President Steven Tepper announced the winners of the Beverly S. and Eugene M. Tobin Employee Awards and the Wertimer-Couper Award, and recognized employees marking 30, 20, and 10 years of service.
Tobin Award recipients were Carpenter Stan Segur in the Facilities Management group; Student Health Services Coordinator Stacie Wallace in the staff category; and Director of Digital Initiatives, Scholarship, and Collaboration Lisa McFall for administrators. Director of International Student Services Omobonike Odegbami was honored with the Wertimer-Couper Award.
The Tobin Awards
The Tobin Awards are named for Hamilton’s 18th president, Gene Tobin, and his wife, Beverly, and presented to one member each of the staff, administration, and Facilities Management team.
Stan Segur, Carpenter
Segur, who joined the Facilities Management Team a dozen years ago, is described by co-workers as someone who “leads by example through his work ethic, positive attitude, and willingness to step in wherever needed without seeking recognition. His quiet professionalism, reliability, and commitment to quality make him an invaluable member of the FM team.”
Tepper said Segur’s supervisor refers to him as “Ice Man” – someone who is calm, cool and collected no matter the task or situation. “He often comes to me with solutions vs. questions. His ‘self-starting,’ ‘can-do’ attitude is a talent that every manager wished they could clone. We often receive appreciation emails from the campus community for his excellent service.”
Tepper said one of Segur’s co-workers went so far as to equate winning the Tobin Award with Segur’s love of the Buffalo Bills and the Bills’ pursuit of the Lombardi Trophy signifying a Super Bowl victory. “The Lord only knows if the Bills will ever win a Super Bowl, but Stan deserves to win his own Lombardi. Stan Segur for Tobin 2026!!!,” his co-worker wrote.
Stacie Wallace, Student Health Services Coordinator
Stacie Wallace, according to a nominator “does it all. She is the glue in the Health Center – the person … everyone goes to when no one knows the answer.”
Her supervisor noted, As the first person students encounter in what for many of them is a moment of uncertainty, she “exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated, compassionate, and innovative member of our campus community. [Wallace] immediately puts students at ease — often transforming what can be an anxious moment into a comfortable and welcoming experience. [Especially in the Health Center] that human connection matters immeasurably.”
Wallace is also known as a driven problem-solver. “She proactively identifies opportunities to improve operations, and her willingness to think creatively, embrace change, and pivot — as demonstrated throughout the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic — reflects a professional who is both resilient and forward-thinking,” said a nominator.
Wallace’s commitment to office culture is equally noteworthy, Tepper said, noting her efforts in organizing the office’s holiday celebrations or her co-workers’ participation in campus wellness programs, all resulting in fostering camaraderie and positive morale among her colleagues.
Lisa McFall, Director of Digital Initiatives, Scholarship, and Collaboration
In her nominations, Lisa McFall is described as “collaborative, approachable, and deeply committed to helping others succeed.” She “consistently directs the focus to the achievements of her team or individual members, frequently overlooking her own significant contributions.”
One colleague said, “her impact has extended significantly beyond her immediate team and into broader College initiatives [and her] work is poised to shape [Hamilton’s} future in the coming years.” Those initiatives include Aspirational Design, for which she served as a core team member, and planning for the successful opening and operation of the Nye Center.
“As the driving organizational force behind Aspirational Design,” said a nominator, “she has helped position Hamilton as a college taking seriously the question of what it wants to become — and doing so through a rigorous, inclusive, and creative process that reflects well on the institution.”
On the Nye Center, “[s]he has worked closely with faculty and campus partners to design programming that integrates digital scholarship, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. she has ensured the Center will not simply house new technology, but will actively foster the kind of inquiry, creativity, and problem-solving that define a Hamilton education.”
“Hamilton is a better place because Lisa McFall works here,” said a colleague.
The Wertimer-Couper Award
Omobonike Odegbami, Director of International Student Services
The Wertimer-Couper Award “recognizes a member of the community who embodies the spirit of generosity, loyalty, and fidelity exemplified by Ellie Wertimer and Patsy Couper” and is given annually to an employee who goes above and beyond in service to students.
Quoting Odegbami’s nominator, Tepper said, “She has been instrumental in ensuring that faculty and staff of color feel seen, heard, affirmed, and empowered. This is steady, relational work — the kind that does not always produce visible outcomes but shapes the daily experience of belonging for those who might otherwise feel peripheral to institutional life.”
Odegbami’s work has been exceptionally challenging in the past year, Tepper said. “In an era of heightened political tension and uncertainty surrounding immigration and student visas, she has guided Hamilton's international students through genuinely complicated and often stressful bureaucratic terrain. She has done this with steadiness, expertise, and care.”
Again quoting her nominator, he said, “Rather than helping students stay quiet or invisible during a difficult political moment, she has created events and communications that invite international students to step forward — to be seen as integral, valued members of the Hamilton community, not ancillary guests. This is a meaningful philosophical distinction, and it reflects a deep respect for the dignity of the students in her care.”
Posted May 18, 2026
