Honoring excellence: The 2026 Distinguished Staff Awards

A cornerstone of Ohio State for 21 years, Dr. Nicole Nieto is a driving force behind the university’s land grant mission. She skillfully translates scholarly research into meaningful, real world impact for communities across Ohio and beyond as Assistant Vice Provost for Outreach and Engagement. As the recipient of Ohio State’s 2026 Presidential Staff Award, an honor inspired by former President Michael V. Drake, Dr. Nieto embodies Ohio State’s commitment to affordability, access and community. From leading the Buckeyes for Charity employee giving campaign to mentoring emerging leaders, she exemplifies the very best of servant leadership by prioritizing the growth, well being and success of others. Colleagues describe Dr. Nieto as someone who “gets the job done,” pairing exceptional organization with remarkable grace. We recognize her for her tireless advocacy, authentic leadership, and unwavering commitment to building a more just and connected university community. Dr. Nieto doesn’t just represent the best of Ohio State — she helps define it.

Sarah DeVilbiss doesn’t just fill a role; she elevates everyone around her. Since joining Entomology, she has boosted graduate enrollment by 20%, but her impact reaches far across the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Known for her infectious energy and “can-do” spirit, Sarah has stepped up time and again to lead during critical transitions. From chairing the Staff Advisory Council to planning the perfect ice cream social, she is a tireless champion for staff morale. Sarah represents the very best of us: a problem-solver, a mentor and a true builder of community.

Pamela Garlinghouse has more than 25 years of critical care experience in the Surgical, Trauma and Burn Intensive Care Unit at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical and Comprehensive Burn Center. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from The Ohio State University College of Nursing where her doctoral project focused on implementing evidence-based strategies to improve nutrition for patients with severe burns utilizing a volume-based feeding protocol. A visionary nurse leader, she co-founded the Critical Care Online Journal Club dedicated to bridging the gap between research and bedside practice improving patient health outcomes across the five hospitals in our hospital system and the College of Nursing. She also remains on faculty as an Adjunct Professor at The Mount Carmel College of Nursing. Pamela has been awarded the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Circle of Excellence Award, twice (2026, 2019), and received the 2025 American Association of Colleges of Nursing Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA) March 2025 GNSA Emerging Leader Award. From medical missions in Haiti to delivering holiday treats to her day and night shift colleagues, Pamela’s legacy is one of deep compassion and a relentless spirit of innovation.

Dr. Casey Henceroth has served Ohio State with distinction since 2007, exemplifying exceptional leadership, innovation and service. She began as an academic advisor and adjunct instructor in the College of Education and Human Ecology, working with thousands of students before advancing into senior leadership roles. Casey helped lead major initiatives including unit reorganizations, quarter-to-semester conversion, advising model redesign, COVID-19 response efforts, and the certification of nearly 15,000 undergraduate degrees. In 2022, Casey became the inaugural Director for Physician Scientist Education & Training in the College of Medicine, where she built collaborative infrastructure that supports nearly 200 trainees – undergraduates, medical students, residents and fellows, and early career faculty – across the physician scientist training pipeline each year. University-wide, her leadership on the University Staff Advisory Committee drove transformative, equity-focused reforms to staff professional development funding. Casey’s legacy reflects a sustained commitment to excellence, inclusion, stewardship, and institutional impact.

A longtime Human Resources leader at Ohio State, Bobbie Houser has spent three decades helping colleagues navigate change through sound judgment and trusted counsel. Her journey began at the university as a student assistant in 1995, and today, she stands as an invaluable expert in faculty affairs. Each year, she meticulously manages hundreds of tenure cases with steady, quiet confidence. Bobbie has a rare gift for “sorting the signal from the noise,” balancing technical precision with a deep sense of fairness. She fosters a culture of respect and integrity that has left an indelible mark on the Office of Academic Affairs.

