Award winners were honored on June 18 at an all-school ice cream social and celebration.Dean Stephen Cavanaghcelebrated the 2025 Dean’s Excellence Awards honorees for their extraordinary commitment, both in and out of the classroom, that propel the school forward.
“These recipients embody the very best of our mission — they teach with purpose, pursue research that changes live, innovate in their daily work and foster inclusive environments where everyone can thrive,” he said. “Each exemplifies the highest ideals of our School of Nursing community and touches the lives of students, colleagues and community members in profound ways.”
Meet the winners and the summaries of their accomplishments the dean shared
Excellence in Teaching – Emily Thatcher
Thatcher has not only reimagined curriculum in the physician assistant (PA) program but has also demonstrated unwavering dedication to student success.
Excellence in Research – Julie Bidwell
Bidwell’s deep knowledge of research methods and her patient, constructive approach to research mentoring have made a lasting impact on students.
Excellence in Mentoring – Sheryl Catz
Catz’s mentorship transcends the ordinary. She has been a guiding light for Doctor of Philosophy students navigating the complexities of their scholarly journey.
Excellence in DEI – Miles Harris
Harris’ work raises the standard for compassionate, evidence-based care, making him a true advocate for marginalized communities.
Excellence in Innovation – Charleen Singh
Singh’s forward-thinking initiatives position the school’s Doctor of Nursing Practice — Family Nurse Practitioner program at the forefront of innovation and creates exciting opportunities for both students and faculty alike.
Staff Excellence – Stacey Pasco
Pasco’s dedication, creativity and ability to build trust among faculty, staff and students have created a legacy that will benefit generations of students and communities across California.
Staff DEI Excellence – Keirsten Mihos
Mihos’ selfless contributions and passion for collaboration have made a profound impact on those around her, as she works not only to provide immediate support but also to drive lasting institutional change.
Staff Innovation Excellence – Jyoti Pande
Pande has consistently demonstrated creativity, resourcefulness and ingenuity in developing innovative solutions that have significantly improved the operational efficiency of the school.
From left, Emily Thatcher, Miles Harris, Sheryl Catz, Jyoti Pande, Julie Bidwell and Dean Stephen Cavanagh (Not pictured: Charleen Singh, Stacey Pasco and Keirsten Mihos)
STAR Awards
The UC Davis Health STAR Award recognizes employees who have gone “above and beyond” in support of the campus’ core values. This year’s School of Nursing recipients are:
Colleen Williams
Hanh Herbert
Danielle Navarro
Teresa Coats
Katharine Leyva
Kristine Sholty
Caroline Miller
Amanda Yi
Michelle Chinn
Joanna Garcia
Tasha Staton
Megan Hansen
Kristen Venditelli
Dan Carter
Christy Davis
Tami Lewis
Michelle Dann
Rick DeLisa
Stacey Pasco
Kat Lambert
Jason Sowa
LEAD graduates
The School of Nursing’s Staff Leadership Education and Development program (Staff LEAD) consists of three components: leadership strengths, change management and leadership communication. Participants are paired with a faculty or staff mentor. Graduates were recognized and presented capstone projects, a key component of the program. Graduates are:
Jennifer Black, curriculum operations manager
Michelle Dann, academic human resources analyst
Rick DeLisa, operations analyst
Jacqueline Malone, administrative assistant
Ashlyn Prasad, project policy analyst
Quynh Vo, project policy analyst
Outstanding students
From left, Dean Stephen Cavanagh and core attributes award winners Jacke Humprey-Straub, Giulia Arostegui and Allison Bacani (Not pictured: Joan Taylor and Katharine Owens)
Students who exemplify the school’sfive core attributes — community connection, diversity and inclusion, leadership, innovative solutions and collaboration — were honored during acommencement ceremonyon June 12. They are:
Joan Taylor, UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program
Katharine Owens, Master’s Entry Program in Nursing
Allison Bacani, Master of Health Services — Physician Assistant (PA) Studies
Giulia Arostegui, Doctor of Nursing Practice — Family Nurse Practitioner
