Feliciano and Wilson Win Dean’s Staff Awards
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The College of Engineering has selected Amy Feliciano as the recipient of the 2025 Dean’s Outstanding Service Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize and reward outstanding service by a staff member to a department and/or to the College of Engineering.
Adrian "A.J." Wilson was selected as the recipient of the 2025 Dean’s Outstanding Student Support Award, which recognizes a staff member for significant contributions that enrich the student experience and/or have a positive impact on student development in the College.
Amy Feliciano is office manager for the Department of Civil Engineering. An office manager’s job description is a catch-all for duties that make a place run well. It’s hard to assess someone as going above and beyond in service to the department and college, when their job description is essentially “everything.” Amy’s job is anticipating needs and knitting together all the pieces around her in a way that is seamless. She works tirelessly behind the scenes to make other people’s lives easier. This work is invisible, yet the effort required to be invisible is immense. She is humble and unassuming, so it is easy to overlook all the effort required to make things run well; her work is hidden behind other people’s success. Her exemplary service is enhanced by her being warm and welcoming, creating an atmosphere of support across a wide-ranging and ever-changing list of responsibilities. She offers not just help, but empathy and kindness. Showing up where she’s not required to, spotting needs and finding answers -- she is always looking for new ways to support those around her. She flourishes when they flourish. She embodies what we want for the members of our college, doing the hard job of making administration run well. She is always looking to find ways to make things better and this award is a way to show that we see her.
A.J. Wilson is the teaching lab manager for the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and he consistently goes above and beyond in this role. By providing clear guidance on proper laboratory techniques and safety practices, A.J. creates an environment in which students can explore their coursework with great confidence while gaining hands-on experience with complex equipment. His attention to detail and commitment to safety allow students to focus on discovery, collaboration, and innovation. As one student wrote: “He isn’t the type to just give you the answer and move on; he really wants to make sure you understand the answer or method and how you get there. I realized early on that he emphasizes the importance of the journey of learning and not just the destination.” A.J. puts the students first, fostering a welcoming and supportive workspace, and he is revered within the BME department for his dedication and excellent work.