The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) celebrated its annual Staff Achievement Awards, spotlighting the exceptional contributions of its staff. This year, LSA Technology Services stood out by winning two of the four collegewide awards, reinforcing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as outstanding leadership.
Sanam Aldag Wins Robin Sarris Outstanding Supervisor Award
Sanam Aldag, Manager of Customer Experience at LSA Technology Services, received the prestigious Robin Sarris Outstanding Supervisor Award. This accolade honors a staff member with supervisory responsibility, with at least one year of LSA service, involved in any area of staff work, who demonstrates extraordinary contributions beyond their regular duties. The award is named after Robin Sarris who retired from the LSA Dean’s Office in 2015 after over 30 years of service to the university.
Sanam leads a team of 18 full-time employees and over 60 student employees, including four supervisors. Her commitment to service excellence and her innovative, empathetic approach to leadership set her apart. Sanam led her team to accomplish some significant goals over the past year, starting with a major restructuring of her team to create growth opportunities for staff and improved services for students, staff, and faculty. She led the efforts to integrate support services into three service centers and partnered with the College of Engineering to establish a new equipment loan center at the Duderstadt Center.
Jean Arnold, Manager of Sight and Sound Operations, praised Sanam for her “open-door policy and active engagement in dialogue,” which has fostered an inclusive work environment where staff feel heard and valued. Sanam’s initiatives supporting work-life balance have proactively addressed stress and burnout, contributing to a motivated and well-supported team.
Mark Bacon, Director of Operational Effectiveness, highlighted Sanam’s impact beyond her immediate team, noting her role in the Michigan IT Technology Leadership Community of Practice (COP). Her efforts have significantly enhanced the group’s productivity and collaborative innovation, underscoring her versatility as a leader.
Partners Orientation Program Team Wins DEI Award
The Partners Orientation Program team, consisting of Jean Arnold, Jared Arras, Lisa Ahlgren, Jeremiah Cook, Laura Green, and Robert Stonik, received the Staff Team Award for Contributions to LSA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Introduced in 2022, this award recognizes significant commitment to DEI work that extends beyond the team’s primary job responsibilities.
The Partners Orientation Program aims to provide a comprehensive onboarding experience for all new Technology Services team members, addressing gaps identified by previous hires and supervisors. The self-directed project, sponsored by LSA Technology Services leadership, promotes a grassroots approach to improving inclusion. The team devised a repeatable, flexible, and sustainable program that accommodates various formats of flexible work.
New hires are grouped into cohorts meeting with every team across Technology Services over a two-and-a-half-month period to learn about our services, team members, and workflows. This structure helps new employees integrate more seamlessly into the organizational culture and build meaningful relationships.
Cathy Curley, Chief Information Officer for LSA, said “We are extremely proud of the work of this team and the intention and thoughtfulness they put into meeting requirements across multiple stakeholders. Their work through the Partners Orientation Program is an outstanding example of enabling inclusivity.” The program’s success is mirrored in the positive feedback from participants, showcasing its impact on individual employees and the organization as a whole.
Conclusion
These awards underline the dedication of LSA staff to excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. Sanam Aldag and the Partners Orientation Program team exemplify the high standards and values upheld by LSA Technology Services. Please join us in congratulating our winners!
For more information on LSA’s staff awards program, visit the LSA Annual Staff Achievement Awards Program page.
