Massachusetts Institute of Technology

School of Science

Spring 2001 Infinite Mile Winners

"The winners of the Infinite Mile Award are fantastic--a testament to the quality of the people working in the School of Science.
We are very proud of all of them."

Robert J. Silbey, Dean of Science

Name of Awardee Department Excerpt from Nomination Letter

Mary Ellen Acone CCR, Financial Assistant
"...always willing to go that extra step to make things easier for someone else..."

"...looks forward to learning anything that would make the department work more efficiently..."

Joyce Berggren Physics/LNS, Administrative Secretary
"...she deals with her demanding clientele with unflappable grace and charm..."

"...she always manages to go the extra infinite mile while making it seem effortless and efficient...."

Camille Capozzi Carino Mathematics, Personnel Manager
"...she initiated programs enabling the department staff to be much more computer interactive with faculty and managing the web page developments..."

"...the kind of respectful team player that can make things happen..."

Jay Copeland Biology, Research Scientist
"...designed a system that was the testing ground for the much more ambitious bioinformatics effort..."

"...expert knowledge, industrial experience and creativity to make things happen..."

Virginia Esau Physics, Administrative Officer
"...strong sense of teamwork.....devoted to the Department with a depth that is inspiring..."

"epitomizes the devoted staff member who makes it possible for research and education to proceed smoothly..."

Kathryn Flanagan CSR, Research Scientist
"...created a growing and highly successful Education/Public Outreach program for CSR..."

"exhibits a selfless devotion to the community..."

Mary Foster Biology, Administrative Assistant
"...her work ethic and quality of work are exceptional..."

"...has assumed many new duties....makes issues her top priorities..."

Barry Grant EAPS, Research Specialist
"...devised a new way...came up with a beautiful and functional design..."

"...deals with emergency situations...calms down excitable faculty...all done under stress with grace..."

Pamela Hamada B&CS, Administrative Assistant
"...professional, gets the job done and does so much more for the department..."

"facilitator of the community spirit...great sense of humor and diligent dedication..."

J. Maynard Gelinas LNS, Sr. Linux Administrator
"...seemingly infinite capacity for work...speed and cheerfulness in solving computer-related problems of other researchers..."

"...proposed a new standard...improved existing PC array and added a new one..."

Hilda Harris-Ransom Biology, Administrative Assistant
"...serves as example to all members of the support staff...extraordinary contributions to laboratory..."

"patiently taught the many aspects of the financial and managerial running of a lab..."

Joanne Jonsson Math, Academic Administrator
"...she shares her understanding generously...performed magic"

"...assumes a steadily increasing share of responsibilities...provides tremendous extra support"

James Marolda CSR/Driver, Service
"...extremely helpful...communicative and collaborates well with CSR community..."

"...always ready to help anyone in need..."

John (Jack) McGlashing LNS, Mechanic B Maintenance
"...can do attitude...enthusiasm and dedication to the lab...real team player..."

"...goes out of his way to assist our office to better organize the office all done on his own time..."

Darlene McGurl Biology, Administrative Assistant
"...optimism and cheerfulness appear to be boundless...creative solutions to increase productivity..."

"...helped develop innovative ways for approaching difficult situations...always willing to offer her assistance..."

Carol McKinley Bio/CCR, Technical Assistant
"...extraordinarily generous with her time...immense effort and dedication to her work and the training and instruction of students..."

"...selfless dedication to the recycling efforts in the lab..."

Lucas McNeill Biology, Administrative Assistant
"...improves processes and streamlines office procedures...has greatly enhanced the efficiency of the department..."

"...creative thinker with a zeal for taking on new challenges..."

Danielle Noonan CSR, Administrative Assistant
"...meticulous attention to detail...excellent rapport with scholars office and HR...."

"...developed methods to speed the visa process...set up notification system which has significantly contributed to the efficiency of the Center..."

Glen Paradis CCR, Research Specialist
"...has creative and proactive approach in managing, maintaining and upgrading the facility..."

"...exemplary dedication to provide the best service to help investigators with their science..."

Margarita Siafaca CCR, Laboratory Manager
"...outstanding quality of work and commitment to laboratory...provides unique and sage advice to young scientists..."

"...works well beyond the required hours...tireless worker...generous, helpful person..."

Kathleen (Kitty) Valleli Chemistry, Administrative Assistant
"...resolves problems cheerfully and efficiently...her good humor is infectious around the office..."

"...seamlessly initiates appropriate actions to resolves issues...spirit of caring and community involvement..."

Fuhua Wang LNS/Bates Lab, Research Scientist
"...no doubt the successful outcome of this important nuclear physics experiments owes much to Fuhua..."

"...dedicated, ever-ready, extremely hard working, and willingness to do what was necessary to get the job done...well above and beyond the call of duty..."

Heather Williams Physics, Personnel Administrator
"...marathon of effort...performs her job in a manner that is a credit to the department and herself..."

"...cited at department retreat for her excellent work....creative thinking..."

Townsend Zwart Bates Lab/LNS, EE Group Leader
"...man of many talents-technical, computational, physics etc. combined with a cheerful personality..."

"contributed crucially to success of the very difficult first extracted beam experiements...working long hours, weekends, whatever was needed..."

TEAM - Suzan Stevens, Vassilike Christopoulos, Frank Corrao, Victor Farnum, Thomas Halpin, Jr., Anna Healy and Kyja Robinson
CCR, Glassware Facility Team
"...their performance is remarkable given the scope of the job...dedicated to their work...they put in whatever effort is necessary..."

