Dolphin Awards

The deadline for submission is March 31, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. 

The Dolphin Award, instituted in 1980, is given by the President to select faculty, staff, and students in recognition of their contribution and achievements.  The awards are bestowed annually and formally presented on the day of the College’s Commencement.  

For all Dolphin Awards, the committee will consider length of service, a sustained contribution over many years, or an exceptional recent contribution. 

A detailed statement of the achievements of the candidate should support the nominations.  Nominators must provide a written statement (use this form) outlining the primary contributions and provide supporting documentation that is relevant to the nomination category. 

In all cases, any records related to personnel information (i.e., salary information or an official review by the candidate's supervisor) should not be included in the nomination package.

 Where to Send Nominations

Please email your nomination materials to the attention of DolphinAward@csi.cuny.edu (email) by March 31, 2026, at 5:00 pm.  If you have any questions, please contact  DolphinAward@csi.cuny.edu.

I. Award Categories and Suggested Documents

1. Outstanding Scholarly Achievement by a Member of the Full-Time Faculty (includes, teaching, library, and student services faculty).  
   Documents to be included with nomination form: Current curriculum vitae and letters of support from colleagues and/or peers.
2. Outstanding Teaching by a Member of the Full-Time Faculty (includes only teaching faculty). 
   Documents to be included with nomination form: Current curriculum vitae, letters of support from colleagues, peers, students, and/or alumni and peer/student evaluations.  (Peer or student evaluations can be sent only by permission of the candidate.)
3. Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Full-Time Faculty. 
   Documents to be included with nomination form: Current curriculum vitae and letters of support from colleagues and/or peers.
4. Outstanding Teaching by a Member of the Adjunct Faculty (includes only teaching faculty). 
   Documents to be included with nomination form: Current curriculum vitae, letters of support from colleagues, peers, students, and/or alumni and peer/student evaluations.  (Peer or student evaluations can be sent only by permission of the candidate.)  Please note that the individual who has been nominated must have taught as an adjunct in the 2025-2026 academic year.
5. Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Non-Teaching Instructional Staff in the HEO Title. 
   Documents to be included with nomination form: Letters of support from supervisors and/or colleagues.
6. Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Non-Teaching Instructional Staff in Specialist Titles (CLT, OIT, Finance, etc.). 
   Documents to be included with nomination form: Letters of support from supervisors and/or colleagues.
7. Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of a Full-Time Non-Instructional Staff in Clerical Functions. 
   Documents to be included with nomination form: Letters of support from supervisors and/or colleagues.
8. Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Non-Instructional Staff in Maintenance, Operations, Security. 
   Documents to be included with nomination form: Letters of support from supervisors and/or colleagues. This category is open to CSI, Auxiliary Services Corporation and CSI Association employees.
9. Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Member of the Part-Time Non-Teaching Staff. 
   Documents to be included with nomination form: Letters of support from supervisors and/or colleagues.   
10. Outstanding Service and Contribution to the College by a Currently Enrolled Student.  
    The student must be in good standing. Documents to be included with nomination form: Letters of support from faculty, staff members, and/or students.
11. Jodi Merendino CSI Spirit Award for Outstanding Dedication & Commitment to the College Community. (Open to all members of the College Community) 
    Documents to be included with nomination form: Letters of Support. Letters of support should highlight how the individual demonstrated unwavering dedication to the College Community, exemplifying remarkable kindness, empathy and genuine concern for the well-being of the campus and its members.
12.  Agent of Change toward Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Social Justice by Members of the College Community (faculty, staff, students)  
    Documents to be included with nomination form: Letters of support from colleagues, peers, students, and/or alumni. Letters of support should include qualitative and/or quantitative evidence that the nominated individuals has significantly furthered CSI’s mission through any the following:

• Creating/supporting/contributing to a campus climate that encourages and supports the expression of diverse perspectives, ways of being, and belonging.
• Fostering the academic/personal success of groups that have been underserved and underrepresented in higher education. 
• Pursuing equitable, anti-racist pedagogies in classrooms and in student support services to help close equity gaps.
• Preserving the well-being among CSI students, faculty and staff by helping to prevent harassment, bullying, and discrimination.
• Significantly contributing to the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and/or students; and 
• Enriching the campus identity by helping to elevate the diverse voices and experiences of its community members.

II. Eligibility for Nomination

• All active members of the College faculty and staff, including those on tax levy and non-tax levy payrolls working at the College, and current students are eligible for nomination.
• Self-nominations are discouraged.
• Past award recipients are eligible for nomination in categories other than the one(s) in which the award was previously conferred.  Members of the selection committee are not eligible for nomination.

III. 2026 Dolphin Awards Committee

The Dolphin Awards Committee will be chaired by Jessica Collura, Chief of Staff, in an ex officio capacity (without vote).  

Voting Members:

• Nathalia Holtzman – Interim Provost / Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (or designee)
• Ruta Shah-Gordon – Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (or designee)
• Robert Wallace – Executive Legal Counsel and Chief Administrator in Charge of Community Partnerships and Government Relationships
• Carlos Serrano – Assistant Vice President for Finance and Budget / CFO (or designee)
• Patty Kahn – Assistant Vice President for Information Technology Services / CIO (or designee)
• Stephen Morris – Professor, Philosophy
• Faiza Peetz – Doctoral Lecturer, Biology
• Deborah DeSimone – Associate Professor, Education
• Jade Doskow – Adjunct Assistant Professor, PCA
• Jennifer Durando – Director, Academic Advisement
• Lillian Nicassio – CUNY Administrative Assistant, Business Office
• Brady Tweed – Campus Public Safety Sergeant
• Lee Moskowitz – College Assistant, Division of Humanities & Social Sciences
• Adrian Rosales – Alumnus
• Emmanuel Esperance Jr – Director, Recruitment & Admissions
• Carolyn Giannolo – Director, Dining Services

Ex officio without vote:

• Susan Holak – Dean, Lucille & Jay Chazanoff School of Business
• Sarolta Takacs – Dean, Division of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Ralf Peetz – Dean, Division of Science and Technology
• Burnett Joiner – Interim Dean, School of Education
• Jessica Collura - Chief of Staff 

Following the deliberations, the committee will submit its recommendations to the President for his decision.