The University of South Carolina recognized 10 outstanding employees this month with 2025 Staff Excellence Awards.
Commitment to People: Christopher Burkett
Burkett is described as a transformative leader whose unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive and joyful work environment has significantly strengthened every unit he’s involved with. Burkett, who will begin his term as Staff Senate president in July, serves as the College of Education’s assistant dean for student services for the Gamecock EdQuarters.
Culture Builder: Asma Peracha
Peracha is in her third year as a project manager with USC’s Rule of Law Collaborative. Her nomination materials describe her as an exceptional leader who can navigate complex challenges with professionalism while making sure all voices are heard and valued.
Excellence in Collaboration: Jessica Purrington
Serving as the grants and business manager for the Arnold School of Public Health, Purrington was described in her nomination as an invaluable asset to her team and someone consistently going above and beyond to support faculty and staff with grants. Her nomination also lauds her as an indispensable resource who can collaborate across departments to ensure smooth workflows and enhance the Arnold School’s grant success and research initiatives.
Excellence in Community Impact: Avirl Lail
In her work as interim director of field education for the College of Social Work, Lail helps students working to become professional social workers get real-world experience. She gives students the chance to observe real-world scenarios and effect positive change in the community. Lail is described in her nomination materials as someone who brings unwavering steadiness and grace to managing hundreds of field placements annually and someone who is vital to the university, its community partners and the College of Social Work.
Excellence in Customer Service: Mark Evans
Evans is the information technology specialist in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences and is someone who, according to his nomination materials, is the “gold standard of service and reliability.” He ensures students, faculty and staff have the support, space and resources needed to thrive.
Excellence in Innovation: Stephanie Richards
As the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management’s master of planning and technology, Richards revolutionized the college’s academic advising model by integrating current student services software with artificial intelligence. Her nomination materials describe her as someone who has “fostered a culture of continuous improvement that benefits both students and colleagues across the university.”
Excellence in Student Experience: Mark Smith
For 25 years, Smith has served as director and crystallographer of the Small Molecule X-Ray Crystallography lab. He’s talked about in his nomination materials as someone who is well respected and whose unwavering support has helped shape the research experience of countless students at USC.
Gamecock Spirit: Kelsi Bryant
Her nomination materials describe Bryant — the residence life coordinator at Preston — as a vibrant force of Gamecock spirit who has transformed “Preston Residential College into a home where every student feels seen, supported and inspired to lead with purpose.” Bryant has done all of this through strong, open-door leadership and creative programming, along with a deep passion and commitment to student development.
Rising Star: Casey Hamlin
Hamlin, the assistant director for visitor services, is described as a dynamic and visionary leader who has made the USC Visitor Center into a “model of efficiency and excellence.” He’s committed to mentorship and student-centered service, which has drastically improved USC’s ability to connect with future Gamecocks visiting campus.
Legacy of Excellence: Kim McMahon
McMahon is described in her nomination materials as a visionary leader committed to student engagement and mentorship. As the director of the Russell House University Union, McMahon has a long legacy of empowering young professionals and elevating student programming while shaping the culture and current success of student affairs at USC.