Four exceptional staffers from the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science received staff awards at the college’s all-staff meeting on March 17 in the Computing and Information Science Building.
Established by Cornell Bowers in 2024, the annual staff awards recognize and celebrate the contributions of the college’s outstanding staff members. Each recipient receives a plaque and a $2,500 prize.
Bowers staff were recognized in the following categories:
Rising Star Award – Erin Pyrek, research administrator in the Sponsored Research Administration Center (SRAC)
The Rising Star award recognizes a newer staff member who has made a positive impact in their first few years working at Cornell Bowers.
Pyrek was nominated for going above and beyond what’s expected in her SRAC role.
“She takes ownership of outcomes, seeks feedback, learns quickly, and continuously looks for ways to improve how we serve Bowers,” read her nomination letter. In roughly two years’ time, “Pyrek built strong relationships, earned trust, and proved herself as a dependable, go-to partner and team member.”
The Award for Excellence in Inclusion + Belonging – Mary Paige, finance assistant in the Budget and Finance Office
The Award for Excellence in Inclusion and Belonging recognizes an individual within Cornell Bowers who has demonstrated an exceptional understanding of inclusion and belonging, a key priority for the college.
Along with being a standout staffer who doesn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand, Paige has played a key role as the college’s Budget and Finance Office expanded to meet college growth in the last three years. During that time, Paige was instrumental in welcoming new team members and creating an environment where they felt safe, valued, and confident.
“She shared responsibilities thoughtfully, including long-standing customer relationships, ensuring smooth transitions and empowering her colleagues to grow,” according to her nomination letter.
Staff Innovation Award – Laura Schad, program manager for research initiatives, Research Office
The Staff Innovation Award recognizes a staff member who embodies the spirit of innovation, a core component of the Cornell Bowers mission. The award is given to a staff member who applies creativity to develop new or improve existing processes, methods, systems, or services, and encourages others to do the same.
When it comes to managing research and partner-supported initiatives, Schad is the staffer in Bowers. According to her nominator, she has crafted proposal pipelines that streamline how Bowers faculty pursue external funding and apply for internally allocated research support. Furthermore, she has “introduced pre-submission workshops, codified funding disbursement, and created partner communication cadences that surface issues early and maximize budget.”
“She generates valuable ideas, moves swiftly from concept to implementation, and builds scalable systems that strengthen Bowers."
Exceptional Performance Award – Liz Estabrook, interim senior director of administration for the departments of Computer Science and Information Science.
The Exceptional Performance Award acknowledges a staff member who consistently demonstrates superior professional achievement and the pursuit of excellence within and beyond their position.
The director of administration keeps a college department running smoothly. It’s a big job for any staffer, but Estabrook is no ordinary staffer. As interim senior director of administration, she oversees not one department, but two – computer science and information science – and leads with integrity, strategic vision, and commitment to excellence.
“Her ability to balance multiple complex departments while remaining approachable, thoughtful, and solutions-focused is a testament to her remarkable leadership,” said her nomination letter. “She leads not only with expertise, but with heart, empowering those around her to succeed, and elevating the entire organization through her dedication and resilience.”
Louis DiPietro is a writer for the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science.