2026 UCPEA Recognition Award Winners
As we close out another fiscal year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the accomplishments, dedication, and solidarity that have made our union stronger. Every member contributes to our success, and we are grateful for the commitment and hard work shown across our membership throughout the year. As part of this year-end reflection, we’d like to highlight efforts that have made a meaningful impact:
- Unionists of the Year: Harrison Goodale, Daniel Lis
- Advocacy Award: Christianne Smith
- Campus Connection Award: Kimberly Miller
We celebrate these individuals. Their contributions are representative of the many members who step up, support one another, and embody the values of our union every day. Thank you to all our members, for helping make this a successful year. We look forward to continuing our work together in the year ahead.
Skip to interviews from: Harrison Goodale Daniel Lis Christianne Smith Kimberly Miller
Unionist of the Year
Harrison Goodale
“Start with something small and keep doing it.”
Harrison Goodale is one of UCPEA’s 2026 Unionists of the Year, as announced at the May Membership Meeting. The Unionist of the Year award recognizes an UCPEA member who has shown exceptional knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm for labor union work. Since joining UConn in 2022, Harrison has quickly established himself as an outstanding union leader through his energy, initiative, and unwavering commitment to supporting others. He has immersed himself in UCPEA by serving on multiple committees, becoming an exceptionally active area steward, and consistently showing up for union events, rallies, and organizing efforts. His dedication reflects both a deep belief in the power of collective action and a genuine commitment to advancing equity, fairness, and dignity for working people. Drawing on his background in Human Resources Management, Harrison brings valuable knowledge and thoughtful perspective to his advocacy for UCPEA members and the graduate students he supports in his professional role. He is a creative problem-solver who not only generates innovative ideas for strengthening the union but also puts in the work to make those ideas a reality. Whether organizing community-building initiatives, volunteering for new projects, or stepping in whenever extra help is needed, Harrison can always be counted on to contribute.
The UCPEA Communications Committee asks Harrison:
What is one thing you are proud of?
I’m incredibly proud of the work that the CAT team did in this last round of negotiations. It was such a rewarding experience to be a part of a group that supported not only the important and difficult work of our bargaining team, but also set out to build community and strengthen communication efforts.
What do you hope to accomplish in work, life, or union work?
As a member of UCPEA, my only real goal is to continue to support efforts for positive workplace change. I’m passionate about advocating for equitable advancement opportunities and finding ways to minimize the impacts of workload stress on our members.
What advice would you give fellow union members hoping to make an impact?
I can only speak for myself, but I found that being a part of committees, showing up to events and rallies are great ways to get to know your co-workers and see how much work goes on behind the scenes to make improvements and gains for better workplaces. Start with something small and keep doing it!
Daniel Lis
“I see the labor movement as inherently interconnected with all of the issues we face in today’s world, and the same sense of urgency I have around climate justice is what drives my energy when I am involved in UCPEA.”
Daniel Lis is one of UCPEA’s 2026 Unionists of the Year, as announced at the May Membership Meeting. The Unionist of the Year award recognizes an UCPEA member who has shown exceptional knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm for labor union work. Dan has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to UCPEA members through his work as an Area 10 steward and his leadership of the Contract Action Team (CAT), a team supporting the 2024-2026 Negotiation Committee by taking on communication and organizing responsibilities. When CAT was established as a new ad hoc without a designated chair, Dan stepped forward to lead the effort, creating the structure and coordination needed to keep members informed and engaged throughout contract negotiations, volunteering time to travel with union staff to regional campuses for CAT Coffee Carts, expanding opportunities for members to ask questions, receive updates, and stay connected to the bargaining process. His work leading Contract Negotiation Town Halls, meetings between CAT and the Contract Negotiating Team, and general consistent updates were instrumental in creating the high level of transparency and member participation that characterized this round of negotiations. But beyond his duties for CAT, Dan is known for his integrity and respect. He has a remarkable ability to bring people together and navigate difficult conversations thoughtfully. Through his leadership, UCPEA has achieved a higher level of member engagement and participation.
The UCPEA Communications Committee asks Dan:
How did you get involved with the union?
A few years ago, the Wilbur Cross Building (UCPEA Area 10) needed more stewards. I knew that my coworker Ramesh KC had been a steward before, and since I respect him I was inspired to give it a try too. Around that time, I was becoming existentially anxious about climate change. Around that time, I was becoming existentially anxious about climate change. Kohei Saito’s book, Slow Down, made me want to do something about climate change, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it. I observed that the labor movement is one of the most effective ways to bring about the type of large-scale change that is required to address urgent issues such as climate change, and I decided to get more involved in our union as a result. While I’m not working on anything climate-specific, I see the labor movement as inherently interconnected with all of the issues we face in today’s world, and the same sense of urgency I have around climate justice is what drives my energy when I am involved in UCPEA.
How do you spend an average day?
An average day is spent balancing work (if it’s a weekday), family time, chores, and (if it won’t lead to too much sleep deprivation) practicing music a bit.
What is one thing you are proud of?
My son.
What do you hope to accomplish in work, life, or union work?
The main goal I have won’t be achieved in my lifetime or by me alone, so I just want to help contribute in whatever way I can. That goal is to meet the needs of everyone, according to the abilities we all possess.
What advice would you give fellow union members hoping to make an impact?
