Gina Award – Gracious, Inspiring, Nonstop Achiever
The Gina Award is named in honor of Gina O’Brien-McLelland, an outstanding former member of our community who exemplified these qualities throughout her time here. This award celebrates staff members who embody the extraordinary level of commitment and achievement that Gina modeled.
Eligibility
- All staff who do not hold faculty status and who work at least two-thirds time are eligible.
- Past recipients are not eligible for a period of five years after receiving the award.
Qualifications
- Gracious – Demonstrates kindness, respect, and generosity in working with colleagues – fostering an environment of support and collaboration.
- Inspiring – Motivates others through a commitment to excellence.
- Nonstop – Shows drive, persistence, and dedication by going above and beyond normal expectations.
- Achiever – Demonstrates exceptional initiative and follow-through, turning challenges into opportunities and consistently producing high-quality outcomes.
Nomination and Selection Process
Nominations may be initiated by College of Engineering staff, faculty, and/or administrators. Once the nomination process has concluded, the respective department chair for each faculty nominee or manager for each staff nominee will be contacted to complete a Recommendation Form before all materials are sent to the appropriate Awards Committee for evaluation.
The Staff Selection Committee, made up of representatives from all departments, will conduct a review before making recommendations to the Dean of the College for final selection.
The nomination packet should consist of ONE pdf file submitted through the Nomination Form below (multiple submissions for the same nomination will not be accepted) containing the following:
- a maximum of three letters of support from current or former students and/or College/University colleagues.
Nomination Form
If you have any questions, please email l.levy@northeastern.edu.
Past Recipients
Formerly called the GEM (Going the Extra Mile) Award
| 2025 | Laura Kenney | Academic Advising |
| 2025 | Saige McGinnis | BioE |
| 2024 | Esther Cohen | BioE |
| 2024 | Robert Eagan | ChE |
| 2024 | Krystal Ristaino | Academic Advising |
| 2023 | Tiffany Lam | CenSSIS |
| 2023 | Gina O’Brien-McLelland | Dean’s Office |
| 2022 | Elizabeth Creamer | Academic Advising |
| 2022 | David Louis | Computer Center |
| 2022 | Krista Robinette | ChE |
| 2021 | Edward Kelly | ECE |
| 2021 | Lisa Lehane | ARC |
| 2021 | Sarah Batista-Pereira | Development |
| 2020 | Thomas Simers | MIE Co-op |
| 2020 | Eddie Tyrance | ECE |
| 2019 | Jacqueline Josselyn | ECE Co-op |
| 2019 | Juan Carlos Hincapie | ARC |
| 2018 | Eve Young | Academic Advising |
| 2017 | Margaret Grimes | MIE Co-op |
| 2016 | Melanie Smith | Gordon-CenSSIS |
| 2015 | Robert Eagan | ChE |
| 2014 | Andrew Lawrence | ARC |