Awards 2021 Graduate Leadership Awards

Congratulations to the recipients of Penn’s 2021 graduate student leadership awards!  Each year, the University honors student leaders who are graduating from Penn with two awards: President & Provost's Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life and the Dr. Andy Binns Award for Outstanding Service to Graduate and Professional Student Life.

This year sixteen graduating students are being recognized for their service and lasting contributions to graduate student life at Penn: 

2021 Grad Leadership AwardeesDayo Adetu (MSE, Bioengineering and MSE, Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics, SEAS); Richa Agarwal (MES, LPS, SAS); Renee Cotton (VMD, Veterinary Medicine); Katherine Elbert (PhD, Chemistry, SAS); Loran Grishow-Schade (MSSP, SP2 & ML, Law); Julia Hah (MPH, Medicine); Leena Kasa (MPH, Medicine); Farzana Khan (MPH, Medicine); Kristen Leong (DMD, Dental); Angie Ocampo (PhD, Sociology, SAS); Buyan Pan (PhD, Chemistry, SAS); Rachel Randolph (MPH, Medicine); Nahara Saballos (MPH, Medicine); David Sliski (PhD, Physics and Astronomy, SAS); Angela Song (MPH, Medicine); and Wai Ying Vivien Yiu (PhD, Education, GSE).   

Each of these honorees has volunteered their time to improve life at Penn for their fellow grad students, and our campus is a better place for their efforts.  Read more about these students' contributions and the awards they received below.

President's & Provost's Honor for Developing New Initiatives in Graduate & Professional Student Life 

This award is presented to students who have initiated lasting new developments that have enhanced graduate and professional student life at Penn. This year, three students are being recognized with this award: 

  • Richa Agarwal, Master of Environmental Studies, SAS (LPS)
    As a founding member of Climate Leaders @ Penn, Richa helped lead efforts to institutionalize the group, the development of an interdisciplinary climate forum, and establish a new climate fellowship, in partnership with faculty and centers throughout the University. She has also been active as a member of the Penn Sustainability Office’s Student Advisory Group on Environment (SAGE) and Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC). Richa's leadership and partnerships across the University has brought together an interdisciplinary community of students, faculty and staff who share a dedication to environmental sustainability and action that will impact our community for years to come.
     

  • Katherine Elbert, PhD in Chemistry, SAS
    Throughout her time at Penn, Katherine has demonstrated engagement and leadership on topics related to professional development and women in STEM. As president of Women in Chemistry (WiC) at Penn, Katherine established the Leadership in Science Award, presented to an esteemed member of the larger scientific community for their contributions to science and the community itself. Annual award presentations are open to the full Penn community, and pre-COVID, events were coupled with many opportunities for faculty, student, and administrator engagement. Katherine's leadership has brought together a community of students, faculty, researchers and administrators of the scientific community in deeper engagement with one another.
     

  • Kristen Leong, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Dental
    During her time as a graduate student at Penn, Kristen served as a GA representative for the Dental School (serving on the Equity & Access committee), Deputy of the Finance Committee Interschool Partnership Fund (IPF), Finance Chair and currently as the Vice President of Finance and Operations, in charge of the Finance and Operations Division of GAPSA. Her efforts to streamline and improve applications and reporting guidelines have resulted in more transparent and equitable processes for all graduate students. Additionally, her leadership in founding the First Generation Professional Students Society in Penn Dental helped to catalyze the creation of GAPSA FGLI programs that serve the broader Penn graduate FGLI community. Kristen's leadership and service on the GAPSA board and  steadfast representation of the graduate student experience across Penn has set a foundation for more transparent and stable student governance in the years to come. 

 

Dr. Andy Binns Award for Outstanding Service to Graduate and Professional Student Life

This award is presented to graduate or professional students, upon their graduation from Penn, who have significantly impacted graduate and professional student life through service involvement in student life initiatives or organizations. Thirteen students received the Andy Binns Award this year:

  • Dayo  Adetu (MSE in Bioengineering and MSE in Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics, SEAS) for service and leadership in advancing wellness and diversity initiatives across departments in the School of Engineering.

  • Renee Cotton (VMD, Veterinary Medicine) for service and leadership in advocating for equity and inclusion and in implementing finance reforms within GAPSA.

  • Loran Grishow-Schade, Master of Science in Social Policy (MSSP), SP2 and Master of Law, Carey School of Law

  • Julia Hah (MPH, PSOM) for leadership and service in founding the MPH Racial Equity Task Force (RETF) and advancing issues of justice and equity within the MPH program and Perelman School of Medicine.*

  • Leena Kasa (MPH, PSOM) for leadership and service in founding the MPH Racial Equity Task Force (RETF) and advancing issues of justice and equity within the MPH program and Perelman School of Medicine.*

  • Farzana Khan (MPH, PSOM) for leadership and service in founding the MPH Racial Equity Task Force (RETF) and advancing issues of justice and equity within the MPH program and Perelman School of Medicine.*

  • Angie Ocampo (PhD in Sociology, SAS) for outstanding leadership and service through as a member and president of the Latin American Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (LAGAPSA) 

  • Buyan Pan (PhD, Chemistry, SAS) for service and leadership with GAPSA, including contributions through the Research Council and leading the expansion of the GAPSA-Provost Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Inquiry.   

  • Rachel Randolph (MPH, PSOM) for leadership and service in founding the MPH Racial Equity Task Force (RETF) and advancing issues of justice and equity within the MPH program and Perelman School of Medicine.*

  • Nahara Saballos (MPH, PSOM) for leadership and service in founding the MPH Racial Equity Task Force (RETF) and advancing issues of justice and equity within the MPH program and Perelman School of Medicine.* 

  • David Sliski (PhD in Physics and Astronomy, SAS) for service and enthusiastic advocacy on behalf of graduate students through his roles in SASGov and GAPSA.  

  • Angela Song (MPH, PSOM) for leadership and service in founding the MPH Racial Equity Task Force (RETF) and advancing issues of justice and equity within the MPH program and Perelman School of Medicine.*

  • Wai Ying Vivien Yiu, (PhD, Education, GSE) for extensive your service and leadership with the International Students Advisory Board (ISAB) and in partnership with ISSS.

*Students were jointly nominated and recognized.