The annual Dean’s Performance Awards honor employees whose work helps the UNC School of Medicine achieve its vision of becoming the nation’s leading public school of medicine.
The annual Dean’s Performance Awards honor employees whose work helps the UNC School of Medicine achieve its vision of becoming the nation’s leading public school of medicine.
The eight awards span four categories that are aligned with the School of Medicine’s SOM: Accelerate Forward Together strategic plan: research, education, people and clinical.
In 2025, more than 60 nominees were considered for their extraordinary efforts and the winners were announced at the 2025 School of Medicine Annual Staff Summit.
Research Winners
Diana Stanley
Administrative Director for Research and Compliance
Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases
In her nomination, Diana is celebrated for her remarkable skillset and ability to successfully oversee a large team, with many teammates being located around the world. Diana’s dedication, knowledge and collaborative spirit have improved relationships and provided strength across the institute in a time when multi-national research collaborations are facing a range of obstacles. Diana’s passion for her work, her knowledge and creativity, have directly supported the institute’s mission and boosted its successes.
Manal Khan
Research Project Manager
UNC Department of Orthopaedics
Manal has played a central role in establishing the infrastructure, processes and culture that have enabled her department’s research mission to thrive. Her teammates tell us that she is a driving force in the department. Her leadership has helped UNC Orthopaedics earn its first-ever place on the Blue Ridge Institute’s NIH funding list – a historic milestone. Her ability to bring clarity and structure to a complex environment allows researchers to focus on discovery, and her eye for collaboration has helped clinical faculty engage in research as well.
People Winners
Ning Fu
Assistant Director of Finance
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
For more than a decade, Ning has assisted with financial aspects of vial workflows in the cancer center, including grants, recharge centers, ePAR submissions, and so much more. Her teammates celebrate the strong collaborative environment that she has built. She leads with a focus on staff encouragement, development and productivity, going out of her way to find valuable training opportunities both internally and externally. Ning also ensures that research administration runs smoothly for the cancer center, lending a reassuring and calm presence along with innovative solutions to complex problems.
Janet Martin
Autism Specialist
TEACCH Autism Program
Janet has been an invaluable TEACCH teammate since 1981. Her impact goes beyond her exceptional work with toddlers and their families. She also plays a central role in shaping the next generation of clinicians. Her coaching style, guidance and mentorship helps colleagues become leaders, helps clinicians thrive, and is recognized not only by her peers but by families involved in the TEACCH program as well. One family noted that she is compassionate, knowledgeable, informative and kind. In her nomination, her colleagues tell us that her commitment to the mission has built a legacy of excellence that continues to advance autism services across North Carolina.
Clinical Winners
Abby Noschese
Executive Assistant to the Chair
UNC Department of Orthopaedics
Teammates celebrate Abby’s leadership, eye for innovation, strategic insights, and valuable contributions across mission areas to advance the department’s work and improve patient care. Abby is known for fostering strong relationships, using a data-informed approach to achieve meaningful and measurable outcomes, and going above and beyond to contribute to all facets of the department’s operations.
Jayson Delisle
Employment Services Coordinator
TEACCH Autism Program
Jayson’s teammates celebrate his work toward supporting autistic individuals, not only with their employment goals but with their broader needs. Jayson helps these individuals gain and maintain meaningful work while connecting with essential community resources, including housing, food assistance, benefits management and social opportunities. Jayson’s team also recognizes his leadership, commitment to service, and his supportive approach as a mentor and colleague.
Education Winners
Holly Shepherd
Student Services Manager
UNC Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Teammates celebrate Holly’s support for future scientists as well as her commitment, precision and collaborative spirit, all helping the department reach its education goals. She helped create and launch a new master’s degree track, and she serves as a dependable resource for students and colleagues across and beyond UNC-Chapel Hill. Additionally, Holly also has played a key role in helping program directors with the collection and organization of comprehensive data for progress reports and competitive renewals.
Alice Stone
Assistant Director of Curricular Affairs, Application Phase
Offices of Medical Student Education
In her nomination, colleagues celebrate Alice for her outstanding leadership and critical contributions to the redesign of the third-year MD program curriculum. Her work is directly supporting the School of Medicine’s efforts to educate future physicians. Her attention to detail, professionalism, clear communication, expert guidance and leadership have left a lasting impact on her teammates and are directly tied to student successes.
Congratulations to the 2025 winners!