2026 PACT awards: Building recognition, connection, and community

Published on: 八月 18, 2026 By: Staff Reports

Six employees pose with boas, crowns, and silly hats. — Employee Advisory Council members decked out in festive attire to help with four PACT celebrations honoring UT Southwestern employees for outstanding customer service. The EAC members, from left, are Jessica Varela, Nancy Nelson, Shiny Abraham, Lashayla Wimberly, Kristy Reynolds, and Mary Martin.

For their exceptional customer service in the most recent calendar year, UT Southwestern team members earned 1,860 PACT Gold and Platinum pins. That tally is 528 more pins than last year, making it the highest number in a single year for reaching milestones in the institution’s PACT Program, which continues to experience strong growth while shining a light on extraordinary staff.

The PACT Program honors employees and faculty members who exemplify:

Problem Solving
Ability, Attitude, and Accountability
Communications and Compassion
Teamwork

PACT recognitions come from managers, co-workers, internal or external customers, faculty, patients, or visitors. The four levels of PACT pin achievement are: Blue (four PACT cards), Silver (eight), Gold (16), and Platinum (attained by reaching Gold status five times). Among the all-time-high number of winners this year were 46 Platinum and 1,814 Gold PACT pin recipients, representing Academic Affairs, Business Affairs, Institutional Advancement, and the UTSW Health System. Institutional Advancement hosted its first dedicated Gold pin recognition event this year, with 11 recipients.

Over the summer, UTSW leaders celebrated the PACT pin winners at events that included ice cream socials and pin presentations. The celebrations not only gave employees well-deserved recognition but also provided moments for connection and community. Check out highlights in the photo gallery at the bottom of this page.

UT Southwestern applauds the contributions of these role models who inspire the institution through their positive actions and interactions. For more information about the PACT Program, contact the Employee Engagement team via email. For additional event photos, other PACT recognition resources, or to submit a PACT card, please visit the Legacy PACT pin recipients page on the PACT Recognition SharePoint site.

Select an image to begin the slideshow.

At the Academic Affairs ceremony, Platinum pin recipient Sherrie Robinson from the Radiation Oncology Clinic proudly displays her certificate. Beside her are Cameron Slocum, M.B.A., Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Academic Affairs and the UTSW Medical Group, left, and Danielle Lynn, Manager of Clinical Operations, Ambulatory Services.

Angela Rollins, left, and Dalena Le of Radiation Oncology get into the spirit with colorful feather boas and hats at the Academic Affairs event.

Gold pin recipient Italya Hutchinson from Research Regulatory Affairs is all smiles holding her certificate at the Academic Affairs ceremony.

Platinum pin recipients holding their certificates alongside department managers include Ms. Robinson, second from left, and Monica Evans from the Animal Resource Center. From left, the managers are Ms. Lynn; Franklyn Howell, Manager of Animal Care; and Courtney Nesline, Assistant Director of Animal Care.

Four Gold pin recipients, all from the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health (OSPH), proudly display their certificates at the Academic Affairs event. They include, from left, Glinda McFeders, Breanna Grimes, Nancy Johnson, and Tabatha Joseph. Standing behind, from left, are Margarette Donnay, Manager of Research Programs in OSPH; Saad B. Omer, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., Dean of OSPH; and George Jackson, P.h.D., M.H.A., Interim Chair and Professor of Health Economics, Systems, and Policy in OSPH.

At the Business Affairs event, Gold pin recipient Marcus Mexia from Human Resources Talent Acquisition holds his certificate beside Leslie Phillips, Associate Vice President of Talent Acquisition.

Platinum pin recipient Michael Brackney in Building Maintenance stands proud at the Business Affairs ceremony beside, from left, Juan Guerra Jr., M.B.A., M.Eng., Vice President for Facilities Management; Kenneth Gabriel, Facilities Manager; and Holly Crawford, former Executive Vice President for Business Affairs.

Holding their certificates, these Gold pin recipients from the Business Affairs ceremony stand proud, from left: Genesis Meneses of Auxiliary Enterprises Administration, Michael Cantu formerly with Parking Services, Celene Chabolla in Parking Services, and Emily Hryekewicz from Printing Services. Beside them are Justin Arrington, Director of Auxiliary Enterprises, left, and Matt Rosamond, M.B.A., Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer.

Platinum pin recipient Viji John with the University Police Department takes a photo with her certificate beside, from left, University Police Chief Marcus Lewis, M.A.; Tiffany Thomas, Supervisor of Electronic Security Administration; and Ms. Crawford.

Building connections and celebrating fellow employees who strengthen the UTSW culture, a group attending the Business Affairs event enjoys cool treats.

At the Health System Affairs event, Platinum pin recipient Sabrina Ortiz from the Ambulatory Clinical Heart and Vascular Center displays her certificate beside Traci d’Auguste, M.B.A., M.S.H.A., Vice President and CEO of William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, left, and Mayra Avila, Supervisor of Medical Office Assistants.

Earning a Gold pin is a reason to celebrate in style for recipients Fatmata Barry with the Outpatient Surgical Center, left, and Krystal Carson from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, at the Health System Affairs event.

It was a double win for Zaneta McGaughy-Wilson, center, who earned Gold and Platinum pins at the Health System Affairs celebration. At right, Betty Mathai holds her Gold certificate along with a bouquet of flowers. Both are with Patient Financial Services. Standing with them, from left, are supervisors Catherine Giron, Manager of Hospital/Diagnostic Access, and Ladonna Edmondson and Angela Sandoval, both Supervisors of Hospital/Diagnostic Access.

Smiling proud upon receiving her Platinum pin is nurse Hannah Barentine, left, beside Jocelyn Ponce, Assistant Nurse Manager at 7 Green in Clements University Hospital.

Platinum pin recipient Shilpa Mathew with Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center Patient Access, left, shares a photo with her manager, Rebecca Stephens, Director of Oncology Business Services, at the Health System Affairs celebration.

Ice cream makes the win even sweeter for this group of Health System Gold PACT pin recipients from Day Surgery. From left: Amina Rajani, Ketina Washington, Jomie Rillera, and Tynisha Butler.

At the Institutional Advancement ceremony, Archana Nilaweera with Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs (CMPA) serves up chocolate ice cream and smiles.

Eleven Gold PACT pin recipients proudly gather for a group photo at the Institutional Advancement event. The recipients include, front row from left: Sherleen Mahoney and Adrienne Long of CMPA and Yolanda Dominguez and Rebecca Cardiel of Advancement Strategy and Operations; and back, starting second from left: Ms. Naraine, Ms. Anderson, and Kristen Koerner of CMPA; Laurie Hamilton of Advancement Strategy and Operations; Danielle Forrester of Information Resources; and Paige Poletes and Kim Perkins of CMPA. Leaders joining in include, at left, Shashea L. Adams-Guess, M.B.A., Associate Vice President of Advancement Strategy and Operations, and at right, Marc Nivet, Ed.D., M.B.A., Executive Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Interim Executive Vice President for Business Affairs.

The Institutional Advancement event, like the others, created moments of engagement, appreciation, and belonging across the UTSW community as this group photo of work colleagues demonstrates.

Office of Development and Alumni Relations colleagues Tanner Garrett, left, and Dallas Guill enjoy adding candy toppings to their ice cream sundaes at the Institutional Advancement celebration.