"reorganized and prioritized the workload, assumed additional duties...utmost diligence and dedication..."

School of Science

Updated 5/31/01

Name of Awardee	Department	Excerpt from Nomination Letter

Mary Ellen Acone	CCR, Financial Assistant	"...always willing to go that extra step to make things easier for someone else..." "...looks forward to learning anything that would make the department work more efficiently..."
Joyce Berggren	Physics/LNS, Administrative Secretary	"...she deals with her demanding clientele with unflappable grace and charm..." "...she always manages to go the extra infinite mile while making it seem effortless and efficient...."
Camille Capozzi Carino	Mathematics, Personnel Manager	"...she initiated programs enabling the department staff to be much more computer interactive with faculty and managing the web page developments..." "...the kind of respectful team player that can make things happen..."
Jay Copeland	Biology, Research Scientist	"...designed a system that was the testing ground for the much more ambitious bioinformatics effort..." "...expert knowledge, industrial experience and creativity to make things happen..."
Virginia Esau	Physics, Administrative Officer	"...strong sense of teamwork.....devoted to the Department with a depth that is inspiring..." "epitomizes the devoted staff member who makes it possible for research and education to proceed smoothly..."
Kathryn Flanagan	CSR, Research Scientist	"...created a growing and highly successful Education/Public Outreach program for CSR..." "exhibits a selfless devotion to the community..."
Mary Foster	Biology, Administrative Assistant	"...her work ethic and quality of work are exceptional..." "...has assumed many new duties....makes issues her top priorities..."
Barry Grant	EAPS, Research Specialist	"...devised a new way...came up with a beautiful and functional design..." "...deals with emergency situations...calms down excitable faculty...all done under stress with grace..."
Pamela Hamada	B&CS, Administrative Assistant	"...professional, gets the job done and does so much more for the department..." "facilitator of the community spirit...great sense of humor and diligent dedication..."
J. Maynard Gelinas	LNS, Sr. Linux Administrator	"...seemingly infinite capacity for work...speed and cheerfulness in solving computer-related problems of other researchers..." "...proposed a new standard...improved existing PC array and added a new one..."
Hilda Harris-Ransom	Biology, Administrative Assistant	"...serves as example to all members of the support staff...extraordinary contributions to laboratory..." "patiently taught the many aspects of the financial and managerial running of a lab..."
Joanne Jonsson	Math, Academic Administrator	"...she shares her understanding generously...performed magic" "...assumes a steadily increasing share of responsibilities...provides tremendous extra support"
James Marolda	CSR/Driver, Service	"...extremely helpful...communicative and collaborates well with CSR community..." "...always ready to help anyone in need..."
John (Jack) McGlashing	LNS, Mechanic B Maintenance	"...can do attitude...enthusiasm and dedication to the lab...real team player..." "...goes out of his way to assist our office to better organize the office all done on his own time..."
Darlene McGurl	Biology, Administrative Assistant	"...optimism and cheerfulness appear to be boundless...creative solutions to increase productivity..." "...helped develop innovative ways for approaching difficult situations...always willing to offer her assistance..."
Carol McKinley	Bio/CCR, Technical Assistant	"...extraordinarily generous with her time...immense effort and dedication to her work and the training and instruction of students..." "...selfless dedication to the recycling efforts in the lab..."
Lucas McNeill	Biology, Administrative Assistant	"...improves processes and streamlines office procedures...has greatly enhanced the efficiency of the department..." "...creative thinker with a zeal for taking on new challenges..."
Danielle Noonan	CSR, Administrative Assistant	"...meticulous attention to detail...excellent rapport with scholars office and HR...." "...developed methods to speed the visa process...set up notification system which has significantly contributed to the efficiency of the Center..."
Glen Paradis	CCR, Research Specialist	"...has creative and proactive approach in managing, maintaining and upgrading the facility..." "...exemplary dedication to provide the best service to help investigators with their science..."
Margarita Siafaca	CCR, Laboratory Manager	"...outstanding quality of work and commitment to laboratory...provides unique and sage advice to young scientists..." "...works well beyond the required hours...tireless worker...generous, helpful person..."
Kathleen (Kitty) Valleli	Chemistry, Administrative Assistant	"...resolves problems cheerfully and efficiently...her good humor is infectious around the office..." "...seamlessly initiates appropriate actions to resolves issues...spirit of caring and community involvement..."
Fuhua Wang	LNS/Bates Lab, Research Scientist	"...no doubt the successful outcome of this important nuclear physics experiments owes much to Fuhua..." "...dedicated, ever-ready, extremely hard working, and willingness to do what was necessary to get the job done...well above and beyond the call of duty..."
Heather Williams	Physics, Personnel Administrator	"...marathon of effort...performs her job in a manner that is a credit to the department and herself..." "...cited at department retreat for her excellent work....creative thinking..."
Townsend Zwart	Bates Lab/LNS, EE Group Leader	"...man of many talents-technical, computational, physics etc. combined with a cheerful personality..." "contributed crucially to success of the very difficult first extracted beam experiements...working long hours, weekends, whatever was needed..."
TEAM - Suzan Stevens, Vassilike Christopoulos, Frank Corrao, Victor Farnum, Thomas Halpin, Jr., Anna Healy and Kyja Robinson	CCR, Glassware Facility Team	"...their performance is remarkable given the scope of the job...dedicated to their work...they put in whatever effort is necessary..." "reorganized and prioritized the workload, assumed additional duties...utmost diligence and dedication..."