The Reverend Callista Isabelle, director of the Office for Religious, Spiritual and Ethical Life is the 2025 Gloria W. White Distinguished Service Award recipient.
The award is the highest honor from the WashU Office of Human Resources, and it honors a staff member who goes beyond their daily work to make an impact on WashU.
“Callista exemplifies exceptional leadership and a lifelong dedication to service, inclusion, student empowerment, education, research and patient care – values defining Gloria White’s legacy at WashU,” wrote her nominator Jacob Chacko, executive director for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. “What sets Callista apart is her unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion. She emphasizes the importance of creating spaces where student and community voices are amplified and focuses her efforts on ensuring that students have agency in their campus and community involvement.”
Each year, WashU’s Office of Human Resources’ employee engagement team collects nominations of well-deserving staff members who help achieve the university’s missions of education, research and patient care.
“The award is meant to recognize staff who work from the heart to move the university forward by helping employees thrive through achieving our missions,” wrote Nichole Walker, senior employee engagement specialist. “Our committee believes Callista is well deserving of this award.”
According to Chacko, during her 18-year career in chaplaincy and student affairs, Isabelle has mentored hundreds of individuals, guiding them through personal growth, grief and self-discovery.
“Callista’s work doesn’t just touch those who speak with her, but it reverberates through the community,” he said. “Students beyond her office and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion know her as a leader, mentor and advocate – just as White was known across campus for her ability to inspire and uplift.”
Isabelle will be honored at this year’s staff awards event on May 20 in Graham Chapel. She is also the recipient of the 2025 Zenobia Hikes Memorial Award.