School of Engineering Annual Awards
School of Engineering Staff
Elsa Maria Castillo
Outstanding Staff Award
Engineering Student Success Center
Elsa Maria Castillo is the Director of the Engineering Student Success (ESS) Center and has been part of the School of Engineering team for over 17 years. Elsa’s commitment to the ESS Center and the SOE is remarkable, her numerous contributions have made a great impact in our study body. She is a hard-working individual, whose diligence and unselfish dedication to her department, her team members, and our college need to be recognized. Elsa would go out of her way to make sure her department has the sufficient resources (financial or academic) to assist students. If this entails writing a proposal to request funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) or any other entity/agency, she does it. She has been very successful in bringing funding for scholarships/equipment/administrative costs to UNM that have totaled millions of dollars throughout the years. She continuously collaborates with faculty members within the School of Engineering to bring more resources for our students.
Last year, Elsa was recognized by ASUNM for the outstanding effort she “makes every day to help students with more than academia, but with scholarships, internships, and overall student success,” the proclamation read. “ASUNM commends Associate Director Castillo for her hard work and dedication to the students of UNM and for going above and beyond her duty to ensure students and families feel welcomed and get the help they need.”
Elsa has a very positive attitude and is fully committed to the success of our School of Engineering students. She understands students’ needs and always makes sure they receive exceptional service. Elsa is also very involved with different groups across campus. She is part of the Provost Committee for Staff and works very closely with the School of Engineering student groups, including the Engineering Student Council and the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. In addition, she serves as the advisor of the Hispanic Engineering and Science Organization and co-advisor of the Society of Women Engineers.
Yolanda Sanchez
Outstanding Staff Award
Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
Yolanda has been the department administrator for Civil Engineering since 2003. Yolanda is the go-to person to get things done in civil engineering and is always there to help. During her 17 years, she served with four department chairs, 30-plus faculty, and hundreds of students! If you are in Civil Engineering, you have definitely met Yolanda, and she has helped you somehow! Yolanda helped the department and the center of water and the environment to grow together and to make annual research expenditures above $6.5 million. Congratulations, Yolanda, for such great honor and recognition.
Shannon Siderius
Outstanding Staff Award
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Shannon Siderius is the department administrator in Mechanical Engineering, overseeing the business operation and working with the chair to ensure strategic success of the department. Shannon has demonstrated her excellent management skills and collaborative spirit in supervising staff and office operation. She always approaches challenges with a positive attitude and calm manner, and has become the go-to person for not just the staff members in the department but others as well. Her outstanding organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and confidential situations have made her a great asset in not just the department but School of Engineering as a whole. With the department down two staff members, for several months, Shannon went beyond the call of duty to cover for the needs of the department, without hesitation. She is enthusiastic and very professional. Since she joined the School of Engineering, she has been instrumental in making sure the Mechanical Engineering department is present in all activities at the school level. Congratulations to Shannon for this well-deserved honor!