Jillian Ober believes that everyone has a story to tell – and the right to read it. For over two decades at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, she has been the heartbeat of the Next Chapter Book Club, a program that ensures intellectual disability is never a barrier to the joy of literature. Jillian is a master of removing obstacles; from co-authoring “hi-lo” short stories so members see themselves reflected in literature to arranging complimentary transportation to weekly club meetings, she makes inclusion look effortless. She is committed to empowering others, training members to become co-facilitators of their own groups and equipping all 150 members to create the kind of clubs they want. Jillian fosters a world where curiosity and friendship belong to everyone.

For over 20 years, Valerie Rake has been at the forefront of making teaching and learning at Ohio State more resilient and accessible. As the Associate Director for Learning Systems, she oversees the massive technological infrastructure – including CarmenCanvas, Zoom, Mediasite, PebblePad and Top Hat – that powers the modern Buckeye experience. Known as an expert who can turn daunting mandates into intuitive, people-friendly solutions, Valerie balances technical mastery with deep institutional empathy. By placing the human experience at the center of every digital tool, she has ensured that our educational ecosystem remains robust, inclusive and world-class.

The School of Earth Sciences finds its anchor in Angie Rogers, a leader known for her open-door policy and her support for hundreds of graduate and undergraduate students with a blend of deep institutional knowledge and profound care. Angie’s career is defined by her advocacy – from successfully advocating for student stipend increases to conducting wellness checks for those in crisis. She has fostered a culture of kindness and inclusivity, ensuring that every Buckeye who enters her office finds not just an administrator, but a lifelong mentor and a tireless champion.

From her earliest days as a freshman student leader to her role as Assistant Director of STEP, Caitlyn Tietje’s journey is a masterclass in growth and dedication. She led the program’s first comprehensive curriculum refresh in six years, providing nearly 3,000 students and 200 faculty mentors with a clear roadmap for authentic reflection and high impact learning. While managing complex operations at scale, Caitlyn never loses sight of the people at the heart of the work, building trust, consistency and community resulting in extraordinary faculty mentor retention. She leads with intellectual rigor, genuine warmth and humility, creating spaces where students, faculty and colleagues feel supported, valued and empowered.

Milly Valverde is a visionary leader who has served as Ohio State’s premier global ambassador. As a pioneer behind Ohio State’s enterprise-wide Interpreter Services department and a founder of its Destination Medicine department, she transformed equitable access to care for patients from all 50 states and more than 120 countries. Her influence spans global health summits, international collaborations and the quiet rooms where she supports families arriving for life-saving therapy. Milly also established Ohio State’s first domestic and international second opinion program, expanding global referral networks and strengthening the university’s reach across borders. She advances inclusive excellence policies, practices and training while supporting employee resource groups. A national Language Access Champion, she trained thousands of medical interpreters globally, setting the benchmark for compassionate, world class care.

Rachel Whisler has played a central role in reshaping dental education and access to oral health care in Ohio. As a founding leader of the OHIO Project, developed alongside Dr. Canise Bean, she helped build a sustainable model of community-based dental education that has delivered millions of dollars in services to underserved communities across the state. She also contributed to the development of the Dental H.O.M.E. Coach, expanding outreach through mobile care and student engagement in high-need areas. Through her sustained leadership, mentorship and commitment to public service, Rachel has strengthened partnerships and demonstrated that some of our most powerful classrooms are those rooted in service to the public good.

Since 2001, Laura Williams has been a foundational pillar of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. As a premier leader in fiscal operations, she has an extraordinary gift for diagnosing operational hurdles and designing creative, lasting solutions. Laura’s 25-year legacy is defined by her ability to transform complexity into transparency, making Ohio State a more welcoming and organized workplace for everyone. By building structures rooted in accountability and empathy, Laura ensures our faculty and students can focus on their mission with absolute confidence.

Anthony Yonkura has been the key bridge between university researchers and the highest standards of federal animal welfare compliance. He is known for the above-and-beyond service he provides to every lab on campus, pairing phenomenal institutional knowledge with a gentle, patient spirit. Anthony is a modest leader who works tirelessly behind the scenes to streamline policies and improve the research experience. As one colleague noted, “If there were a dozen more Anthonys, the world would be a calmer and better place.” He ensures our vital scientific mission moves forward with integrity and heart.