Meet the GCCI Collaboration Innovation Award Winners
One of York College’s most important traits is its ability to bring people together.
The students, staff, and faculty of YCP are constantly working hand in hand to ensure exceptional student experiences and deliver impactful results across the community and a broad range of disciplines. To celebrate those at YCP who are creating unique partnerships, in March, the GCCI launched an honorary award opportunity: the GCCI Collaboration Awards.
The GCCI is proud to announce the two student winners: Sophie Sheesley, Pre-Law, and Kaitlyn Trautfelter, Criminology and Criminal Justice. Their year-long research project on gender differences in trauma processing between male and female corrections officers aimed to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the field. “The impact is twofold: we live in a society heavily focused on gender identities and capability differences,” said Sophie. “It becomes necessary to reflect on how those differences are often imposed constructs that we are not bound to adhere to.” Working under the mentorship of Professor Taylor Hartwell, they demonstrated the strength of working across disciplinary fields. In addition to receiving this award, their project was included in the YCP 2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase.
The faculty award went to Dr. Rachel Lattanzio, Nursing, and Professor Adrienne Brenner, AHESS, for their work integrating nursing expertise with social sciences. The project, developed during the 2025-2026 academic year, centered on an alabaster sculpture and the poem “Fractured Alabaster”. “By making complex human experiences visible and interpretable across fields,” shares Dr. Lattanzio, “this work advances not only creative expression, but also how we teach, understand, and engage with one another.”
The staff award went to Vicki Clouser, Business Office Director; Casey Emig, Business Office Assistant Director; Vivak Patel, Director of Enrollment Technology; Eric Dinsmore, Senior Director of Financial Aid; and Lindsy Hobson, Director of Residence Life, for their collective work on a comprehensive enrollment model that supports the College’s goals. Over the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters, the group worked collaboratively across multiple divisions with a focused goal of increasing fall-to-spring retention. With initiatives including a text message campaign, phone calls, and door-to-door outreach and modifications to payment timelines, this coordinated institutional approach has had a positive impact on both student outcomes and institutional sustainability.
In addition to certificates, these awards come with a $1500 grant to continue and promote their work. The student and staff teams plan to present at professional conferences, and the faculty team will be working on an expanded joint venture. Each project has been a massive success, showcasing the effectiveness of interdisciplinary collaboration across campus. By celebrating the individuals who brought each project to life, the GCCI hopes more will choose to work together in new and unexpected ways.
