Cristina Rodriguez is the 2024 Ruth Crawford Staff Excellence Award recipient.
Since joining the department in 2022 as a senior academic advisor and transitioning to graduate program administrator in 2023, Cristina has proven to be an invaluable asset. Her current role is crucial and challenging, encompassing various responsibilities such as admissions, recruitment, matriculation of new graduate students, advising current graduate students, and managing a graduate program of approximately 160 students.
The Ruth Crawford Staff Excellence Award is an annual award that recognizes exemplary staff contributions and is named after former senior staff member Ruth Crawford who devoted 30 years of exemplary service to the department working for Professor Emeritus John J. McKetta Jr.
Cristina's efforts have significantly bolstered the department's reputation and promoted student success, as evidenced by the following excerpts:
“Cristina is such a bright light helping us graduate students to navigate the department. She personally cares about every one of us and somehow has time for everyone despite her many responsibilities. She has been so proactive and helpful with pushing the department forward, introducing new programs, and updating the old. I'm amazed at the level of patience she has with all the systems and with us.”
“Christina is amazing at maintaining excellent organization when serving the graduate school and its many members. She has great attention to detail, empathy, and timely communication which is what sets her apart from others before her.”
“Cristina brings positive energy and serious dedication to administering our graduate program every day. She handles all of this without missing a beat, while also reassuring anxious students or clarifying things for faculty members.”
“Cristina always maintains a positive, upbeat attitude that makes her very approachable, and I observed dozens of prospective and current students interact with her at AIChE. I also know many of our own students approach her with problems because they know they will find a listening ear and help from her. Our graduate program would not be the same without Cristina!”
The Ruth Crawford Staff Excellence Award recipient is selected by a committee that includes one faculty member, one graduate student, and the previous year’s winner. Nominations are requested from faculty, staff and students. The previous year’s recipient is not eligible for the award.
