Outstanding Staff Achievement Award
University leader, strategist and community builder, Jennifer Gialeen Aaron ’97, MBA ’05 is this year’s recipient of UC Irvine’s Outstanding Staff Achievement Award.
Jennifer first became part of the UC Irvine community as a biological sciences undergraduate involved with the Student Parent Orientation Program. After graduating, she spent seven years away from campus running an educational center, gaining experience across education and business. A colleague’s call brought her back to the UC Irvine Libraries as copy services manager, helping bring outsourced copying services in-house.
She earned her MBA through the Paul Merage School of Business Fully Employed MBA program in 2005. In the libraries’ business office, she deepened her work in finance and staff development before moving into finance leadership in the Division of Undergraduate Education. Each step expanded her understanding of the university and the people who make it work.
Today, after more than two decades of service, Jennifer is associate vice provost and chief of staff in the Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning. She helped build the structure that brought together the Division of Undergraduate Education, the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation, and the Division of Summer Session. Her contribution has helped people understand change, participate in it and succeed within it.
Her work in leadership development and coaching extends across the University of California system. She was the first recipient of the systemwide Leadership Impact Award at the UC People Management Conference and also received UC Irvine’s Excellence in Leadership Award for Outstanding Overall Achievement.
For Jennifer, leadership begins with people. She credits mentors who supported her growth and works to create a positive workplace where others can thrive. Through open communication across titles and a shared sense of purpose, she helps staff see how even routine tasks advance the university’s mission and students’ success.
“I believe the greatest compliment I can give is that when faced with challenging staff or structural issues, my number one thought is ‘What would Jennifer do?’ … On a personal note, her sense of humor, joy and passion for UC Irvine, our students and our work, stand out and serve as a light during challenging times.”
Join us as we honor this year’s distinguished recipients and celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Anteater community.
