Each spring, Harvard University recognizes staff members for leadership, teamwork, adaptability and exceptional contributions to the University’s mission by naming them Harvard Heroes.
This year, two of the 60 individuals chosen from among more than 12,000 Harvard staff for the honor were from the Harvard Medical School’s New England Primate Research Center.
The School announced plans last year to wind down operations at the Southborough center, but the difficult decision only served to inspire NEPRC technologist Shelly Sancricca and research assistant Laura Teixeira.
Sancricca and Teixeira are among the founders of NEPRC CARE (Caring Atmosphere Reaching Everyone), a recently formed group of employees working to positively communicate the mission and work of the center.
Their goal is to extend a “culture of care” throughout the center as it transitions.
Harvard Heroes are selected by their peers and supervisors. Those who nominated the pair described Sancricca and Teixeira as compassionate, dedicated, optimistic and deeply concerned about the welfare of the animals they care for and the well-being of their co-workers.
“I feel like every single one of us in the center is a hero,” Teixeira said. “The beauty is to be able to share this award with everyone else there. It means a lot after the tough times we have gone through, to see our work honored like this by the University.”
“I came to work at the NEPRC because I love animals and I love people, and I understand the mission of research,” Sancricca said. “Working here, I feel like I can be an advocate for both.”
This year’s Harvard Heroes awards ceremony, celebrating the outstanding work of staff from around the University, will be hosted by President Drew G. Faust on June 12 at Memorial Hall, Sanders Theatre in Cambridge.
The Harvard Heroes Recognition Program celebrates the extraordinary “above and beyond” contributions of Harvard staff. Please visit the Harvard Heroes page on HARVie (login required) to learn more.
The 12 Harvard Heroes from the Longwood Medical Area schools are:
- Cassandra (Cassie) Bowler, HMS Planning Office, Financial Manager
- Karen Brown, HSPH Office of Student Services, Office Manager
- Heather Cristiano, HMS Countway Library of Medicine, Records Management Assistant
- Amy Fenton, HSDM Dean’s Office, Assistant to the Dean
- Elizabeth Haney, HMS Wyss Institute, Senior Research Officer
- David Havelick, HSPH Epidemiology, Program Manager
- Debbie Mattina, HSPH Faculty Affairs, Assistant Director of Faculty Affairs for Postdoctoral and Research Appointments
- Bethany Maylone, HSPH Health Policy and Management, Coordinator II
- Shelly Sancricca, HMS New England Primate Research Center, Animal Technologist
- Timothy Shumaker, HMS Resource Development, Senior Director of Administration
- Laura Teixeira, HMS New England Primate Research Center, Research Assistant II
- Frehiwot (Frey) Tesfaye, HMS Wyss Institute, Faculty Assistant
