Supporting everything from teaching and research to operational efforts and more, staff members are key to Case Western Reserve’s success. Each year, the university recognizes exceptional staff members with two awards: the President’s Award for Distinguished Service and the Robin Kramer Volunteer Award. This year’s honorees included two with connections to the School of Medicine: Alma Wilson, research associate, School of Medicine, and Tracy Rehl, department assistant III/human resources coordinator at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Tracy Rehl
Department Assistant III/Human Resources Coordinator, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Tracy Rehl’s volunteering spirit is unending. Always the first to offer assistance in any way needed, Rehl continually goes above and beyond the scope of her job description as a department assistant and human resources coordinator for the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Her nominator wrote: “Tracy is apparently tireless. She is always available to help, and if she can’t assist with something, she will help find someone who can.”
Leading the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center VeloSano Bike to Cure team, Rehl creates meaningful ways for the campus community to come together to support the mission of the event, even those who cannot ride. Administrative staff, lab personnel, faculty and even their children are encouraged to volunteer, and Rehl ensures the kids have plenty of activities and bubble machines to keep them happy.
Her nominator noted that as the “fearless leader of the Christmas Cookie Exchange,” Rehl brings people together and organizes staff appreciation events, many of which would not happen without her efforts.
Recognized by her coworkers as the go-to person when questions arise, her nominator emphasized: “Her long history with the Cancer Center means that we are often coming to her with all sorts of ‘Maybe Tracy knows the answer to that…’ questions, and she always helps us find an answer even if she doesn’t know it at first.”
Alma Wilson
Research Associate, School of Medicine
Over the past 26 years, School of Medicine researcher Alma Wilson has contributed to Case Western Reserve University’s research through many roles, including her most recent position as research associate and colony manager for the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) mouse resource center. Her observations of the CF mouse colony have led to many published articles and funded research projects that would not have been possible otherwise.
Wilson came to the United States from Uruguay with a doctorate in veterinary medicine and initially took a job as an animal technician in the animal resource center. She has been an integral part of growing the department’s reach, initially working with only five Case Western Reserve researchers to now supporting more than 250 Cystic Fibrosis investigators at 102 universities in 16 different countries.
Her peers and supervisors say her expertise in the field is simply unmatched.
“Alma’s ability to understand the genetics and breeding characteristics of each of our over 50 strains that we carry cannot be reproduced,” said her nominator and supervisor of more than 14 years. “Her work ethic and commitment to providing researchers with mice have led to millions of dollars of funding for the CF mouse resource center at the university.”