Reward & Recognition Committee

The purpose of the GSD Reward and Recognition Committee is to recognize employee excellence at the Graduate School of Design. The Committee selects monthly Applause Award winners and annual Deans Award winners from nominations submitted by GSD staff.

Committee Members

  • Matt Smith, Communications
  • Tim Hoffman, Faculty Planning
  • Pilar Raynor Jordan, Academic Finance
  • Edwin Martinez, IT
  • Lisa Plosker, Human Resources (ex-officio)

Applause Award

The Applause Award is a monthly award given to one staff member or a team. Winners of the Applause Award receive a $100 bonus.

Applause-Award-Nomination-2024-2025

Past Applause Award Recipients 

Dean’s Award for Employee Excellence / Harvard Heroes

The Dean’s Award is an annual award given to one employee or a group of employees who have displayed outstanding initiative, leadership, and commitment to quality or has performed above their job description. The winner of the Dean’s Award receives $1,000, two extra vacation days and is honored as the GSD’s Harvard Hero.

Harvard Heroes is an annual University-wide program to honor high-performing staff. These staff members have been nominated and/or selected by their peers and departments for work that supports the mission of Harvard at the highest levels of contribution, impact and excellence. The program begins with nominations in the spring and culminates with a celebration hosted by the President at Sanders Theatre in June. The Ceremony and the reception that follow are open to all employees plus invited guests of the honorees.

Past GSD Dean’s Award Winners

Harvard Heroes Recognition Criteria

Harvard Heroes Information Sheet

Harvard Heroes Awards Ceremony

Service Milestone Recognition

Faculty and staff celebrating anniversaries will receive a special message of thanks and congratulations, as well as a choice of gifts during their anniversary month.

Visit the University’s Employee Recognition page to learn more.

Staff & Community Committee

The purpose of the GSD Staff and Community Committee is to make the Graduate School of Design a great place to work by building a sense of camaraderie among staff and by providing different opportunities to improve GSD staff members’ experience.

The Committee sponsors exhibit tours in the Gund Lobby as well as co-hosts events throughout the year including the annual GSD summer picnic, the staff luncheon & bake-off, and a welcome back New Year’s breakfast!

Committee Members

  • James Chaknis, Joint Center for Housing Studies
  • Ryanne DePuy, Office of Student Affairs
  • Alicia Comunale, Faculty Affairs
  • Shiona Sommerville, Executive Education
  • Katie Tafuri, Human Resources
  • Mychelle Muliro, Human Resources

Questions? Feedback?

E-mail us if you have any questions or feedback.