Staff news June 2025

Bree Knick, associate director for Construction & Renovation Services, and Lela Garner, sustainability manager – student outreach & engagement, both earned a Master of Education degree with a higher education administration focus from the University of Virginia.

Les Givens, mason plasterer in Construction & Renovation Services, earned a bachelor's degree in business management from American National University and Certified Supervisor certification through the Institute of Certified Professional Managers.

Shaun McCready, senior program manager in Programs & Informatics, completed his Doctor of Business Administration degree through California Southern University's online program.

Technology & Innovation student workers graduating from the University of Virginia with their bachelor's degrees included Chris Domingos-Kioza (FM Help Desk), Surya Shanmugaselvam (Sustainable IT) and Afia Paracha (Communications Assistant).

Emily Douglas, engagement programs manager for FM, was nominated for the Richmond SHRM IDEA Impact Award, a bi-annual award designed to recognize and honor individuals who are making significant contributions in the realm of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA). This award celebrates individuals who are championing IDEA initiatives, driving meaningful change, and fostering inclusive workplaces that enhance innovation, collaboration, and organizational resilience.

The University of Virginia Fleet was recently selected as No. 80 in the 100 Best Public Fleets in North America awards presented by the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). This is the first year the application was submitted on behalf of the University's entire fleet, including Facilities Management and Parking & Transportation's vehicles. This is the sixth consecutive year UVA has been recognized in this contest. Of all the University fleets in the 100 Best Awards this year, UVA had the second-highest ranking of the 10 university fleets that were recognized.

John Sauer, gardener and groundsman for Landscape Services, retired May 18 after 50 years of service. Since he first joined the University in 1974, he has worked all over Grounds — serving as the gardener of the president's home at Carr's Hill; supervising the Central Grounds and the Lawn landscape crew; and for his last year of full-time employment, he cared for the landscape at Brown College, where he and his wife have been fellows since 1998. Sauer served as the gardener of Carr's Hill through four of the University's nine presidents, eventually following former UVA President Teresa Sullivan over to the University's property at Sprigg Lane while the Carr's Hill property underwent a renovation. He moved over to his current assignment at Brown College last fall. Read more about John Sauer in the FM newsletter and UVA Today.

Colette Sheehy, UVA's senior vice president for operations and state government relations, will retire effective July 1 after nearly 43 years of service to the University. Sheehy oversees the functions of Facilities Management as well as the Office of the Architect, Business Services, State Government Relations, and the University Building Official. Read more about Colette Sheehy in UVA Today.

William F. Shaw, a retiree of Facilities Management, died April 2. Shaw worked in Health System Physical Plant and later with Programs & Informatics (then known as Work Management), before retiring in 2013.

Robert "Bobby" Lee Shafer, a retiree of Facilities Management, died May 24. Shafer worked as a mason/plasterer when he retired in 2010 after 44 years of service at UVA.