ASSP Foundation Honors Duo for Safety Mentorship
Two occupational health and safety leaders have been recognized for their contributions to industry mentorship and development.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Jun 15, 2026
The American Society of Safety Professionals Foundation has named two occupational health and safety leaders as its annual award recipients for outstanding contributions to mentorship and professional development.
Emmanuel Winful received the ASSP Foundation/BCSP Distinguished Mentor Award, and Hayley Taylor earned the inaugural ASSP Foundation/BCSP Wooten Next Generation Award. The honors recognize individuals who help cultivate the next generation of EHS professionals.
Winful serves as the health and safety manager at Auburn University. Over the past 10 years, he has mentored more than 20 early-career professionals, helping them secure safety roles and earn industry certifications. His approach focuses on systemic resilience and how humans interact with workplace systems. Winful also serves as an advisory group member for ASSP and the Black Safety Professionals committee, working to support underrepresented individuals in engineering and safety fields.
The mentor award is given annually to a mid- or late-career professional who demonstrates a sustained commitment to leadership development and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Taylor works as a senior EHS engineer at Commonwealth Fusion Systems. She was recognized for her outreach efforts, which include organizing Earth Day cleanups, technical tours and college career fair presentations aimed at introducing students to high-tech safety paths. Taylor is the co-chair of the ASSP Greater Boston Emerging Professionals chapter, where she connects newer workers with veteran industry members.
The Wooten award is a new honor designated for an early- to mid-career professional who advocates for those entering the industry.
Both recipients were recognized during the safety organization's annual conference in Anaheim, California.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.