Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics’ Katrina Dela Cruz Receives 2026 Dean’s Outstanding Employee Award
Dela Cruz was recognized for her ongoing commitment to ensuring UMD bioscience laboratories receive all the materials they need, one delivery at a time.
When researchers in the University of Maryland’s Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics (CBMG) or the Department of Biology need supplies, chemicals or equipment, one person makes sure they get what they need for their experiments: Katrina Dela Cruz.
As the sole storekeeper for two departments, Dela Cruz manages the flow of incoming and outgoing packages almost entirely on her own. She receives and logs shipments, notifies recipients and delivers what she can—all while managing the specific demands of the research materials in each package. Some packages are exceptionally fragile and require careful handling, while others are packed in dry ice and need to be transferred quickly to a freezer at -80 degrees Celsius. And when parcels are misdelivered or go missing, she tracks them across campus.
This year, Dela Cruz received a 2026 Dean’s Outstanding Employee Award from UMD’s College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences for her efforts to support the operations and productivity of the college’s biological sciences researchers.
“It’s still a big surprise for me. I initially thought it was a prank call from an unfamiliar number—that turned out to be the dean who told me that I’d be receiving an award for my work,” Dela Cruz said. “I’m still shocked, but I’m extremely grateful to be recognized, especially because it’s only been a few years since I started here.”
When Dela Cruz first arrived at UMD in August 2023, she found the mailroom disorganized and crowded with old paperwork. But instead of feeling discouraged, she quickly cleaned the mailroom, made new labels for the shelves and developed her own system to get packages from the loading dock to researchers’ labs as quickly as possible.
Dela Cruz’s supervisor and director of CBMG’s facilities, Dorothea O’Toole, noted that Dela Cruz handles a high daily volume of time-sensitive deliveries with both accuracy and composure, even during the busiest stretches of the year. O’Toole said she nominated Dela Cruz because of her diligence and reliability, which are essential to keeping labs and complex, sometimes costly experiments running smoothly.
“It is a pleasure to celebrate Katrina,” O’Toole said. “Her positive spirit and exceptional work ethic make her an invaluable part of the Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics and Biology teams. She consistently goes above and beyond to support the researchers, students and staff. Her impact is felt across both departments every single day.”
Dela Cruz says that her background in customer service—from retail to food service and waitressing— profoundly shaped how she approaches her current work at UMD. A Prince George’s County native who grew up in Hyattsville, Dela Cruz was working at AT&T when a customer directed her to UMD’s jobs site after she mentioned that she was ready for a change of pace. College Park felt familiar to Dela Cruz, so she decided to apply for the storekeeper position, even though she had no prior experience managing science equipment and materials.
“I’ve always dealt with people and their things,” she explained. “You learn communication, friendliness and empathy. When someone’s package gets lost and they’re stressed, I put myself in their shoes. I really try my best to help them.”
During her time at Maryland, Dela Cruz’s dedication and attention to detail have helped over 80 researchers in UMD’s Bioscience Research, Microbiology and Biology-Psychology Buildings successfully conduct experiments and make crucial scientific discoveries. She says receiving the Dean’s award and faculty recognition makes her even prouder of the work she does every day.
“It made me realize that these little things I do can impact people,” Dela Cruz said. “My job isn’t just a job. It’s important and can make a big difference.”
