Mercer Times

Princeton University recently held its annual Service Recognition Luncheon to honor the dedication and accomplishments of its employees. The event celebrated 502 honorees who reached service milestones in 2023, as well as recognized six staff members who received the President's Achievement Award and two employees who were honored with the Donald Griffin ’23 Management Award.

Vice President for Human Resources, Romy Riddick, expressed her appreciation for the hard-working Princeton staff members, stating, "As Princeton staff members, your roles are vital to supporting the University’s teaching and research mission. You comprise an extremely hard-working, talented, and diverse group of employees who richly deserve to be recognized today for your many years of service and for your individual contributions that do so much to make this institution a truly great one."

Among the recipients of the President's Achievement Award was Kamara Blackman, a senior career specialist in the Office of Human Resources, who was praised for her dedication to helping staff members advocate for themselves and achieve professional success through various initiatives. President Christopher L. Eisgruber commended Blackman for her outstanding work, noting her commitment to promoting personal and professional growth among staff members.

University Architect Ron McCoy was also recognized for his significant contributions to Princeton's campus development over the past 35 years. Vice President for Facilities, Kyu Whang, praised McCoy for his vision, passion, and commitment to aligning the University's physical spaces with its educational mission, stating that McCoy is "a true steward of our campus community."

Additionally, Anna Meerson, a library collections specialist, was lauded for her expertise and energy in expanding the Princeton University Library's collections, particularly in the field of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian studies. Meerson's colleague, Thomas Keenan, highlighted her invaluable contributions to developing and organizing a wide range of documents and artifacts for research and study.

The recipients of the Donald Griffin ’23 Management Award, Michelle Horgan and Deena Abdel-Latif, were also recognized for their exceptional leadership and contributions to their respective departments. Horgan, the assistant director for scheduling and event technologies, was praised for her process improvements and impactful leadership style, while Abdel-Latif, the program outreach and lab manager, was commended for her positive attitude and dedication to advancing knowledge in the Department of Near Eastern Studies.

Overall, the Service Recognition Luncheon served as a platform to honor the collective achievements and service milestones of Princeton employees, highlighting their dedication to excellence and continuous growth within the University community.