2025 Staff Merit Awards Winners

Over the past two decades, Maria Beazley has brought creativity, innovation and best practices to bear on undergraduate advising in ways that have benefited thousands of students. She joined Saint Joseph’s to help establish the William Leahy Advising Center in the Haub School of Business and several years later successfully extended advising support services to the College of Arts and Sciences. A strong advocate for first-generation and degree completion students, Maria also led the development of advising support services for our PLS and HDC students. Her tireless advocacy for students is all the more effective because of her comprehensive knowledge of curricula across all schools and colleges. She has been an invaluable colleague during our mergers with the University of the Sciences and the PA College of Health Sciences, working closely with our Registrar’s team, department chairs and Associate Deans to integrate curricula and manage multiple teach-outs for hundreds of students on all three of our campus locations. Most recently, she has been an essential member of the Cornerstone Core Curriculum implementation team, working effectively with colleagues to prepare updated curricular worksheets for every undergraduate major program. Her dedication and leadership is remarkable and has been absolutely essential for us to maintain the care and attention each student deserves. As a proud alum of SJU, she embodies the Jesuit charism of care for the whole person while always striving to accomplish a greater good for students and colleagues alike.

Megan graduated from the University of Scranton with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. For thirteen years she was a dedicated Catholic school teacher who was involved in the school community in many ways. Megan left the classroom, and found her new role working as the Administrative Assistant for the PACE program in January of 2023. Megan is responsible for all administrative and recruitment tasks for the PACE program. Her attention-to-detail and organization skills are unmatched and are a key factor in the success of the PACE program. One of Megan's biggest accomplishments this year is in the area of admissions; she planned and executed 7 virtual information sessions for the PACE program with over 35 families in attendance. Her effort has paid off with a record-setting 20 applications for the upcoming year and 6 deposited students so far (with even more still applying through rolling admissions). To put into perspective, we planned to recruit 5 students, so the number of applications received was above-and-beyond what we had expected. I really believe that Megan is the "glue" that keeps our admissions and recruitment efforts seamless. Along with being responsive and knowledgeable, she is also friendly; she makes all prospective students and families feel welcome and eager to come to SJU. No matter how many prospective students she interacts with daily, she somehow manages to remember specific details about each one, making every applicant feel special and more than just a number. Megan is an incredible member of the team and we are so thankful for her effort!

Andrew Esposito, Director of Technology and Classroom Support, has been a dedicated member of the SJU and University of the Sciences community for over 13 years. Since the 2022 merger, he has quickly become an invaluable part of our IT team, playing a key role in major events such as commencement and the Day of Dialogue, while also organizing fundraisers for the Abramson Cancer Center in honor of a former colleague.

Beyond his technical expertise, Andrew is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. He serves as an AJCU mentor, actively promotes IT’s inclusion goals, and is collaborating with University leadership to shape the 2025 summer virtual work environment.

As a colleague, Andrew makes an effort to ensure that everyone in the room has a voice. Andrew’s patience, calm nature, and wit make him a joy to be around. His leadership style makes him approachable and respected throughout the university. Andrew has the memory of an elephant, which comes in handy managing 3 campus locations and during busy times.

Siena Parks is an invaluable member of both the Public Safety and Security team and the Events team at the Lancaster campus. With over 5 years of exceptional service, Siena has consistently demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness and attention to detail. Whether she’s responding to emergencies, assisting faculty, staff, students, and guests, or coordinating external events, she excels in all aspects of her role.

Siena is known for her collaborative spirit and her willingness to share her time and talents. She can always be relied upon to support her colleagues and participate in various campus initiatives. Her dedication and unwavering commitment to supporting the University’s mission exemplify great teamwork and devotion. Siena’s efforts make a lasting impact, and she truly embodies the values of excellence and service.

Madalina Veres serves the University as the Executive Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. In her role, Madalina leads the effort of developing strategies and successfully securing gifts from corporations and foundations in support of University priorities. A big part of her job is being proactive in working with faculty, staff and program directors from across the University to seek funding for our many academic programs. She has been and continues to be an excellent representative of University Advancement and an outstanding campus partner. Her pleasant demeanor, dedication and strong work ethic all contribute to her ongoing success. Madalina also serves as the liaison to the newly established Frances Maguire Museum where she works with museum leadership and staff in supporting their fundraising efforts.

Tom Waller began his distinguished career in public safety at Saint Joseph's University (SJU) in 2011, quickly establishing himself as a reliable and dedicated member of the team. In the summer of 2012, Tom transitioned to the Maguire Campus, where he continued to excel in his role and contribute to the safety and well-being of the university community.

Tom has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to service, consistently going above and beyond to ensure the security of students, faculty, and staff. His expertise, professionalism, and proactive approach to public safety have made him an invaluable asset to the department.

Tom has played a key role in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment on campus. His ability to handle challenging situations with composure and dedication has earned them the respect and admiration of his colleagues and the university community.

Jamie is a vital member of the Student Health Center team, offering exceptional support to Healthcare Providers and staff across Hawk Hill, University City, and Lancaster. Whether troubleshooting the electronic medical record system or coordinating work-study students’ schedules, she is both resourceful and meticulous. Jamie is always looking for innovative ways to streamline processes and improve procedures. Her collaborative nature and willingness to share her time and expertise make her a dependable resource for both students and colleagues. With a thoughtful, compassionate approach to every task and interaction, her behind-the-scenes contributions are essential to the success of the Student Health Center, its Healthcare Providers, staff, and students.

Since joining the University in 2019, Amanda Hall, Deputy Director of Athletics, has left her mark on the Hawk Hill campus. Among her many duties, Amanda represents the Department of Athletics and Campus Recreation on capital projects. Together with her outstanding colleagues in OFM -- Kevin Mueller, Jason Massey, and Matt Morimoto -- Amanda worked tirelessly to bring the O'Pake Fitness and Recreation Center and the Maguire Athletic Center to life. Her attention to detail; focus on the best interests of our students and other users; and refusal to accept anything but the best craftsmanship from our contractors helped result in facilities that will serve the needs of our community for years to come. Thank you, Amanda, for your incredible service to our great University!

Michelle Thomas enters her sixth season with Saint Joseph’s Men’s Basketball and her fourth as Director of Student-Athlete Development. A native of West Philadelphia, Thomas plays a vital role in academic support, career development, and community engagement, with a strong emphasis on the holistic development of the program’s student-athletes. She also leads the team’s community service efforts, including the Hawk Hill Hoops Academy, an initiative that promotes engagement and education through a diverse offering of clinics and seminars.

Rusul Al-Salihi began her career at SJU nearly a decade ago, and in her time here she has done exemplary work within the technology space, but also with the Refugee & Immigrant Working Group. Rusul is aware of the unique challenges and difficulties that immigrants face in this country, and has consistently gone above and beyond to work on behalf of individuals facing this situation. She is a tireless advocate for student workers, and specifically those under student visas. She has consistently provided genuine human-to-human kindness, care, and mentoring for these students, and has given them critical opportunities to obtain an income and build true work experience and resume building. All of this reflects the true mission of Saint Joseph’s University, the pursuit of social justice and care for the whole person.