Tanya Sawyer
Sawyer enjoys that each day is different, never boring and appreciates she learns something new most days.
An integral part of WashU’s mission, Tanya Sawyer, a grants manager in the Office of Sponsored Research Services, started her career with WashU in 2005. As part of the central fiscal unit (CFU), she and her team work to support schools, departments, and other units across the university by assisting faculty and administrative staff in preparing […]
Cassandra Haddox, DO, FACEP
“Our mission is to provide prompt quality care to each person who comes to our Emergency Departments.”
Cassandra Haddox, DO, FACEP, regional medical director, stepped into her role as regional medical director at WashU in the spring of 2025. She oversaw the implementation and continues to refine WashU Medicine’s Emergency Department expansion at four key suburban locations: Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, Christian Hospital, Northwest HealthCare, and Progress West Hospital. Her leadership has […]
Nick Benassi
"Knowing that I play even a small part in this collective effort to improve the world motivates me every day."
When Nick Benassi started with WashU in 2005, he expected to stay only a few years. Now, thanks in part to professional growth opportunities throughout his career and former positions in Advancement and Admissions, Benassi, who is the senior associate dean of strategy, external relations and communications, and chief of staff at McKelvey School of […]
Matthew Berning
Berning believes in investing time to understand what makes each team member unique, including their passions and personal interests, all while he supports them in the clinic each day.
Since his promotion in 2023 to clinic manager for Sports Medicine Services in the Department of Orthopedics, Matt Berning has exemplified how building strong relationships can positively impact WashU’s missions. Berning believes in investing time to understand what makes each team member unique, including their passions and personal interests, all while he supports them in […]
Matt Gerst
"It doesn’t matter what you do from day to day at WashU, so long as you do it to the best of your ability, because everyone is contributing in their unique way to all of the amazing work performed at the university."
Matt Gerst, lead communications specialist, has been with WashU since 2018. In his role with WashU IT, Gerst leads communication campaigns with employees, mentors his peers and collaborates across teams to strengthen processes and procedures. Gerst works to ensure that faculty, staff, and students are kept informed with clear, consistent and timely information about service […]
Angela Coonce
While Chief Coonce has only been with WashU since 2022, she strives to be part of, and create, a team that makes meaningful, positive changes in St. Louis.
Angela Coonce, chief of WashU’s Police Department, has worked in law enforcement for nearly three decades. After accepting an offer as the Chief of Police, she retired from her previous position for one day before starting with WashU. She couldn’t wait another day for her WashU career to start. “This position was always my dream […]
Kelsey Trammel
The mission to develop students for lifelong success is at the core of what Trammel does, while also honoring the legacies of the namesakes of each scholarship.
Kelsey Trammel, administrative coordinator for the Office of Scholar Programs (OSP) in the Division of Student Affairs, has been with WashU since 2017. Starting out in biomedical research, they transitioned to their current role in 2024. Through this role, Trammel serves the OSP community through logistical meeting support, communications and providing a warm and welcoming […]
Carol Priddy
Priddy has led or co-created several initiatives that have saved time, reduced costs and strengthened communication across teams.
Carol Priddy, intellectual property manager in the Office of Technology Management, has been with WashU since 2015. She creates and manages standard operating procedures (SOPs) around incoming disclosures and patent administration and provides cost-saving methods to streamline work in her department. Having benefited personally from the work that began at a university, Priddy enjoys working […]
Jennifer Pacheco, PhD
Drawing on over two decades in higher education, Pacheco has built a career dedicated to fostering collaboration and learning across differences.
Dr. Jennifer Pacheco, PhD, director of Dialogue Across Difference (DxD) in the Division of Student Affairs, has been part of the WashU community since 2024. Through DxD, she leads courses, workshops and programs that teach dialogue skills and foster meaningful engagement across diverse perspectives. “I am inspired to keep creating spaces for open dialogue across […]
Melissa Eagan
“I am deeply motivated by the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and their families.”
Melissa Eagan, pediatric orthopedic nurse supervisor in the WashU Medicine Department of Orthopedic Surgery, has been with WashU since 2014. She is passionate about providing compassionate, family-centered care and supporting children during what can be stressful and uncertain times. I am deeply motivated by the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children […]