The Council of UC Staff Assemblies has announced the winners of the 2025 CUCSA Annual Awards!
Individuals are nominated by their location and presented to the Council by the location’s delegates in March. Each location may submit one nomination per category. Each staff member can only be nominated for one category per year and cannot have received an award within the last three years. Recipients are selected by the Council’s majority vote. Award recipients will receive a trophy from CUCSA that will be presented by the recipient’s local delegates.
Although there are a limited number of award winners, CUCSA applauds the dedication and leadership of all nominees who were recognized by their peers for their extraordinary contributions.
Join us in congratulating this year’s awardees and nominees.
Outstanding Senior Leadership Award
Since 2011, the Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) has recognized outstanding senior-level leaders in the system who are supportive and inclusive of UC Staff and who encourage equity, diversity, inclusion and community with the Outstanding Senior Leadership Award.
Awardee
Lubbe Levin
Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Human Resources, UCLA
40 Years of Service
Lubbe demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting staff and the staff experience. She serves as the executive sponsor for the UCLA Staff Assembly through which she provides staff leaders with opportunities to voice their concerns and provide feedback by advocating for their participation on key committees and task forces. Prior to UCLA, she held key positions at the UC Office of the President where she served as the first liaison to CUCSA.
Nominees
Ramona Agrela, UC Irvine; Nick Eversole, UC Davis; Ann Finn, UC Santa Cruz; Ann-Marie Musto, UC Santa Barbara; Brian Obruba, UC Merced; Eugene Whitlock, UC Berkeley; Van Williams, Office of the President; and Terri Winbush, UC San Diego
Kevin McCauley Memorial Outstanding Staff Award
In 2015, CUCSA created the Kevin McCauley Memorial Outstanding Staff Award as a memorial to Kevin McCauley, a long-time UC staff member who passed away in January of that year. This award recognizes UC colleagues who are supportive and inclusive of staff; encourage equity, diversity and inclusion; are forward-thinking; and do not compromise quality for fellow staff, students or faculty.
Awardees
Tammy Campbell
IT Support Services Group Lead, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
42.9 years of service
Tammy uses her years of service and her journey to uplift and empower staff. She amplifies staff voices, drives policy change and champions career growth. Her dedication has shaped countless careers, leaving a lasting impact on the Lab’s community. Tammy mentors, advocates and drives equity, shaping Lab culture. Her advocacy extends beyond the Lab — she has helped in influencing systemwide policies like parental leave expansion.
Diane O’Brien
Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, UC Santa Barbara
38 years of service
Diane’s kindness, advocacy and hands-on approach create an environment where staff feel seen and supported. She champions staff inclusion in university decisions, facilitating dialogue between staff, the chancellor and leadership. Through outreach and advocacy, she strengthens communication and creates a culture of belonging and respect. She is deeply respected across campus, known for her warmth, advocacy and unwavering support of staff.
Michael Stephens
Learning and Development Training Consultant, UC Santa Cruz
13 years of service
Michael is dedicated to staff development. His approachable and collaborative style encourages authentic engagement across the campus. Through his classes he helps staff build inclusive, respectful relationships. His ability to balance technical expertise with empathy makes him an indispensable partner in advancing staff well-being and fostering a supportive workplace culture.
Nominees
Shelly Gough, UC Berkeley; Joseph Martinez, UC Davis; Eeman Agrama Minert, UC San Diego; Linda Oakes, UC Irvine; and Kevin Reyes, UC Merced
Outstanding Alumni Award and Outstanding Board Member Award (Est. 2022)
CUCSA’s partnership with local staff assemblies and continued support from alumni delegates is essential to CUCSA’s mission. In 2022, CUCSA established the Outstanding Board Member Award and Outstanding Alumni Award to recognize these individuals for their commitment to staff advocacy.
Outstanding Alumni Award
Awardee
Andrea Graeser
Clinical Applications Professional
UCSF
15 years of service
Andrea shows constant dedication to equity, diversity and inclusion at UCSF. They currently serve as board member for the UCSF LGBTQ+ Committee, are actively engaged in UCSF’s IT ARC and support equity pay increases across campus. Andrea stepped in as interim chair for the local staff assembly and has forged a “co-chair” partnership with the chair-elect. Andrea sets the standard for dedication and support of CUCSA’s mission as an alum.
Nominees
Bryce Besser, UC San Diego; Lou Gill, UC Irvine; Lauren McDiarmid, UC Davis; Dennis McIver, Office of the President; Crystal Petrini, UC Riverside; and Lucine Torosian, UC Los Angeles
Outstanding Board Member Award
Awardee
Jessica Bulleri
Campus Health and Well-Being Manager, UC Santa Cruz
Six years of service
Both in her primary role and as chair of the Staff Advisory Board (SAB), Jessica is a champion for staff well-being. She was a driving force behind the adoption of the Okanagan Charter at UC Santa Cruz, and is now leading efforts to expand the initiative across the UC system. She has strengthened SAB’s partnerships with other departments on campus and overseen a revamp of the SAB newsletter. Jessica’s passion for wellness and her competitive spirit as a Mario Kart player makes her a relatable and engaging leader.
Nominees
Sarah Button, UC Davis; Cynthia Granados, UC Merced; Sylvia Lambrechts, UCLA; Sandy Lee, UC Irvine; and Luz Nuñez, UC San Diego
About CUCSA
The Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) is a UC-wide assembly of staff that is dedicated to improving communications between UC staff and administrators. The Council’s objective is to provide service to the University by advising and providing a staff perspective to decision makers. The Council includes two delegates from each campus, and also the Office of the President, Agriculture & Natural Resources and Berkeley Lab. Through CUCSA, we communicate about matters affecting staff, such as benefits, change management, diversity, wellness, and engagement.