The health and safety of the University community is at the forefront of the work of all employees, but a few individuals were recognized for their exemplary service in keeping the campus safe through the development and implementation of rigorous COVID-19 response protocols.

The Health Promotion and Compliance Team recognized nine employees from a variety of areas of campus as COVID Superheroes, who went above and beyond to protect the web consistently throughout the fall.

“When we gave our community the opportunity to nominate a COVID superhero, we were blown away by the response and received dozens of submissions,” said Brittany Schaal, director of emergency management and chair of the Health Promotion and Compliance Team. “The superheroes chosen were names that came up over and over.”

Superheroes ensured that residence halls and the dining hall met the requirements for COVID safety. They implemented COVID testing and tracking, and they developed student programming.

The nine superheroes honored at the end of the fall semester along with sentiments shared by those who nominated them include:

Patrick Benner, director of residence life and housing, oversaw the multiple student move-outs, arranged for student belongings to be shipped home, and found housing for students who could not leave campus. He also set up practices for a safe residential return. Most of his work has been in the evenings and on weekends and holidays.

Another employee who worked extra shifts to cover staffing shortages was Tishelle Cosby, a line service associate in the Heilman Dining Center. She also was instrumental in determining the best set-up to serve food to students in D-Hall. Jon Mykich, lead stores associate with the Heilman Dining Center, was recognized for covering multiple job areas, filling in for his supervisor, and training two new hires.

During a difficult and isolating time, Lauren Foligno, assistant director of programming in the Center of Student Involvement, created fun, engaging, and safe programs to engage students. She takes a “can-do” approach that allows for infectious enthusiasm.

Hand sanitizing is a critical means to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and Mauricio Lopez, recycling and custodial support associate in University Facilities, recycling, was the go-to member of his team for assembling and installing hundreds of hand sanitizing and disinfecting wipe stations across campus. He also monitors inventory.

Also recognized from Facilities was Vessela Stefanova who filled in as a warehouse clerk, administrative assistant, and the primary health screener for Facilities staff and contractors. In her role in the isolation/quarantine response protocol, she tracked the daily occupancy, work order history, and assignments of the rooms of students moved to isolation and quarantine.

Vice President and General Counsel Shannon Sinclair navigated the dual roles of legal guru and public health guide, managing UR’s COVID-19 response to ensure legal, ethical, and medical compliance was in place with solid guidelines based on sound principals. The nomination noted, “UR would have been lost in this situation without her steady and wise counsel.”

As the assistant director for sports and risk management for University Recreation, Wendy Sheppard was key to organizing and managing both student daily health screenings, as well as all COVID-19 testing. She continuously updated the health and safety policies for the Weinstein Center for Recreation.

Robin Walinski, an administrative assistant with Health & Well Being Operations, supported the clinical team at the Student Health Center and responded to students and parent concerns. Answering the phones was a “monumental” job during the fall semester. She also responded to the Student Health Center COVID Hotline.

The superheroes each received a bouquet from Richmond Athletics corporate partner Strange’s Florist. The nine employees have been and will continue to be recognized during select home games on the Robins Center videoboards, select TV broadcasts of the men’s basketball games, and on Richmond Athletics’ social media pages.