2026 Staff Excellence Award Recipients Announced

2026 Staff Excellence Award Recipients Announced 

Each year, four Sam Houston State University employees who have demonstrated excellence in service, proven commitment, commendable performance and a high level of motivation have been selected as recipients of the 2026 Staff Excellence Award. This year’s honorees are Angela Kizzee, assistant director of marketing and guest services for Residence Life; Juan Lopez, groundskeeper for Landscape Services; Mauri Smith, director of digital and analytics for Integrated Marketing and Communications and Mayra Pena, administrative associate III in the Department of Victim Studies. 

Honorees are selected based on nominations by their peers, supervisors and members of the SHSU faculty. In addition to an award of recognition, each recipient will be awarded a $2,000 bonus.  

The university invites the Bearkat community to nominate staff members who have consistently demonstrated excellence and lived out the university motto to receive the 2027 Staff Excellence Award. The nomination period begins in February and ends in April.  

Angela Kizzee 

How would you describe your own job?   
I always tell people that I have the fun job in our department! I have the pleasure of promoting and marketing Residence Life to future and current students, as well as their families and support systems. From websites and newsletters to summer camps, conferences and social media, life as the assistant director for marketing and guest services is never a dull moment. I love that my role allows me to be creative, connect with others and help showcase all that Residence Life and the university have to offer. 

What do you love about your job? 
I love that this job has taken me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to tap into my creative side. Every day brings something different, and I enjoy finding new ways to connect with students and help tell the story of Residence Life. I also love how supportive my co-workers have been over the years. Although it was scary to leave a career I had been in for more than 20 years, making that change has allowed me to learn new skills, grow in ways I never expected and continue helping my fellow Bearkats in a completely different capacity. I’m grateful for the people who encouraged me along the way and for a job that continues to challenge, inspire and bring me joy. 

What do you love about SHSU? 
As an alumna and hometown girl, what isn’t there to love? But seriously, I love the culture and sense of community at SHSU. Being able to grow up in Huntsville, become a Bearkat, build a successful career, leave that field and eventually return to where it all began has been a truly full-circle experience. SHSU has been a part of so many chapters of my life, and I feel incredibly fortunate to now have the opportunity to give back to the university and community that helped shape me. 

What I love most is that there is always an opportunity to learn something new, grow both personally and professionally and collaborate with people who are passionate about helping our students succeed. I look forward to continuing to grow in these areas while also embodying the spirit behind the Bearkat motto: “The Measure of a Life is its Service.” 

Comments supporting her nomination include: 
“Angela consistently manages a high-stakes workload with remarkable poise. As the lead for guest services and marketing, she ensures that all administrative processes are handled with perfect accuracy. Her ability to prioritize large volumes of inquiries and marketing deadlines while maintaining a high degree of professionalism makes her a role model for the entire department.” 

“We are fortunate that Angela had already built community relationships with off-campus housing entities and was able to maximize those relationships in her new role. Initially, the job was not a glamorous one. Angela made numerous site visits to off-campus properties to ensure that the property amenities, locations and details were correct for publication and advertisement to students looking for off-campus housing. Using the gathered information, Angela created a complex guide to better assist students when they are making decisions about which off-campus property to choose. This guide is still being used today and has been an important resource for students who choose to transition from living in a residence hall to living off campus.

Mauri Smith 

How would you describe your own job? 
My role is to help SHSU make informed, data-driven decisions that support our students, faculty, staff and institutional goals. I work at the intersection of digital strategy, analytics and communications, helping transform data into actionable insights and guiding initiatives that improve engagement, effectiveness and the overall experience of our university community. Much of my work involves collaborating with colleagues across campus to identify opportunities, solve challenges and use technology and information to support the university's mission. 

What do you love about your job? 
What I enjoy most is the opportunity to solve problems and create meaningful impacts. I love combining data, technology and strategy to help teams achieve their goals and make better decisions. Every project brings a new challenge and a new opportunity to learn, which keeps the work engaging. I also value the relationships I've built with colleagues across campus who are dedicated to serving students and advancing the success of the university. 

