The Heller community gathers each spring to celebrate the many accomplishments and milestones over the course of the academic year. The Heller Awards recognize individuals for outstanding teaching, mentoring, teaching assistance, staff service and research. Special awards include the Barbara Wakefield Award, presented to a student who has contributed to community-building within and outside of Heller; and the Robert L. Dunigan Award, presented for service strengthening collaboration and understanding. Winners are nominated from within the Heller community and determined by a committee of past awardees, student representatives from each academic program and alumni.
Sandra Jones, Interim Associate Dean of Social Policy and Management, commenced this year’s ceremony, noting that the 2026 Heller Awards received an outpouring of enthusiastic and detailed nominations—a testament to the community’s engagement and its eagerness to recognize the many exceptional individuals at Heller.
Teaching Excellence Award: Professor Michael Doonan
Michael Doonan, the winner of this year’s Teaching Excellence Award, is known for his engaging and enthusiastic teaching style and commitment to creating an equitable classroom environment where every student has a chance to participate, share their own unique viewpoints and reach their potential. Students praised his exceptional policy expertise and ability to translate his professional experiences into powerful and effective pedagogy. As one nominator said, “Professor Doonan has inspired me to think deeply, communicate clearly, follow my passions and make community in the spaces I occupy. He has permanently changed my worldview and sense of self-worth for the better, and I believe he has done the same for all of his students.”
Mentoring Award: Joe Caldwell, Senior Scientist and Director of the Community Living Policy Center at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy
This year's Mentoring Award recipient, Joe Caldwell, was described by nominators as a generous and supportive mentor who has guided students towards not just successful dissertations or fellowship projects, but impactful and successful careers. He was celebrated for sharing his network and standing as a national leader in disability policy with students. His mentorship, spanning undergraduate, master's and doctoral students alike, has resulted in a growing group of mentees who have become colleagues and collaborators in the field. As one student observed, Joe has "single-handedly cultivated a community of kindness in the field of disability policy that extends well beyond Heller."
Early Career Research Investigator Award: Jennifer Wicks, Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Behavioral Health
Jennifer Wicks was awarded the Early Career Research Investigator Award in recognition of her exceptional ability to bridge complex data with human-centered policy. Nominators noted that her work at the intersection of disability and behavioral health not only informs the academic field but directly improves outcomes for underserved populations: “Deeply committed to the Heller School's social impact mission, she leads high-stakes collaborations with organizations like the Detroit Recovery Project to elevate the voices of marginalized communities…Her multifaceted contributions embody the next generation of researchers dedicated to ‘one foot in the street’ and the other in rigorous scholarship.”
Staff Service Award: Wendy Peverill-Conti, Senior Department Coordinator at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy
A skilled administrator and community builder who exemplifies inclusivity, Wendy Peverill-Conti was this year’s recipient of the Staff Service Award. Wendy is described as essential to her team's success, both for the exceptional operational support she provides and for “creating an environment where collaboration thrives, and responsibilities are managed with clarity and care.” Nominators praised Wendy’s professionalism, empathy and exceptional communication skills, highlighting that “her presence is central to the collegial and collaborative culture that defines us.” Additionally, “Wendy’s enthusiasm and positive spirit are contagious. She is at the heart of our community, fostering a sense of belonging and connection that goes far beyond her job description.”
Teaching Assistant: Allie Silverman, PhD Candidate
This year’s Teaching Assistant awardee, Allie Silverman, was celebrated for her ability to help students feel safe and excited to learn, especially in classes that cover complex and advanced subjects. Allie was described as patient and generous with both her time and thoughtfulness. Students praised her preparedness and feedback provided on assignments, and noted that her availability outside the class period made all the difference through activities like tutoring, regular office hours and individual meetings. As one nominator commented, Allie “goes above and beyond to work with students’ schedules and ensures that she is able to meet with them to provide additional support outside of class.”
Robert L. Dunigan Award: Joanne Nicholson, Professor of the Practice in the Institute for Behavioral Health
Joanne Nicholson is this year’s recipient of the Robert L. Dunigan Award in recognition of her work to expand inclusion and highlight and address inequities as she engages with all members of the Heller community. Joanne is described as a generous researcher whose work focuses on deepening the engagement of community partners and non-researchers across all stages of research to amplify a diversity of viewpoints and perspectives. One nominator noted that the way Joanne models authentic curiosity and respect “both in her work and daily interactions with others at Heller exemplifies the kind of consistent, sustained efforts that are needed to increase equity at Brandeis and within society.” Finally, her collaboration with Robert and passion to “share his insights and efforts with others and carry out his legacy make her the ideal candidate for this award.”
Barbara Wakefield Award: Chloe Morales’23, MPP’26
Chloe Morales was awarded this year’s Barbara Wakefield Award for going above and beyond to build up the Heller community through her leadership, relationships and spirit of service. Nominators noted that Chloe’s commitment to Heller and Brandeis is evident in the high level of time and care she puts into all her endeavors. In addition to being chosen as the inaugural ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellow, where she helps mentor undergraduate students, Chloe presented research at Deis Impact on mental health outcomes for immigrants and facilitated a discussion on possible interventions in response to current threats. One nominator recalled that their conversations about how research can meaningfully improve the lives of vulnerable populations “revealed both her intellectual maturity and her heartfelt commitment to equity. She thinks deeply about the broader implications of research and the responsibility scholars have to the communities they serve.”