Staff Distinction Awards celebrate the teamwork behind education
Four individuals and one team were recognized for their professional dedication
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(From left) School of Medicine interim dean Stephen Kates, M.D., Excellence in Collaboration Award recipients Stephanie Ganser and Jasmine Cousins, and chief administrative officer and senior associate dean for business affairs Paul Peterson at the 2026 Staff Distinction Awards (Photo by Arda Athman, School of Medicine)
On Wednesday, May 20, the third annual Staff Distinction Awards honored VCU employees for their outstanding contributions to the School of Medicine community. The awardees, representing administrative offices and both clinical and basic health science departments, were nominated and selected for recognition by a committee of their peers.
Stephen Kates, M.D., interim dean of the School of Medicine, thanked the award recipients, nominees and VCU staff at-large for their work, emphasizing their significant role in supporting the school’s educational mission.
“You make us proud, and your exemplary work enables us to fulfill our mission to train the next generation of physicians and researchers,” Kates said. “Success does not happen unless everyone — faculty, students and staff — are dedicated to their jobs and committed to working together.
Individual Excellence Awards
Four Individual Excellence Awards were presented to a single recipient each.
Jennifer McClenny Dickerson
Senior Administrative Coordinator,
Department of Internal Medicine
“Jennifer has proven time and again that she is a pillar of support for the School of Medicine and has our core mission as her north star. Her selflessness, professionalism and unwavering support for her colleagues have made a lasting impact. She consistently makes things better than she found them.”
Briana Lowery
M3 Clerkship Director,
Department of Family Medicine and Population Health
“Briana is the go-to person for so many different people, and she approaches this role with care, concern, patience and good humor. She is truly exceptional at what she does and she epitomizes a dedicated service excellence approach that positively impacts each student’s educational experience.”
Jesse McMillan
Director,
Office of Medical Education
“Jesse has established himself as a trusted and highly effective leader who exceeds expectations across all aspects of his role. He brings a rare combination of strategic insight, professionalism and empathy, allowing him to lead with both effectiveness and authenticity. His ability to support staff, engage students and collaborate with faculty while maintaining high standards of performance distinguishes him as an invaluable member of the institution.”
Aaron Wallace
Administrator,
Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy,
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
“Aaron never fails to take the time to discuss and solve problems with faculty, internal and external staff, and students. He displays empathy towards all stakeholders and is invested in the development of his supervisees.”
Excellence in Collaboration Award
One Excellence in Collaboration Award went to a team of two or more staff members.
Jasmine Cousins
Student Engagement Specialist,
Office of Medical Education
Stephanie Ganser
Director of Student Engagement,
Office of Medical Education
“Stephanie and Jasmine consistently go beyond the expectations of their roles. They have introduced creative, efficient approaches to student engagement that reduce fragmentation and improve coordination of activities. Their teamwork enhances operational effectiveness by streamlining communication, aligning messaging and ensuring that programming meets the evolving needs of students.”
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