Nominations open for 2026 Strand Diversity and staff awards through November 21
Nominations are open for the 2026 David A. Strand Diversity Achievement Award, Administrative/Professional and Civil Service Distinguished Service Awards, Administrative Professional Emerging Leader Award, Team Excellence Award, and the Environmental Stewardship Award.
The deadline for all nominations is Friday, November 21, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.
Award winners will be recognized at the Founding Celebration on February 19, 2026.
Nominations are open for:
Administrative/Professional Emerging Leader Award
Recognizes an employee whose professional performance has shown tremendous promise for and commitment to the University.
Administrative/Professional Distinguished Service Awards
Recognize Administrative/Professional employees who demonstrate outstanding contributions to the work of the University.
Civil Service Distinguished Service Awards
Recognize Civil Service employees who demonstrate outstanding contributions to the work of the University.
David A. Strand Diversity Achievement Award
Recognizes a current faculty or staff member who is instrumental in extraordinary curricular or program activities that assist the University in responding to its commitment to diversity.
Environmental Stewardship Award
Recognizes individuals, campus groups, or departments that are helping further the University’s sustainability mission.
Team Excellence Award
Recognizes a group demonstrating exemplary teamwork.
For more information, please contact:
- Melissa Ramirez-Osorio (A/P awards), mramir12@IllinoisState.edu, (309) 438-0797
- Matt Wing (Civil Service awards), mjwing@IllinoisState.edu, (309) 438-2021
- Sue Randle (Strand Diversity Achievement Award), serandl@IllinoisState.edu, (309) 438-3383
- Elisabeth Reed (Environmental Stewardship Award), ereed2@IllinoisState.edu, (309) 438-4425
- Val Deal (Team Excellence Award), vkcurti@IllinoisState.edu, (309) 438-7058
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