Northeastern’s 2025 Staff Excellence Awards to recognize the accomplishments of talented staff

The Staff Excellence Awards will honor those who support and advance the university’s mission and role in higher education. ​​The nomination period is now open through Nov. 4. 

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Northeastern University logo on a building next to a tree.
The nomination period is now open for Northeastern’s Staff Excellence Awards. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

The university’s human resources team is relaunching its Staff Excellence Awards, which honor staff members who are instrumental in building the Northeastern experience across the global system.

The awards, last given in 2021, celebrate staff achievements, while empowering them to succeed and strengthen the university community.

Winners will be invited to a celebration hosted by Northeastern senior leadership in the spring.

​​The nomination period is now open through Nov. 4. 

In reimagining the awards, organizers wanted to keep the focus on innovation, inclusion and belonging, according to Michele Grazulis, vice president and chief human resources officer at Northeastern.

The university is committed to fostering an engaged employee experience, Grazulis says, and a big piece of that is feeling recognized for the work that is accomplished. 

  • The 2025 Staff Excellence Awards will feature four categories.
  • The Innovation Across the Network Award will honor changemakers — an individual or group — who create network-wide opportunities, facilitate cross-campus and community collaborations, and spearhead unique initiatives contributing to Northeastern’s role in transforming higher education. 
  • The Driver of Inclusion and Belonging Award will recognize a staff member or a team dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and justice efforts throughout the university. 
  • The Dream Team Award will be bestowed on a team that has made a significant university-wide impact, demonstrating entrepreneurship and innovation and working strategically and creatively to achieve exceptional results. 
  • The Model Mentor and Coach Award will recognize those who mentor and coach colleagues and serve as career catalysts, inspiring confidence, assisting in strategic development and sharing career advancement opportunities.

There are about 6,000 staff members at Northeastern across the global system and all are eligible to participate.

Finalists will be selected by review teams that include about 22 fellow staff members who have been selected based on their expertise of the award areas. Each committee will then forward one or two people or groups, along with supporting materials, to senior leadership who will pick the winners.

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