Faculty and Staff Earn Campus Safety Awards

NC State’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has announced two winners of the inaugural David Rainer Memorial Campus Safety Award. The award honors the memory of Rainer, a former EHS associate vice chancellor who spearheaded the launch of the WolfAlert system and helped lead the university’s return to campus effort following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joan O’Sullivan, EHS Specialist in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, monitors air quality, health and safety across multiple buildings that house more than 30 research labs with hazards such as lasers and biohazards. She proactively manages safety by updating program increment safety plans, conducting inspections, training new graduate students through a seminar she cocreated, overseeing building security and collaborating on lab construction and renovations. Her dedication and commitment has improved the department’s safety culture and teaching lab operations.

TEAM ARMI, led by Professor Lokendra Pal in the Department of Forest Biomaterials, has transformed safety culture through a structured approach of daily walkthroughs, weekly self-inspections and monthly safety audits to manage its pilot plant, wet labs and analytical facilities that have mechanical and chemical hazards. The team has eliminated decades-old safety hazards by removing outdated chemicals and relocating improperly positioned flammable cabinets, and it has created a culture of continuous improvement that enhances safety for research, teaching labs, student classes and public tours.

The David Rainer Memorial Campus Safety Award is made possible by a donation from Henry Schaffer, a professor emeritus in the College of Sciences.

Additionally, 11 other individuals and teams have received the 2024-25 NC State/Eastman Chemical Campus Safety Award, which recognizes those who have gone above and beyond to create a safe and healthy campus culture, prioritize safety, implement safety improvements or spearhead novel safety efforts within their department or for the university.

“We all assume when we send our loved ones off to work or school that those organizations have safety as their top priority,” said Elizabeth “Eliz” Guthrie Nichols, chair of the University Occupational Health and Safety Committee and a professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. “We need to remember at NC State that family members and friends hold us to that top priority as well. Organizations with excellent safety records are organizations that promote safety within the organization and communicate their commitment to safety externally to communities.

“The Campus Safety Awards are an important way to make safety visible for NC State and the communities that we impact,” Nichols continued. “I think those within NC State who excel at safety deserve recognition for their efforts. What they do for us in the realm of safety is good for all of us in the Wolfpack, so we absolutely want to highlight their achievements and celebrate them for their safety innovations and contributions.”

EHS solicited nominations for both the David Rainer Memorial Campus Safety Award and the NC State/Eastman Chemical Campus Safety Awards. Winners were selected by the associate deans of research, safety committee chairs and the EHS director and council chair. Winners receive a certificate and funds to enhance the safety culture in their respective departments.

The following individuals and teams were recognized with NC State/Eastman Chemical Campus Safety Awards.

Stephen “Clay” Byrd

Animal Sciences

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Byrd manages NC State’s Swine Educational Unit, overseeing animal welfare, employee supervision and facility operations that involve complex equipment and animals weighing over 600 pounds. He has achieved an almost nonexistent employee injury rate through comprehensive safety training and conscientious facility maintenance. He has proactively improved safety through LED light installation for better working conditions and renovation projects, such as remodeling barns for stress-free animal handling and redesigning nursery pens to eliminate heavy lifting. 

Campus Enterprises Safety Committee

Campus Enterprises

Office of Finance and Administration

Campus Enterprises, under the leadership of Keith Smith and Lauren Smith, launched a revitalized monthly safety committee meeting that brings together staff from University Dining, Student Centers and operational units. The meeting fosters a proactive, cross-functional safety culture through structured learning, expert presentations and open roundtable discussions. This collaboration has led to clearer procedures, better injury documentation, safety shoe programs and a reduction in incidents. 

Lisa Castellano

Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

College of Engineering

Castellano has exemplified exceptional safety leadership by developing written protocols, assisting with safe experimental setups, managing hazardous materials and creating a comprehensive safety plan for approximately 40 trainees working across multiple research groups. Her proactive efforts have created a safe and organized laboratory environment that consistently impresses distinguished visiting faculty members from universities worldwide and stands out as a model workplace.

Angela Chiang

Forestry and Environmental Resources

College of Natural Resources

Chiang has transformed health and safety practices through initiatives such as cleaning laboratories, adopting safer DNA dyes and implementing shared chemical inventory management systems. She provides daily oversight of personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance and new member onboarding while maintaining quarterly reviews of safety protocols. Her leadership has improved the safety culture for both research operations and the broader college.

Uma Crouch

Entomology and Plant Pathology

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Crouch has demonstrated exceptional leadership in laboratory safety by training students and staff members, bringing new lab spaces up to code efficiently and establishing comprehensive safety protocols and documentation. She proactively coordinates with safety officials, maintains records and ensures all personnel are current on training, PPE and procedural requirements. She has created a strong safety culture where best practices are integrated into daily operations.

Aaron Kohutek

Entomology and Plant Pathology

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Kohutek has demonstrated exceptional leadership in lab and field safety by developing tools and systems that improve safety practices, maintaining pesticide inventories, ensuring proper PPE usage and managing compressed gas training. He trains all team members and monitors their well-being while setting an example through his own compliance. His proactive initiatives have maintained safety compliance, prevented accidents, elevated the team’s safety culture and inspired others to take safety precautions seriously.

Linda Marciniak

Campus Enterprises

Office of Finance and Administration

Marciniak has shown dedication to continuous improvement and has advocated for safer, more practical solutions for staff. After a significant safety concern arose, she worked closely with NC State’s workers’ compensation administration to create an alternative approach to faster, safer care access for injured employees across campus.

Photo not available.

Will Rowland

Dean’s Office

College of Engineering

Rowland demonstrates an exceptional dedication to ensuring a safe and functional lab environment. This has been most evident in his proactive and rapid response to lab-user emergencies, coming in during off-hours, weekends and very early mornings to address issues resulting from power outages, leaks or alarms. His prompt actions have been crucial in minimizing hazards and disruptions, and his calm and knowledgeable approach helps to quickly resolve issues and restore a secure environment.

Brian Royals

Entomology and Plant Pathology

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Royals enthusiastically trains student-workers and takes a proactive compliance approach to his work: He continuously enhances the lab environment through routine inspections and hazard identification. He also champions sustainability through recycling and repurposing equipment. His leadership sets a standard for lab management and safety culture.

Keith J. Smith

Campus Police

Office of Finance and Administration

Smith protects the officers who operate the department’s fleet of vehicles. He diligently maintains tires and brakes at regular intervals and ensures that all emergency equipment is operating safely. He puts extensive time and effort into maintaining the department’s vehicles, and he takes pride in ensuring everything functions correctly. 

Allie Yackley

Entomology and Plant Pathology

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Yackley ensures all reagents and lab supplies are properly stocked, stored and documented. She consistently goes above and beyond in her duties.