2024 Employees of the Quarter

The Employees of the Quarter plaque hangs on the first floor of the Public Safety Building on Forbes Avenue.

Each quarter, the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management names an employee that best represents the values of the office and its mission. Among the criteria:

The employee has performed an act (or service) for a member of the Pitt community which exemplifies the Business and Operation’s mission to create a positive and memorable experience.
The employee has consistently maintained a pattern of work performance that upholds the vision of Business and Operation via national recognition, innovation and/or sparkling service.
The employee adheres to department and university policies and procedures.
The employee provides courtesy customer service in every situation.
The employee satisfies our mission statement in regards to serving the University community while practicing our core values of integrity, respect, service, and fairness.
The employee actively promotes departmental initiatives.
The employee consistently contributes ideas, in an effort to improve Public Safety's overall service to students, staff, faculty and the Oakland community.

2024 Employees of the Quarter

Amy Simcik, OPSEM Employee of the Quarter: 2nd Quarter 2024

The Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management proudly awards Ms. Amy Simcik as the Employee of the Quarter.

Amy joined EH&S as a Hazard Assessment Specialist in August 2020. She consistently uses her background as a laboratory researcher at Pitt to make connections with researchers to enhance their knowledge of safety. She often goes above and beyond in many ways.

Currently, Amy is a critical member of the EH&S biosafety group, where she is the lead reviewer for all animal research protocols. As a Hazard Assessment Specialist, she evaluates all chemical, biological, and animal species-specific hazards used in a research protocol. She ensures that every researcher listed as a worker has completed appropriate training and occupational health screening. The EH&S hazard assessment team of two personnel reviews 2,500-3,000 protocols and additions annually.

Amy’s experience performing laboratory safety audits and reviewing material transfer agreements for all incoming and outgoing biological research agents (~1,000-1,500 per year) has laid a solid foundation for her current role. But her willingness to go the extra mile truly sets her apart. During a period of staff turnover, she worked tirelessly, even during long hours, weekends, and holidays, to ensure that animal research protocols were reviewed. Her dedication played a critical role in ensuring that researchers were able to accept grant funding and continue their vital animal research.

Amy always volunteers to help and cheerfully takes on tasks when asked. She actively contributes to many EH&S activities, such as evacuation exercises and volunteering to staff vaccine clinics. In her free time, she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree with a focus on biological safety from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

We are delighted to have Amy as a part of the EH&S Team.

Jeff Colello, OPSEM Employee of the Quarter: 1st Quarter 2024

The Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management proudly awards Jeff Colello as the first Employee of the Quarter for the year 2024.

Jeff has been with the Pitt Police Department since 2015. He is a solid, consistent performer who often goes above and beyond in many ways. Jeff is reliable, knowledgeable, and dedicated to meeting our core values and mission.

Jeff is one of the department’s Neighborhood Resource Officers within the Community Programs Unit. As the Pedestrian Safety Coordinator for the Police Department, Jeff hosts quarterly “Pedestrian Safety Committee Meetings” for the University leaders and Community stakeholders.

Jeff regularly attends many Community meetings, such as Oakcliffe, West Oakland, BACA, and SONG, where he interacts with community members, listens to their concerns, and makes a constant effort to address them. Jeff’s outstanding communication efforts with Construction Project Managers in Oakland, managers of businesses in the Forbes Avenue Business District, OBID, DOMI, along with other City Partners are easily seen by the open line of communication he has created for our agency.

He takes on any tasks that he is asked to do without complaint. His value to our organization is immense, and he will be relied upon to lead our department into the future.

As such, Jeff is a highly valued employee in our department and an important member of the Pitt Community. His dedication and loyalty to the Department are unsurpassed.