The University of Denver’s 2,500+ student employees form the backbone of the University, gaining important professional development experience while supporting the entire community. In recognition of their outstanding contributions and achievements, the University coordinates an annual selection process to choose our undergraduate and graduate Student Employees of the Year, as well as our Supervisor of the Year!
In an indication of just how important the student employment relationship can be, we had 61 incredibly strong nominations for 57 community members this year! These nominations showed just how much our student employees and supervisors have shown up for one another across a string of difficult years, displaying incredible teamwork skills as they navigated not only the ongoing crisis of a global pandemic, but also issues of societal injustice, leadership turnover, and personal challenges.
The Student Employment team invites all student employees, supervisors and supporters (including family and friends) to celebrate with us as we honor our Student Employees of the Year, Gabri Notov and Alfred Akinlalu, and our Supervisor of the Year, Nicholas Pyle, and recognize all of this year’s nominees!
Gabri Notov, Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year
Gabri Notov is a fourth-year Psychology student at the University of Denver pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, as well as minors in Business Statistics and Spanish. Since the Fall quarter of their Freshman year, Gabri has worked under Dr. Heather Taussig, a professor in DU’s Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), as a research assistant for Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF). Throughout their time in undergrad, Gabri has refined their skills in data analytics and statistical software. After returning from their semester abroad in Sevilla, Spain, Gabri completed their Psychology Micro-Credential in Data-Informed Decisions using FHF data under the mentorship of Dr. Edward Garrido. They are a co-author on a paper about lay beliefs on different eating disorders that is under review in the DU Undergraduate Research Journal (DUURJ). When Gabri isn’t working in the lab, working their other jobs, or in class, they enjoy building community, dancing, singing, fishing, playing disc golf, and hanging out with their cat.
Gabri’s supervisor Heather Taussig wrote: “In addition to the contributions already described, Gabri’s impact on the DU community is evident in the way they elevate the quality, consistency, and long-term sustainability of the FHF program. For example, Gabri assumed responsibility for highly specialized and sensitive data work that is foundational to program improvement and our community partnerships. Their efforts in cleaning, coding, and analyzing complex datasets strengthened the program’s ability to make informed decisions and share meaningful findings with community sites, ultimately improving services for youth involved in child welfare systems. Gabri’s influence also extends beyond their direct tasks as they have contributed to building institutional knowledge that will outlast their time as a student.
Alfred Akinlalu, Graduate Student Employee of the Year
Alfred Akinlalu is a PhD candidate in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Denver, where his research specialization is in Biomedical Engineering. His work focuses on developing innovative strategies to improve the detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Bridging engineering, molecular biology, and translational medicine, he designs diagnostic and therapeutic tools with potential for clinical applications. He has contributed to peer-reviewed publications in high-impact biomedical journals and regularly presents his research at national scientific conferences.
Beyond the lab, Alfred is committed to mentorship, scientific communication, and expanding access to research opportunities for underrepresented students in STEM. He aspires to build a career advancing cancer diagnostics and translational research while training the next generation of engineers and scientists. Through research and leadership, he seeks to translate discovery into meaningful healthcare solutions that improve patient outcomes
Alfred’s supervisor Dali Sun wrote: “Alfred has made a sustained and meaningful impact through research excellence, mentorship, and community leadership at the University of Denver. In our lab, he has been a central contributor to advancing pancreatic cancer research, particularly through fluorescence-based detection strategies and translational therapeutic studies. He played a key role in publishing a fluorescence-based assay for specific pancreatic cancer detection in ACS Nano, as well as co-authoring work in Frontiers in Pharmacology and Biosensors and Bioelectronics Journals. These publications represent high-impact scholarly contributions that have elevated DU’s visibility in biomedical engineering and cancer diagnostics”
Nicholas Pyle, Supervisor of the Year
Nick grew up just outside of Cleveland, Ohio, where spending his childhood in Northeast Ohio cemented his passion for sports at an early age and ultimately carved his path toward a career in athletics.
Along the way, Nick made several moves, from Windsor, Colorado, to Laramie, Wyoming to attend the University of Wyoming, then to The Villages, Florida, and eventually back to Colorado, settling in Denver. Each stop helped shape both his professional direction and personal growth.
After arriving in Colorado, Nick began his career with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment as a Ticket Resolution Coordinator before ultimately finding his home at the University of Denver.
When he’s not at work, you can usually find Nick immersed in Denver’s live music scene or attending a sporting event somewhere around the city.
Nick has been the Assistant Manager of Ticket Operations at University of Denver since September 2023, and he was nominated for Supervisor of the Year by three of his students, Maya Barrientos, Stanley Black, and Emily Chaney.
Nick’s student employee Maya Barrientos wrote: “From our first day in the office, Nick has always made his student workers feel valued and respected. Not only does he ask for our feedback about our experiences, but he also recognizes our achievements in meaningful ways, such as hosting an end-of-quarter celebration for the team. He is especially open to constructive criticism. He not only listens to it, but takes action to implement changes.”
Congratulations as well to our other nominees this year!
NOMINEES:
| Undergraduates | Graduates | Supervisors |
| Allison Metzler | Alex Prusator | Adam Booker |
| Amirah Creighton | Alfred Akinlalu | April Osborne |
| Annie Mulvihill | Amanda Klingler | Audrey Townsend |
| Avery Young | Avery Baxter | Jamie Polliard |
| Aya Saad-Masri | Brylee Grubb Erwin | Kristin Deal |
| Dayanara Faris | Caitlyn Potter-Glaser | Nicholas Pyle |
| Delaney O’Brien | Casey Barker | Robyn Thomas-Pitts |
| Drew Tilbrooke | Cierra Walker | Sam Markwood |
| Elias Barbour | Fallyn Richmond | Shannon Murphy |
| Frankie Stroud | Jacob Tonozzi | Stacy Pinto |
| Gabri Notov | Jane Wee | |
| Haley Graham | Julia Herberg | |
| Kiley Traynor | Katarina Krull | |
| Liv Saint | Katelyn Morkovsky | |
| Maddie Thompson | Kendra Sandford | |
| Max Guerra Jiminez | Lety Madrigal Tapia | |
| Michelle Quintana | Madison Singh | |
| Pluto Hassan | Pras Sapkota | |
| Sara Lozano | Rilie Atkinson | |
| Timo Cruz Leyva | Sage Brewer | |
| Tyler Girourard | Sebastain Scalera | |
| Tommy Gao | ||
| Trinity Shaya | ||
| Vivian Nguyen | ||
| Xiaozhen (Sandra) Lin | ||
| Yuthika Sharma |