What do you love about SHSU? 
What I love most about SHSU is its people and its commitment to student success. There is a genuine sense of community here, and I have always been impressed by the willingness of faculty and staff to collaborate, support one another and work toward a common purpose. SHSU is a place where innovation, service and professional growth are encouraged, and it is incredibly rewarding to be part of an institution that makes such a meaningful impact on the lives of students and the communities we serve. 

Comments supporting her nomination include: 

“Mauri lives into her CliftonStrengths themes of Arranger and Strategic by being a problem solver with the ability to adapt as needed to maximize productivity of herself and her team. These skills were especially useful throughout the website redesign project.” 

“Mauri’s leadership throughout the extranet website project was outstanding. She supported and balanced the competing needs of many departments and divisions while managing the project and keeping it on track. Beyond the launch of the extranet website, she also was a strong contributor and collaborator on many digital advertising and marketing campaigns that SHSU Online participated in or managed. Juggling a large project, like the website redesign, with managing advertising contracts and campaigns is no easy/small task. The successful launch of the website and execution of a variety of marketing and advertising campaigns speaks to the excellence that she has brought to the institution over the past year.” 

Mayra Peña 

How would you describe your own job?  
My job feels colorful and vibrant because every day brings something new and meaningful. It’s comforting to know I’m always helping, accommodating and reassuring the people who rely on me, and that my work truly supports others. 

What do you love about your job?  
I genuinely love my team — they make even the busiest days feel lighter and more enjoyable. I appreciate how they’re always willing to help, which makes the hard work feel worthwhile. 

What do you love about SHSU?  
I appreciate the flexibility SHSU gives me to maintain a healthy worklife balance. I also value the ability to move around to different roles when needed, which helps me grow professionally. 

Comments supporting her nomination include: 

“Mayra’s contributions to students are significant and meaningful. As graduate advisor, she supports more than 100 students and frequently provides flexible advising hours to accommodate working professionals. She assists students with navigating administrative processes, connecting with internship opportunities and accessing university resources. Her responsiveness, patience and genuine care for student success make her an invaluable support system for many students in the program.” 

“In her role as an administrative associate, Mayra has been the strength behind our department’s daily operations. Mayra helps us function and excel in the department. She manages complex scheduling now with the five and 7.5 courses, budgetary tracking and departmental communications, all with meticulous attention to detail. She was essential in our graduate program for external review that also took place in the fall of 2025. Mayra researched and provided information for us to be able to complete both of those tasks, which were due simultaneously. We honestly could not have completed both items without Mayra. We will forever be grateful for all her hard work to help the department meet these goals.” 

Juan Lopez 

Comments supporting his nomination include: 

“Juan has served our institution with unwavering dedication for nearly two decades, and throughout his tenure he has consistently demonstrated an exceptional standard of professionalism, skill and commitment. In recent years, Juan has assumed primary responsibility for tree maintenance across the entire main campus as well as all off-campus facilities. In this role, he works largely independently, overseeing the health, safety and appearance of our trees with remarkable attention to detail and pride in his craft. The quality of his work is unwavering and the results are evident throughout the campus landscape.” 

“The safety and well-being of our students is paramount, and Juan plays a critical role in ensuring a safe and welcoming campus environment. He single-handedly oversees the maintenance of trees across campus and beyond, proactively identifying and addressing potential hazards before they can pose a risk to students, staff or visitors. Through his diligent efforts, low-hanging and damaged limbs are expertly trimmed, keeping sidewalks, parking lots and common areas clear and safe. Juan’s ongoing maintenance work not only prioritizes safety but also preserves the health and form of our trees, significantly enhancing the overall beauty and appearance of the campus. His attention to detail helps ensure that our outdoor space remain both functional and visually appealing year-round. Following storms or severe weather events, Juan is invariably the first to respond, leading cleanup efforts to remove fallen limbs and debris. His swift action restores access to parking lots, sidewalks and building entrances, ensuring that normal campus operations can resume safely and efficiently.”