Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award

About the Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award
The Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award is presented in memory of Elizabeth Zintl, an accomplished writer and journalist who served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the President at the University of Virginia. The Zintl Award celebrates the leadership that is found in many areas and positions at UVA and the recipient receives a $1,000 prize for her professional or personal development. The award is made possible through the generosity of the late David A. Harrison III, a devoted friend of Elizabeth’s and a great benefactor of UVA’s Law School, School of Medicine, University Library, Athletic Department, and numerous other entities and initiatives on Grounds.
The Selection Process
The Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award uses a pan-university nomination and selection process. We publish an open call for nominations in the spring each year. Our selection committee chooses the nominee whose high degree of professionalism, creativity, and commitment best reflect Elizabeth Zintl’s significant contributions to the University. The award is presented in the fall.
Criteria:
- A woman employed in any area of the University.
- Excellence in work that makes a direct and significant impact on the core academic enterprise of the University.
- Unusually high degree of service to the University, within and beyond the expectations of the woman’s position description. Being superb in the position is not sufficient.
Nomination Packets:
- Letter of nomination from an individual at the University.
- Current resumé or vita.
- No more than three (3) letters of support. It is strongly recommended that one of these letters come from outside the area or department of the nominee.
- Packets with more than 3 letters of support and/or additional materials will not be considered
Please Note:
- Nominating and supporting letters should be concise and specific.
- The nominator takes responsibility for shaping the style and tone of the nominating packet.
Questions? Check out our FAQ here.
2020 Nomination Instructions
Nominations for the 2020 Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award or requests to resubmit previous nominations are due by May 26, 2020. Please email the above described materials to Carol Gilbert. If the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic will present problems in submitting a nomination, please contact us in advance of the deadline.
2019 Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award
Dorrie Fontaine (pictured above with Abby Palko, Women's Center Director, Risa Goluboff, Dean, School of Law, and Liz Magill, Executive Vice President and Provost) has been one of UVA’s most empathetic, forthright and inspiring leaders. Fontaine founded UVA’s Compassionate Care Initiative to alleviate human suffering through developing compassionate caregivers and systems. The initiative nurtures students, faculty, staff and clinicians to become resilient and know that caring for themselves provides a foundation for the safe and exceptional care of others. As Nursing School dean, she also fostered inter-professional education, where nurses and physicians train together, and furthered efforts for inclusion and diversity in nursing and across the University.
Learn more about all of her accomplishments here.
Past Recipients of the Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award

Recipients of the Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award, along with their title at the time of their award, include:
1998 Sylvia Terry, Associate Dean of African-American Affairs
1998 Patricia Lampkin, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
2000 Sharon Hostler, Medical Director, Kluge Rehabilitation Center
2001 Louise M. Dudley, Assistant Vice President for University Relations
2001 Claire Cronmiller, Professor of Biology
2002 Shirley Menaker, Former Associate Provost for Academic Support
2002 Marva Barnett, Professor of French, Founding Director of the Teaching Resource Center
2003 Patricia Werhane, Former Ruffin Professor of Business Ethics
2004 Karin Wittenborg, University Librarian
2005 Karen Rheuban, Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, Professor Pediatrics, Medical Director of the Office of Telemedicine
2006 Shamim Sisson, Former Senior Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Office of Student Life
2007 Carolyn M. Callahan, Professor in the Curry School of Education
2008 Yvonne B. Hubbard, Director of Student Financial Services
2009 Marcia D. Childress, Associate Professor of Medical Education and Co-Director of the Humanities in Medicine Program
2010 Karen Van Lengen, Professor of Architecture and former Dean of the School of Architecture
2011 Carol S. Wood, Associate Vice President of Public Affairs
2012 Anda L. Webb, Vice Provost for Administration and Chief of Staff
2013 Meredith Jung-En Woo, Buckner W. Clay Dean of Arts & Sciences
2014 Jane Miller, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Programs
2015 Farzaneh Milani, Chair of the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures
2016 Pamela Norris, Frederick Tracy Morse Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
2017 Rachel Most, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs and Professor of Archaeology
2018 Deborah McDowell, Alice Griffin Professor, Department of English and Director, Carter G. Woodson Institute for African-American and African Studies