As we close the door on 2020, we're reflecting on some of UIT's most notable achievements, from COVID-19 projects to the MobileU app; events, such as the Milestone Years of Service week; and employee features and news, including two award winners.

Amy Talbot has made a few dramatic pivots in her career — she's been a laboratory technician in the U’s Department of Human Genetics, photographer and business owner, and an account executive in UIT’s Communications Infrastructure group.

Staff could choose their own adventure — watch “Beetlejuice” in the Cinema Cemetery, play Jackbox.TV games in the USS (Underground Super-Spooky) Lair, or hang out in the Water Tower — and post messages and contest entries in the associated Teams channels.

Before the pandemic, interns in UIT’s Student University Development Opportunity (sUdo) program used to meet once a month for a “tabletop” team-building event with snacks, board games, and video games. This semester, they rebooted the meetings with a twist — in a virtual office in Minecraft.

The Identity & Access Management senior architect — one of 23 recipients for the 2020 Academics and Student Affairs District Staff Excellence Award — is one of only eight University of Utah employees selected to receive the 2020 University Staff Excellence Award and $3,750 honorarium.