Angelides receives Elizabeth Gillis Award

Philippa Angelides, associate director of the Rice Student Center, received the annual Elizabeth Gillis Award for Exemplary Service at President David Leebron’s town hall meeting April 4.

Philippa Angelides, assistant director of the Rice Student Center, received the annual Elizabeth Gillis Award for Exemplary Service at President David Leebron’s town hall meeting April 4. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow)

The award, the university’s top staff accolade, is named for the wife of former Rice President Malcolm Gillis and recognizes staff members who, like Elizabeth Gillis herself, demonstrate unflagging commitment and service to the university.

Leebron was joined by Gillis to announce this year’s winner. Angelides has devoted more than 31 years of service to Rice and the student center, Gillis said.

“She has contributed in many significant ways, from her first work as the secretary for the Student Association to her current broad responsibilities as associate director of the student center,” Gillis said .

Under Angelides’ direction, student activities have grown from fewer than 100 to over 300. She has guided student leadership and improved student facilities, and the organizations have prospered through her enthusiastic oversight, Gillis said.

In a nomination letter for the award, Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson praised Angelides’ impact on student life.

“Her tireless contributions have provided clubs with the consistency and support that allows all of their many activities to prosper through funding and resource connections,” he wrote. “On a regular and recurring basis, Philippa stays late to help a club or support an event.”

Angelides has been instrumental in updating the student center, including creating an improved prayer space, relocating and enhancing the Rice Queer Resource Center and reviving the Rice Women’s Resource Center space.

During Hurricane Harvey, Angelides came to Rice to help amid flooding in the basement of the student center and provide logistics needed to address the aftermath, Hutchinson wrote.

“Clearly she is always willing to support new projects with a can-do attitude and desire to positively impact Rice University and our campus and community,” he wrote. “This willingness to go above and beyond is core to who she is and how she operates.”

Angelides joins a distinguished list of recipients of the Elizabeth Gillis Award, which can be found here: https://goo.gl/zJu4Xp.