CAPE Award
About
The Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence Award (CAPE Award) was established to recognize the demonstrated excellence of Academic Professional staff members and affirms our highest regard for the contributions of this important community to UIC.
- Nominees must be employed as APs at UIC for at least five consecutive years at full-time and ten consecutive years at 50% time or higher.
- Please review the CAPE procedures and eligibility criteria for more information on this award.
- 2025 application is closed.
- Click here for the CAPE procedures and eligibility criteria.
- Please note that this award is for Academic Professionals (APs); if you are unsure of the nominee’s job classification, please contact your HR representative to determine whether they meet the eligibility criteria for this award.
This year, up to 10 academic professionals will receive the CAPE Award which provides a $1,000 permanent increase to the honoree’s salary and a $2,500 one-time cash award. Nominations for this award are welcomed from UIC faculty, students, academic professionals, and support staff.
The nomination period for the 2026 CAPE Award will be announced, and applications will open in 2026. The 2025 competition is closed. In the meantime, for any questions regarding the CAPE Award, please contact Selection Committee Co-Chairs- Shubha Priyamvada (shubha@uic.edu) or Nicole Messier (nmessier@uic.edu).
2025 CAPE Award Winners
Amy Knetl, Director, Transfer Articulation & Degree Audit, Academic Programs & Effectiveness
Bradley Mueller, Pre-Law Senior Academic Advisor, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Alanna O’Connor, Chief of Staff, Office of the Provost
Bernie Santarsiero, Director of Research Initiatives, Graduate College
Lorelei Stewart, Director, Gallery 400, School of Architecture, Design & the Arts
Viviana Kabbabe-Thompson, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, College of Applied Health Sciences
Kathleen Kashima, Senior Associate Dean of Students, College of Medicine
Joseph Strickland, Associate Director, Center for Social Policy & Research, Jane Addams College of Social work
Thomas Warfield, Executive Director, Office of Institutional Research
Allen Womble, Director, Center for Student Involvement
Image
Top Row: Viviana Kabbabe-Thompson, Kathleen Kashima, Amy Knetl, Bradley Mueller, Alanna O’Connor
Bottom Row: Lorelei Stewart, Joseph Strickland, Thomas Warfield, Allen Womble, Bernard Santarsiero
Contact Information
For any questions regarding the CAPE Award, please contact 2026 CAPE Selection Committee Co-Chairs: Shubha Priyamvada (shubha@uic.edu) or Nicole Messier(nmessier@uic.edu).