Staff Achievement

Ellen Herion Fingado, Associate Dean of Students

Excellence Award: With 7 years of combined service to DePaul, Ellen has elevated the student conduct process in terms of effectiveness, transparency and accountability for all campus stakeholders through training and leading our University Board to adhere to the university’s Code of Student Responsibility and state and federal laws.

She has committed herself to professional preparation in both the field of student conduct as a leader in the Association of Student Conduct Administrators, but also as a generalist serving in the student affairs profession.

She also led a university-wide team in reviewing and revising our Code of Student Responsibility.

Courtney James, Assistant Director, Office of Student Involvement

Collaboration Award: Since joining DePaul in 2015, Courtney has been deeply committed to building strong, collaborative relationships across the division and with campus partners in order to accomplish great things for students. This has been especially true over the past year.

She built Blue Demon Week to be a successful celebration of DePaul by working with partners across the campus.

She brought “Big Pink Volleyball” to DePaul, a fun, innovative volleyball tournament to help raise funds for breast cancer research, and invited the whole campus community to participate.

She was a leading voice on our divisional Spirit and Affinity Committee to build the spirit and affinity our Student Affairs team.

She knows that in order to be successful in our work serving students, she needs to work as mutual partners with others. Students, the Division of Student Affairs and the DePaul community have greatly benefitted from Courtney’s collaborative spirit and commitment, which makes her worthy of this important recognition.

Gina Leal, Chicago Community Engagement Coordinator, Vincentian Community Service Office

Outstanding New Staff Professional: Gina has been working in the Vincentian Community Office for 18 months.

From her first moments in VCSO, Gina chose to dedicate her time to creating a ministry of welcome and hospitality. She has developed various initiatives to establish small communities of student leaders, including for the service day program, DCSA coordinators, Chicago Peacemakers and International Student service opportunities.

In her time at DePaul, Gina has proved herself to be an exemplary professional and team player. Whether she’s volunteering to speak at events with only a moment's notice, or serving at the Ignite retreat or on the Spirit and Affinity Committee, Gina gives her heart and soul to all in which she participates.

Additionally, Gina has helped solidly establish Vincentian Service Day as a university-wide tradition with many more offices, staff and faculty currently being aware of the day than in the past.

Karl Nass, Assistant Director, Vincentian Community Service Office

Lou O’Brien Spirit of Student Affairs Award: Karl’s 16 years in University Ministry’s Vincentian Community Service Office have been marked by a dedication to his work, a commitment to service and justice, and a care for people – not only students, but also colleagues throughout the division and university.

Karl has been a servant leader behind the scenes – often behind the scenes in his gentle but thoughtful and persistent way – by creating and sustaining many of DePaul’s service oriented programs. Most notably, Karl has guided Vincentians in Action, or VIA, which serves as the vehicle for meaningful reflection and community building among students involved with VCSO programs, which serve hundreds of students each year and continues to support and develop some of DePaul’s most committed student leaders.

When we think of people at DePaul and in the division who model a commitment to mission, to service, and to both professionalism and personalism, somewhere near the top of that list is Karl Nass.

James Stewart, Director, Adult, Veteran and Commuter Student Affairs

Innovation Award: Not only this past year, but since joining DePaul in 2013, James has demonstrated an ability to look at something and see the possibilities.

He has a unique ability of exciting and engaging others around an idea that serves our mission and benefits all involved.  Many times it starts with “What if we…”

James facilitated the Loop Initiative that resulted in the redistribution of resources for student staffing in the Loop.

He oversaw the effort to move Veteran Liaisons and the Veteran Student Union to a new space to accommodate their growing needs.

James was a key player in developing DePaul’s Off Campus Housing website to meet the unique needs of our students living off campus.

Finally, he led a mid-year focus change to Student Success for AVCSA by beginning to immediately implement and change outreach and engagement, and to that end, landed a Commuter Edge Team.