Eileen Hamel Honored with CICS Outstanding Staff Award

Eileen Hamel, graduate programs manager and doctoral advisor in the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences, UMass Amherst, was recently selected to receive the 2021 Outstanding Staff Award, given annually to an individual or team at the college who demonstrates an exemplary work ethic, makes impressive contributions to their department, and fosters a positive and successful environment.

One nominating letter named Hamel’s work as “outstanding on a sustained basis,” noting that during the pandemic she had worked early mornings, nights, and weekends to make sure graduate students were taken care of and programs ran smoothly.

Laura Haas, dean of the college, lauded Hamel’s efforts to support the transition of a new graduate program director, improve equity in doctoral admissions, and launch the college’s new online master’s program, “all while fostering a positive work environment and responding to the many unique challenges encountered by our students due to the global pandemic.”

“I’m thrilled to be recognized through this award,” states Hamel. “I am truly honored to contribute to the success of our students and college."

Hamel holds a bachelor’s in history from UMass Amherst and a master's in higher education administration from Bay Path University. Currently, she serves on the board of a local conservation group, which she co-founded in 2019, and has served on the school council for a local high school for the past three years. She has worked in her current role at the college since 2018.

For more information about the award and a list of previous recipients, see: https://www.cics.umass.edu/awards-programs.