonate with both experts and the broader public—an asset that has strengthened our communications efforts in meaningful ways. Her deep scientific understanding, paired with her communication talent, elevates the quality and impact of our content across the board.”
Research Collaboration Award
Awarded to an individual or team who has successfully catalyzed impactful convergent research collaborations that integrate diverse capabilities, technologies, and ideas.
Kait Link
“Kait has continually gone above and beyond to support each and every animal user in this building. Numerous labs would not be able to produce results without her support. Every day she arrives early, stays late, and always offers to help on weekends—and she does all of this with the most positive attitude. We are incredibly fortunate to have someone so dedicated to supporting our preclinical research with everything she has.”
Friend of the Knight Campus Award
This award is offered only in years when the Knight Campus community wants to recognize a person or a unit at the UO that has been a particular advocate and/or provided exceptional service in advancing the mission and goals of the Knight Campus.
Mark Lonergan
“Mark exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding educator. His deep knowledge and expertise are evident in every lesson he delivers, making even the most complex topics clear and accessible. What truly sets him apart, however, is his genuine care for each student's success.”
Above and Beyond Award
Awarded to an individual or team who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, initiative, and service that significantly advances the work of the Knight Campus and its partners.
Glen Bennett
“Glen has been an absolutely vital part of the Research Admin team, bringing his knowledge and willingness to share that knowledge to the team. Glen has an excellent relationship with all stakeholders, including the PIs he works with, as well as other individuals across campus who Glen has worked with over the course of his 20+ years at UO.”