Caring. Creativity. Teamwork. Stewardship. Impact on students.
These and other sterling qualities were cited as 10 Hunter College staffers were honored with awards for excellence by President Nancy Cantor at a ceremony September 15.
The winners were nominated by their colleagues, who made a record 84 nominations this year.
“Who better to describe the impact of these remarkable colleagues than the people who have witnessed their dedication, creativity, and care firsthand every single day?” Provost Manoj Pardasani, the master of ceremonies, said.
The awardees were chosen by a committee of past winners: Dolciani Mathematics Learning Center Director Barbara Barone, Research Administration Director Robert Buckley, Director of Media Services Steven Sukra, and Chief of Staff and Director of Operations Maria Camaj. Pardasani was a nonvoting member. A list of the awardees and their bios included:
Student-Centered Impact Award: Irina Amanatidis
Irina Amanatidis has worked for more than 15 years in higher education in nonprofit, private, and public settings. She has a passion for working directly with students. For the past decade at Hunter, she has revamped the Student Ambassador Program, established and grown the Student Admissions Leader Program, and launched the first Orientation Leader Program. She said that the recognition reflects not only her work, but also the dedication of the entire admissions team and the incredible students they serve.
Community Impact Award: Alicia Brown
Alicia Brown is the administrator of the graduate programs at the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing. She has held various positions, including at CUNY Public Safety & Security, but has worked longest at the nursing school. Brown is dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals and leading them to fulfilling their career aspirations as advanced practice healthcare professionals.
Spirit of the College Award: Sean Davis
Management and Planning. Born in 1970 at Harlem Hospital to a single mother and grandmother, he grew up in Washington Heights and attended St. Rose of Lima School from 1976 –1984, Fordham Prep for a year, and graduated from Immaculata High School in 1989. Davis worked for the New York City Housing Authority from 1991–2002. He was hired as a part-time clerk in the Hunter mailroom in 2006 and became a full-time employee in 2008, dealing with multiple packages daily, having professional relations with several staff and faculty members, and providing information and directions. He appreciates the recognition of his efforts in service.
Unsung Hero Award: Nayib Ega
Nayib S. Ega, Hunter’s telecommunications operation lead, began working at ICIT-Telecom in 2004 and since has led or collaborated on almost all major Telecom projects, including the data-center rebuild, telephone-system upgrades, and cabling upgrades. He also has served as acting manager of the Network and Telecom divisions. Ega graduated with honors from New York City College of Technology and has pursued training in many technical fields, including electronics and coding. He also co-founded several technology and commercial businesses.
Collaboration & Teamwork Award: Farjana Kabir
Farjana Kabir serves as the associate director of finance, planning, and operations in the Division of Student Affairs. She shapes the financial and administrative infrastructure that supports the division and manages budgets for all Student Affairs departments and programs, ensuring fiscal responsibility, resource allocation, and effective oversight. She also manages personnel operations, including searches, appointments, and reappointments. As a key liaison between the vice president for student affairs and other departments, she works closely with department heads and administrative teams to coordinate priorities and streamline operations. Kabir holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in education.
Stewardship & Impact Award: Eve Levy
Eve Levy has served as a senior member of Hunter’s advancement team since 2007, when she joined as a special adviser and chief grant writer. Since then, she has solicited many principal and major gifts, including the $52 million creating the Evelyn H. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Program; $11 million for the Parliamo Italiano townhouse; a $9 million gift for public-policy programs; and more than $200 million for named chairs, new degree programs, facilities renovations, and student fellowships in the schools of Arts & Sciences, Nursing, and Education and departments of Dance, Theatre, Art & Art History, Music, and Mathematics; and Roosevelt House. Earlier she led advancement efforts at arts-education and international public policy organizations. She was the inaugural director of the Partnership for New York City’s David Rockefeller Fellows, an executive-training program. She is a graduate of Harvard College and the Stern School of Business at NYU.
Outstanding Achievement Award: Khant “Ko” Naing
Khant (Ko) Naing is the assistant to the chair of the Computer Science Department. He started in 2017 at the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences before becoming assistant to the chair at the Dance Department the same year. Naing transferred to the Computer Science Department in 2018 to work for the late Dr. William Sakas and has been working there since, managing operations, scheduling, and coordinating special projects. Naing is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Baruch College. He served for five years in the U.S. Army’s 1st Special Forces Group.
Behind the Scenes Hero Award: Nicole Pommerehncke
Nicole Pommerehncke is the budgeting director for the vice president of administration, leading procurement and compliance across Facilities, ICIT, Environmental Health and Safety, and Public Safety. Pommerehncke also oversees human-resource matters involving budget authorizations and is the VP’s principal liaison with unit heads and staff members. Pommerehncke earlier worked in the Department of Public Safety, where she oversaw the operational budget, coordinated the publication of the annual Clery Act report, and assisted the fleet manager. A Hunter College alumna, Pommerehncke holds degrees in film and in accounting and worked at Hunter’s former B&N College bookstore.
Excellence in Service Award: Sylvia Santiago
Sylvia Santiago is an administrative assistant in the Department of Political Science who has served for 28 years with dedication, compassion, and enthusiasm. She is known for her hard work and ability to get things done during the busiest seasons and semesters. Santiago is a go-to admin among the department, the students, and other colleagues at Hunter. Her belief in making a difference in someone’s day radiates through acts of kindness and truly makes her day brighter!
Solutions in Action Award: John Valinotti
A 25-year law enforcement veteran, Lt. John Anthony Valinotti is fire life safety director for Hunter’s Public Safety Department. During his tenure, he has significantly enhanced campus safety, achieving a 90% reduction in FDNY violations and securing a top ranking in fire safety for the college. A Hunter alumnus, Valinotti’s work is fueled by a personal dedication to the community he serves. He strives to build solutions that not only meet the needs of the college community but to eliminate the single points of failure by making himself available to train anyone who desires to learn. Beyond his official duties, he coaches the Hunter High School basketball team.
