About the Award
The Mark Berman Community Outreach Award recognizes a member of a NERCOMP institution for their contributions to NERCOMP as well as to the larger higher education community. The person selected demonstrates excellence in nurturing relationships and bringing people together within higher education, regardless of who they are, where they are in their career, or their personal or professional identity.
Mark never missed an opportunity to get to know others, start a conversation or bring a group together. Accordingly, this year’s award recipient will also have a demonstrated track record that includes building community and fostering connections at their own institution and as part of their contribution to NERCOMP. In addition, the selected nominee will have demonstrated success in nurturing relationships broadly within their profession.
Mark Berman Community Outreach Award Criteria:
- Involvement – actively involved with NERCOMP/other professional organizations over the years.
- Outreach – shows interest and reaches out to people working in higher education information technology fields with the goal of helping them succeed.
- Teacher/Learner – serves as both a mentor/teacher and lifelong learner, sharing knowledge with others.
- Engaged – volunteers to participate and lead projects and initiatives and engages others also to get involved.
- Connector – builds a strong network of colleagues across organizations/institutions and looks for ways to welcome and connect people.
The award recipient will receive the following:
- Free registration for the in-person NERCOMP Annual Conference, including pre-conference seminars as well as lodging and travel expenses.
- Recognition at the NERCOMP Annual Conference, highlighted on the NERCOMP website and featured in a NERCOMP press release.
Award nominations are now open and will close at 5:00 pm EST on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
Nominations
Mark Berman Community Outreach Award
Katie Vale Memorial Scholarship
Who was Mark Berman?
Mark Berman was an active and enthusiastic member of NERCOMP throughout his entire career in higher education. As Director of Networks & Systems at Williams College (1991 - 2008), he found numerous opportunities to attend and lead NERCOMP workshops (SIGs or PDOs, depending on the time) on a wide range of topics. Mark rarely missed the Annual Conference whether it was in Sturbridge, Worcester, or Providence. Mark carried his enthusiasm for involvement throughout his time as CIO at both MCLA (2008-2011) and Siena College (2011-2020). Mark was active in NERCOMP, EDUCAUSE, CLAC, as well as starting a regional IT group in the Albany area looking to connect with colleagues. He encouraged everyone he met to get involved in some way whether it was attending, presenting, volunteering, or running for the NERCOMP board. In addition to all of the technical and leadership workshops, conferences, board meetings, and outreach projects for NERCOMP and EDUCAUSE, Mark was an avid music lover and was an enthusiastic member of the NERCOMP Band (circa 2014-2016) that played at the annual conference
Award Video
Past Winners
NERCOMP Celebrates its past Mark Berman Community Outreach Award Recipients!
Mark Davis
Swarthmore College
Christine Fitzgerald
Tufts University
René Thatcher
St. Lawrence University