The College of Public Health honored two staff members who exemplify the university’s shared values of care, compassion, integrity and respect as part of the fourth annual College of Public Health Ethics at Ohio State (ETHOS) Awards.
JOJO Beyene, BSPH senior academic advisor, was recognized with the Care and Compassion Award, acknowledging how she embodies the principles of attending to the well-being of individuals and communities and putting people at the center of CPH’s mission.
Karen Reider, administrative assistant for purchase and travel support, was honored with the Integrity and Respect Award for personifying the principles of acting responsibly and being accountable, and building trust through honesty, transparency and authentic engagement.
The ETHOS Awards were created to recognize CPH faculty and staff who exemplify Ohio State’s shared values of excellence and impact, diversity and innovation, inclusion and equity, care and compassion, and integrity and respect. The recipients — nominated by their CPH colleagues — were celebrated at the CPH faculty and staff holiday breakfast. Interim Dean Karla Zadnik announced the winners, noting that nearly 40 nominations were submitted this year.
Nominators described Beyene as someone who “goes the extra mile for all her students” and ensures they are supported and successful during their time in the college. One student nominator said Beyene’s “kindness and patience create a safe space” to share challenges and they always leave her office confident and clear about what to do next.
Reider was described as a colleague who is “great and fosters greatness” and “sets a very high bar for integrity and respect when conducting all aspects of her job.”
“Her consistently practiced humanistic approach leads to stronger and more resilient relationships, increased collaboration, and greater success for the college in terms of establishing meaningful and timely administrative support,” one nominator said.
Previous CPH ETHOS award winners include:
- Scot Erbe (2022)
- Ashley Felix (2022)
- Amy Ferketich (2022)
- Colleen Hendon (2021)
- Marian Moser Jones (2023)
- Tasleem Padamsee (2021)
- Anne Trinh (2023)
