Both individual employees and teams of eligible employees may be nominated for this award. Individual winners receive a cash award of $3,000, while team awards are $5,000. Each winner also receives an engraved memento to commemorate the honor.

2006 Aspiration Award Winners

Individual Aspiration Awards

Charlie Bognanni, Associate Co-op Education Coordinator, for being extremely invested in his students, striving for excellence in all facets of his work with them, and this shows in the ratings he receives from both students and employers. He is not, however, just interested in particular students, he is interested in ensuring that we better understand and improve our model of cooperative education and the effect of the interplay of study and practice. He has risen above the expectations of his position to pursue these issues by working with both Co-op and Accounting faculty members on research projects. Both projects have helped to keep Northeastern at the forefront of cooperative education, and to understand and meet the needs of our students.

Claire Duggan, Associate Director of Finance & Administration - CESAME for her work in urban outreach for the cause of K-12 education, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Claire’s strong commitment to outreach is evidenced by the fact that she has taken it upon herself to coordinate meetings of people on campus working in the K-12 educational outreach field, all on her own time. She has gone beyond her job to create a network of educational outreach faculty and staff across the University and is recognized as the “go-to” person for any researcher looking for help on the education component of a STEM proposal.

Richard Freeland, President, for his extraordinary leadership which has propelled the University to remarkable achievements in all five dimensions of the Aspiration. Under President FreelandÕs leadership the University has undertaken bold academic initiatives, enhanced the academic profile of its student body and transformed its physical campus. In its 2006 ÒBest CollegesÓ edition, U.S. News and World Report ranked Northeastern 115th among national universities, up nearly 50 places from 162nd in 1995.

Team Aspiration Awards

Division of Technology Transfer Team
Anthony Pirri, Director-Technology Transfer; Susan Keyes, Technology Transfer Executive; Kevin Treco, Intellectual Property and Contract Specialist; and Halee Burg, Special Assistant to the Provost for Academic Policy & Legal Affairs, for the contributions they have made in providing support to researchers across the University. One significant element is the reduction in turnaround time in the negotiation of agreements for confidentiality, material transfer, industry sponsored research, and licensing. Also, through the work of this group, Northeastern has been recognized as a leader in licensing income among comparable universities. Finally, the members of this group contribute in many ways towards the education of faculty and students on licensing and intellectual property topics, through lectures and symposia, and opportunities for students to work with them on course projects or co-op assignments.

Marine Science Center Outreach Team
Emily Blume, Outreach Program Coordinator, and Tracy Hajduk, Outreach Program Assistant/Divemaster, for the efforts they have put into developing curricula and outreach programs for K-12 students. The programs target urban schools, providing opportunities for students to learn about research and to develop a life-long interest in marine science. Not only has the program quadrupled in size in less than three years, but it has also generated revenues beyond expectations during this time period. Emily and Tracy have also implemented successful public outreach programs that reach beyond the K-12 arena. They have clearly gone beyond what was expected of them and their personal efforts for continual growth have resulted in a highly successful urban outreach program.

Institute for Race & Justice Steering Committee
Jack McDevitt, Associate Dean, Graduate Studies & Research and Director, Institute for Race and Justice; Amy Farrell, Principal Research Scientist & Associate Director; Lisa Bailey-Laguerre, Assistant Director ø Community Relations; Robin Chandler, Associate Professor & Director, WomenÕs Studies; Robert Hall, Associate Professor, African American Studies; Jack Levin, Brudnick Distinguished Professor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology; also Director, Brudnick Center on Violence & Conflict; Peter Murrell, Associate Professor and Director, Center for Innovation in Urban Education; Gordana Rabrenovic, Associate Professor; Geoffrey Ward, Assistant Professor. The Institute, a collaboration between the Colleges of Criminal Justice, Arts and Sciences, and Law, has become a focal point for research and debate on matters of race and social equity, both locally and nationally. Under the leadership of this team, the Institute has provided a model of community-focused decision and policy making, and in less than three years has become a regional source of expertise on urban issues of race and the criminal justice system.