New College of Arts & Sciences award honors staff member’s legacy

“We do hard things for an important purpose. And that's kind of the feeling I always got in conversation with Gail,” said Judy Slack.  

In May, the College of Arts & Sciences announced the inaugural recipients of the Gail Pascaris Award for Staff Excellence. Slack, administrative & fiscal coordinator for the Charles Center for Undergraduate Research, and Beth Chambers, herbarium curator in the biology department, are the first set of award winners.  

The new award was created in honor of Gail Ann Pascaris, a long-time staff member who passed away in November 2025. Beyond just the title, the award encompasses the very essence of Pascaris’s character: a colleague who was dedicated, kind, and constantly helping others. The award was established to celebrate staff members who demonstrate exceptional leadership and service to the university community. 

Candidates with at least five years of service were nominated across departments and units within the College of Arts & Sciences, and the winners were chosen by the inaugural selection committee. “Thank you to everyone who agreed to serve on the selection committee for the inaugural College of Arts & Sciences awards for staff excellence,” said Suzanne Raitt, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “I am most grateful to them for their time and effort, and for identifying two such stellar finalists.” 

Pascaris joined the Dean’s Office in 2015 as a fiscal and data coordinator and advanced to financial specialist and most recently, senior fiscal & data administrator. Many of her coworkers often remarked on her resourcefulness when approaching new challenges, and her consistent support when others needed assistance. “No matter how full her workload was, Gail never hesitated to help someone in need,” said Pascaris’s supervisor Kori Varner, director of finance & administration. 

Judy Slack

Receiving the award holds a special meaning for Slack, who often sought advice and assistance from Pascaris over the years. “She made me feel affirmed, that I knew what I was doing,” Slack said. “She made you feel supported.” 

“It was just her presence that was reassuring, fun, and somebody you're always happy to see.” 

Slack, who has worked at the Charles Center since 2019, oversees departmental honors processing and supports undergraduate research through hands-on work for signature events such as the graduate and honors research symposiums. Her work is often collaborative, and Slack reflected on the unique nature of her team. “It is very, very rare and something I do not take for granted to work with people that you enjoy working with,” Slack said. “We all treat each other with such professionalism, care, energy, and positivity about what we're all bringing to the table. We all have a different part and piece of it.” 

Slack was selected for her leadership, consistent hard work, and dedication to both student and faculty success. She was also recognized for improving the honors program, strengthening communication and processes for an increasing number of honors students. 

Beth Chambers

Chambers oversees a collection of more than 85,000 pressed plant specimens, the largest collection of coastal plain Virginia flora in the world. Chambers has broadened access to the collection through digitization and publication in online portals, making it possible for other researchers to use the collection in their own work. She serves as a mentor to students by creating internships and research opportunities at the herbarium.  

Chambers, like Slack, also noted appreciation for the team that supports her work from housekeeping and IT, who assisted with the digitizing effort, and the advancement office, which helps with in grants, and the administrative personnel who procure needed supplies. “There are so many other staff members that have helped me with my job. I just really do appreciate the staff,” Chambers said.  

Chambers hopes this recognition will “shine a light on the botanical collections of campus,” which include the herbarium and arboretum. “I'm super honored and humbled,” she said. “I just love working with the students, plants, and colleagues.” 

Slack expressed immense gratitude, too. “I am very grateful to all the people I have been fortunate enough to work with and continue to work with. For them to care enough about me to put my name out for this award is just amazing and humbling.” 

The two winners each receive a $2,000 prize and a framed award. Slack and Chambers were presented with the award during a special celebration on June 10.