2025 Orosz Award for Excellence in Emerging Leadership
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and the College of General Studies
The Dietrich School’s Orosz Award was established to honor Michael Orosz, a staff member in the Biological Sciences Department who passed away unexpectedly in 2003. Mike’s family generously donated funds to establish an endowment in his name to recognize staff excellence in performing their jobs.
Congratulations to Michele Gavin, the 2025 Orosz Award for Excellence in Emerging Leadership!
Michele is the Department Coordinator for the Department of Geology and Environmental Science. Each nominator spoke of how Michele has transformed GES through her many contributions by fostering a culture of excellence. Nominators gathered multiple examples from others across the department to share the great impact Michele has had from streamlining processes to developing thoughtful relationships with everyone around her. In particular, the nominators emphasized her “truly phenomenal” support of students, faculty, and staff and how anyone who enters the office in need of help “will get 150% of her effort focused on solving their problem, all while not dropping any other duties she is working on.”
This award recognizes staff members in the early stages of their careers who have exhibited excellence in their performance and displayed leadership qualities among their peers. To be nominated, staff must have worked at the University of Pittsburgh for less than 5 years and specifically in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences/College of General Studies for at least one full year beginning May 1, 2024, but not more than five years.
The award carries a $500 prize for the recipient. Nominations are reviewed and determined by a diverse committee of staff within the Dietrich School and CGS.
Nominations for the next award will open in the next academic year. Please reach out to Maureen Lazar, Director of Staff Personnel at lazarm@pitt.edu with any questions.
Previous Orosz Award Winners
- Blessy Bellamy – Psychology
- Frank Hammond – Music
- Steven Hernandez – CGS – Office of Veteran’s Services
- Abby Primack – Biological Sciences
- David Roudabush – CGS – Office of Veteran’s Services
- John Willard – A&S Dean’s Office, Payroll Team
- Sarah Elizabeth Baumann – English
- Kayla Banner – BRIDGES/OUR
- Jasmine Dixson – Mathematics/Statistics
- Dina Condeluci – Biological Sciences
- Francesca Sirianni – Graduate Studies
- J.C. Bardzil – Theatre Arts