As someone who doesn’t have much free time during the workday and has even less time outside of work, getting involved in the union has been one of the easiest ways to make an impact. Nowadays, I only use a few lunch breaks each month for UCPEA-related things and the results are still very tangible. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to do that, but if you can, it’s one of the simplest ways to balance things and make real change happen.
Advocacy Award
Christianne Smith
“Do what you can do, not what you think you ‘should’ do.”
Christianne Smith is UCPEA’s 2026 Advocacy Award Winner, as announced at the May Membership Meeting. The Advocacy Award recognizes an UCPEA member who has demonstrated leadership, guidance, and solidarity in their unit by helping bring significant positive change for members in their department or area. As an advocate for her colleagues at the School of Fine Arts and as the Waterbury Campus Steward, Christianne has consistently gone above and beyond her responsibilities demonstrating commitment to both her members and the union as a whole. Even before her official role in the union, she stepped in to support the Waterbury campus during a period without steward representation by organizing the Waterbury campus winter celebration, meeting with members to hear and elevate their concerns, and then bringing those concerns to steward and Executive Board meetings. She has even helped identify and mentor potential new stewards for the campus. But as others have noted, what truly sets Christianne apart is the way she connects with people. She makes time for every member, listens carefully to their concerns, ensures they understand the resources available to them, and never hesitates to accompany them in difficult conversations or connect them with others who can help. Her enthusiasm, compassion, and unwavering belief in collective action inspire those around her to advocate for themselves and recognize the strength of solidarity.
The UCPEA Communications Committee asks Christianne:
How did you get involved with the union?
I filled out a membership card upon joining UConn as a staff member, primarily because I had been a union member at my previous teaching jobs through AFT as well. My father had also been an UCPEA member when he worked at UConn Waterbury, so it was a natural step for me. However, I got involved primarily after getting lunches with union stewards from other areas and hearing more about events, initiatives, and how to advocate. (Thanks, Mary and Nick!)
How do you spend an average day?
Since I work in Dramatic Arts and theatre people are an evening bunch, I usually start my day closer to 9:30 or 10am. I work in the Drama Music building, where I might be doing anything from paperwork to talking with students to running an event. My days vary greatly, but I like that. Since I'm the only staff member in my academic department, I help keep the "trains running on time" so that my faculty and students can focus on their learning and their artistic pursuits. But then some days I also get to join a dance class or see a show too!
What is one thing you are proud of?
I'm proud of working with faculty, staff, and students on a ‘no shame’ model where all questions are welcome, as long as you’ve thought them through. I want people to feel comfortable asking questions and troubleshooting together, but working together means working TOGETHER, so I’m also proud of pushing back respectfully when needed.
What advice would you give fellow union members hoping to make an impact?
Do what you can do, not what you think you ‘should’ do. Some people make artistic materials to get the word out, and some manage financial records. Some people run intensive negotiations with management, and some are the welcoming faces who plan our events. Unions are about being stronger together, so doing what YOU love is your best contribution to the union and the University.
Campus Connection Award
Kimberly Miller
“It was a natural choice for me when looking for a way to give back to my community, in this case, my work community.”
Kimberly Miller is UCPEA’s 2026 Campus Connection Award Winner, as announced at the May Membership Meeting. The Campus Connection Award, introduced this year, recognizes an UCPEA member from one of the University’s six regional campuses who exemplifies solidarity through their investment in their campus community. As an Area 22 steward, her dedication and leadership have made a lasting impact on both her area and the union as a whole. Area 22’s 100% membership rate is a remarkable achievement, but it is not one that happens by chance. While smaller regional campuses often benefit from close-knit communities and strong worker solidarity, maintaining that level of engagement requires continuous outreach, relationship-building, and commitment. Kimberly has been central to that effort. She was also the primary voice in the room for regional campuses, passionately advocating for virtual observations and making sure that no one forgot about the them during the negotiation process, and a central reason the UCPEA Contract Action Team visited all of the regional campuses during the negotiation period. This work doesn’t go unnoticed. Kimberly approaches union work through the lens of equitable representation in university and union events, and this work benefits all members, as strides are made to ensure that remote work and other opportunities for our colleagues in regional campuses.
The UCPEA Communications Committee asks Kimberly:
How did you get involved with the union?
I was raised in a very union-friendly family and always felt strongly about the importance of collective bargaining to achieve fair pay, benefits, and working conditions. It was a natural choice for me when looking for a way to give back to my community, in this case, my work community.
How do you spend an average day?
I spend a great deal of time in university systems and on email ensuring the Visa, HR, payroll and financial work of my department is handled accurately and timely to ensure all the needs of the various stakeholders are met.
What is one thing you are proud of?
I’m proud of my children, the life we've built, my education, the time I've given my community and my career.
What do you hope to accomplish in work, life, or union work?
As time marches closer to retirement, I hope to finish my career with the same high level of integrity and excellence. I also hope I am able to continue to use my skills and experience to give back to the community whether still working or retired.
What advice would you give fellow union members hoping to make an impact?
Everybody has something to contribute. One need not jump into a significant role, but can always be looking for a way they are able to support the effort. It is quite true that many hands make light work. But if all the work is left to just a few volunteers, the house of cards will collapse under the burden. So, think of how you can help today!