Outstanding Professionals and Professional Faculty Administrator Award
This award recognizes a Professional or Professional Faculty Administrator who has a record of outstanding performance and has made significant contributions towards VIMS’ administrative mandates. Honorees have demonstrated professional excellence and a continuing record of proficiency in their area of responsibility.
The 2019 PPFA Administrator Award goes to Carol Hopper-Brill.
Carol Hopper-Brill is an exemplary ambassador for VIMS. Whether it’s creating hands-on activities for hundreds of children each year at Marine Science Day, helping to develop budding marine scientists through the Blue Crab Bowl, or preparing teachers to incorporate marine science and field investigation in their classrooms, Carol is eager to share her love and enthusiasm for the marine environment and VIMS’ study of our marine resources. Carol’s dedication to her job is unmatched. She is frequently at VIMS until late in the evening and on weekends, striving to make sure all stakeholder inquiries are answered and all education programs go off without a hitch.
Carol is also an outstanding mentor to our graduate students, helping to develop their communication skills and providing them with opportunities to engage in K-12 education and outreach efforts. Carol is highly qualified, yet incredibly modest. Her exceptional organizational skills are as admirable as her dedication. She truly cares about communicating good science, and perhaps more importantly, she truly cares about the people around her. She is always positive and energetic and infuses that attitude throughout her day to each individual she encounters.