New in 2021 is the Exceptional Team Award, born from the recognition that we have an incredible number of effective teams that support our work and that no one person acts in isolation. The winner of this inaugural award is the Department Finance Team consisting of Binyam Abraham, Marlene Parafina, Linda Sandhop and Beth Kunze-Sieps. The Finance Team is led by Nadia Khan, Associate Director of Financial Services. The team works across our department and in all our mission areas (education, clinical and research) and processes over 100 transactions a week with an eye on delivering timely service and ensuring a high level of compliance with state and federal financial guidelines.

“In my 20 years of employment at UW, this is hands down the most talented team I’ve worked with. In the last year, they have managed to provide seamless support to the Department despite the abrupt transition to remote work and the loss of a key fiscal position due to layoffs. Most importantly, they consistently operate with the Department’s values in mind (Diversity, Collaboration, Continuous Learning and Mentorship, Integrity and Accountability).”