UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Cindy Bittner, assistant director of the SAFE-T (Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth) Center in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, has been named the 2026 Staff Excellence Award winner.
Established in 1993, the award recognizes the consistently outstanding performance of a staff member who has demonstrated and practiced the philosophy of continuous quality improvement, team spirit, managerial excellence in the performance of assigned duties and leadership in establishing a quality service orientation, so as to benefit their unit and the University.
Nominators called Bittner an extraordinary professional whose contributions consistently exceed the expectations of her role, making her an invaluable member of the SAFE-T team and a strong public face toward the broader University community.
The center is part of the SAFE-T System, which aims to ensure equitable, trauma-informed care for sexual assault survivors, especially in rural areas. SAFE-T connects local providers with experts via secure telehealth and custom forensic tools, improving evidence collection, survivor support and legal outcomes.
“Bittner’s leadership is characterized by empathy, deep commitment and her strong focus on supporting others,” a nominator said. “She has a remarkable ability to understand the needs of her colleagues and team members, offering steady encouragement, thoughtful guidance, and a calming presence in even the most difficult situations. Her attention to the well-being of those around her helps to build a culture in which people feel valued and respected.”
Nominators said sensitive work is done by the team and Bittner brings a natural warmth and belonging. They said she invites input and shared ownership of goals so that each member feels valued as part of the mission to offer a valuable resource to the community.
Nominators said Bittner’s creative approach makes the center operate more efficiently, and she’s always finding practical ways to do more with less. She offers valuable ideas and insights to new projects and anticipates problems before they arise.
One area she made an impact was representing the center at SAFE-T partner hospital launches. These events draw various stakeholders such as hospital administrators, advocacy groups, law enforcement, community leaders and universities. Nominators said Bittner made an impact by discussing how the center can improve lives and communities by creating a better response to sexual assault.
“Bittner is not only an exceptional leader and colleague — she is someone whose integrity, humility and dedication elevates everyone around her,” a nominator said. “Her service to Penn State far exceeds the requirements of her position, and I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition.”