This year’s FOA Excellence Awards spotlight individuals who redefined expectations. Whether transforming campus logistics, building bridges across departments or leading through challenges, these honorees embody the innovation, collaboration and resilience that define UC Davis.

Innovation Award: Jen Carmichael, Director of Logistics, Supply Chain Management

Jen Carmichael’s creative approach to solving campus delivery challenges earned her this year’s FOA Innovation Award. Her leadership in developing the Last Mile Initiative has redefined campus logistics by integrating vendor deliveries into UC Davis’ existing mail routes, significantly improving efficiency while reducing environmental impact.

“Jen’s solution is a win-win for sustainability and customer service,” said Mike Kuhner, the university’s chief procurement officer and assistant vice chancellor for UC Davis Supply Chain Management. “By leveraging our existing delivery infrastructure, we’re now able to provide same-day delivery while reducing traffic and carbon emissions on campus.”

The Last Mile Initiative launched this summer, as Mail Services began to manage deliveries for Fisher Scientific’s 25,000 packages to campus locations, to reduce carbon emissions, lessen traffic, increase safety and make use of existing employee delivery routes. 

The project has already generated an estimated $50,000 in new revenue without additional operational costs, with the intent to expand to other large campus suppliers in the future. Carmichael helped build a collaboration between Fisher Scientific and Supply Chain that demonstrates how partnerships can drive meaningful, scalable solutions and how innovation can address complex challenges.

Collaboration Award: Mike Legrand, Associate Controller, Finance

During the implementation of Aggie Enterprise, Mike Legrand has exemplified the spirit of collaboration as the lead for Finance and the Chart of Accounts project. His ability to unite diverse stakeholders across departments has had a transformative impact on campus operations, even as the transition to a new financial system faced the expected hurdles of a complex, enterprise-wide implementation. 

“What makes Mike stand out is his ability to combine deep technical expertise with genuine partnership,” said Matt Okamoto, controller for UC Davis and associate vice chancellor of Finance. “He listens, engages and finds tailored solutions that balance campus-wide needs with individual concerns, creating transparency and trust throughout the Aggie Enterprise transition.”

From one-on-one meetings to large group sessions, Legrand’s transparent communication and dedication to inclusivity ensured that the needs of all units were addressed. His efforts bridged gaps between departments, aligning them with common goals and fostering trust across the university.

Moved Mountains Award: Syerra Logan, Talent Acquisition Manager at UC Davis Health, Human Resources

Syerra Logan’s leadership in Human Resources supporting UC Davis Health has earned her the Moved Mountains Award. During a year marked by significant challenges, Logan’s efforts in Health’s workforce reduction and strike preparation have had a profound impact on the organization’s resilience and efficiency.

“Syerra’s innovative solutions and calm leadership have been a cornerstone of our success during difficult times,” said Lyndon Huling, executive director of UC Davis Talent Acquisition and Compensation Services. “Her ability to streamline workforce processes and coordinate large-scale staffing efforts has been invaluable.”

Syerra Logan's leadership has been pivotal in two key areas: workforce management and labor strike preparations. She spearheaded the implementation of a streamlined workflow using Smartsheet Forms, enabling UC Davis Health to review thousands of position requests, re-envision over a thousand and achieve significant cost savings. 

In addition, during labor strike preparations, Syerra demonstrated composure and resilience, coordinating seamless communication between HR, hospital leadership, contractors and stakeholders. Her efforts ensured the successful onboarding of over 500 temporary staff, maintaining team morale and operational efficiency under pressure.

About the FOA Excellence Awards

The FOA Excellence Awards were established to honor employees who demonstrate exceptional dedication to the university’s mission and values. The awards celebrate individuals who advance innovation, foster collaboration and tackle significant challenges with determination and creativity.

Nominations are solicited from throughout FOA, ensuring a diverse pool of candidates who reflect a breadth of talent and contributions. A selection committee reviews each nomination based on criteria that include originality, problem-solving, measurable impact, teamwork, communication, leadership and sustainability. This year, the committee evaluated dozens of submissions, highlighting the exceptional efforts of employees at every level.

"Recognizing our employees is a cornerstone of our community," said Vice Chancellor Clare Shinnerl. "These awards inspire all of us to strive for excellence and reflect UC Davis’ innovative spirit, even behind the scenes."

The honorees will be celebrated at an upcoming ceremony and lunch with university leaders. Learn more about the FOA Excellence Awards and other employee recognition programs.