Staff news September 2025
September 11, 2025
New Hires
- William S. Bowen, landscaper, Landscape Services
- John G. Champion II, boiler operator, Heat Plants
- Scott McIntyre, heat plant supervisor, Heat Plants
- Aman Rokka, custodian, HSPP Zone Custodial Services
- Ahmad F. Sufizada Sr., custodian, Housing Custodial
Transfers and Promotions
- Anthony Cianchini, master maintenance technician, HSPP Zone 1 North
- Bert A. Boatwright, heat plant operator, Heat Plants
- Fiona H. Bradford, sustainable labs manager, Office for Sustainability
- Scott R. Mahanes, TAB services manager, Automation Services
- Seda E. Mandirali, custodian, Newcomb Zone Custodial
- Anthony R. Santana, controls engineering technician, Automation Services
Student Hires
- Kate J. Balwinski, sustainability student employee, Office for Sustainability
- Cedric G. Chen, sustainability student employee, Office for Sustainability
- Makango A. Cisse, sustainability student employee, Office for Sustainability
- Gabriel K. Dedu, Jr., clean water intern, Environmental Resources
- Emma Gallacher, sustainable IT student worker, Technology & Innovation
- Lauren N. Halak, sustainability student employee, Office for Sustainability
- Talia C. Hull, sustainability student employee, Office for Sustainability
- Josephine D. Lawson, sustainability student employee, Office for Sustainability
- Anika Rekulapelli, sustainability student employee, Office for Sustainability
- Matthew T. Rusten, waste reduction student worker, Office for Sustainability
Best Wishes to FM Retirees
Robert “Bob” Waite, senior architect in the Office of the University Building Official, is retiring Sept. 21 after 17 years. Waite served with the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. During his time in the Army and for years after, he logged a total of over 720 skydives. Following his graduation from UVA in the School of Architecture, he worked at UVA as a project manager and then later in private practice and at James Madison University. In 2008, Waite joined UVA's Office of the University Building Official. Over his 17 years of service, it is estimated that he reviewed over 10,000 design submittals for hundreds of buildings - from large projects like the University Hospital Expansion to small projects, like the creation of a focus room in the Leake Building. “Bob has been an incredible advocate for broad accessibility across Grounds,” said University Building Official Ben Hays. “He has championed life safety in our buildings to protect the health and welfare of the public while they are here.” Check out photos from Bob Waite's retirement gathering.
Noted with Regret
Kenn McDermott, a retiree of FM, died Aug. 18. McDermott, who retired in 2012 after 27 years at the University, previously served as the IT Manager of what was then known as Facilities Planning & Construction. He helped develop FM's first Computer Helpdesk operation and designed and developed the department's first website.
Michael C. Knight, a retiree of FM, died April 30. He previously worked as a project manager for what was then known as Facilities Planning & Construction.