Staff Employee of the Year
Staff Employee Of the Year Award
Each year, UNC Charlotte awards and recognizes employees for their hard work and dedication to their colleagues, to the University as a whole and their service to the citizens of North Carolina.
Detailed information on the nomination process can be viewed here.
Previous award recipients are listed below.
Award Categories
Nominations for Staff Employee of the Year fall under five categories:
- Devotion to duty (Outstanding State Government Service): The employee exhibits unselfish devotion to duty, far and above the normal requirements. They have contributed significantly to the advancement of UNC Charotte and State service to the citizens of North Carolina.
- Innovation: The employee has initiated research or has successfully established new and outstanding methods, practices, plans or designs (such as pioneering or research and development work in administration, engineering, productivity, agriculture, natural resources, the social sciences, etc.)
- Human Relations: The employee has made outstanding contributions toward enhancing the quality and morale of the workplace or creating a better public image of the University or State government (such as positive personal interaction with other employees, public awareness, and working on relations internally within a university/agency, or collaboration between different universities/agencies).
- Community/Public Service: The employee has made outstanding contributions by participating in or implementing community and public service projects (such as volunteering with various non-profit organizations).
- Safety and Heroism: The employee demonstrated outstanding judgment or courage in an emergency; voluntarily risking his/her life, or exhibited meritorious action to prevent injury, loss or life or prevented damage to or loss of property.
Nominations can be submitted on behalf of an individual employee or a team.*
Award recipients are eligible for a monetary award, a plaque and other recognition opportunities.
Recipients also have the potential to be advanced as campus nominees for the Governor’s Award for Excellence, the highest honor a state employee may receive for dedicated service to the State of North Carolina and its residents.
Eligibility
All Permanent SHRA and EHRA staff employees with two or more years of continuous service (at the time of nomination) with the University are eligible for consideration. An employee may be nominated by their supervisor, co-worker or another UNC Charlotte employee. Only permanent employees of the University may submit nominations.
*A team refers to a group of individuals who collaborated together on a specific project, directive or goal within the time frame of the year nominated. It may be cross-divisional or within a predefined organizational team. All members of the team must be individually named, listed in the written recommendation and meet the qualifications. The award amount is split between all individuals equally.
Staff Employee of the Year Winners 1986-Present
2024
Devotion to Duty
Barbara Seyter, Deputy Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Innovation
Ashton Atmore, Simulation Technician, School of Nursing
Human Relations
Patrick Madsen, Associate Dean for Advising and Experiential Learning
Community and Public Service
Mikala Harvey, Program Director, Leadership and Community Engagement
Safety and Heroism
Cpl. James Rusher, Police and Public Safety
2023
Devotion to Duty
Christine Reed Davis, Dean of Students Office, Division of Student Affairs
Innovation
Jason Bernstein, Engineering-FM, Division of Business Affairs
Human Relations
Cristhian Gonzalez De La Fuente, Grounds FM, Division of Business Affairs
Community and Public Service
Michelle Meggs, urbanCORE, Division of Academic Affairs
Safety and Heroism
Chris Desmet, Maintenance Operations-FM, Division of Business Affairs
2022
Devotion to Duty
Carol Hartley, Department of Languages and Culture Studies, Academic Affairs
Innovation
Kiran Budhrani, Center for Teaching and Learning, Academic Affairs
Human Relations
Kimberly Laney, Niner Central, Academic Affairs
Community and Public Service
Courtney Hunt, The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City
2021
Devotion to Duty
Mindy Sides-Walsh, Leadership and Community Engagement, Student Affairs
Innovation
Return to Campus Kit Group: Katharina Findlater, Horace Lytch, Rachel Skipworth and Rick Torres,
Business Affairs
Human Relations
Krista Collins, Facilities Management, Business Affairs
Community and Public Service
Angie Williams, English Department, Academic Affairs
Safety/Heroism
Chris Gonyar, Safety and Security, Business Affairs
2020
Devotion to Duty
Christy Jackson, Business Affairs Communication, Business Affairs
Innovation
Angelica Watts, 49er Card Office, Business Affairs
Community and Public Service
Diana Hill, Internal Audit, Institutional Integrity
Safety/Heroism
Jeff Baker, Safety & Security, Business Affairs
2019
Devotion to Duty
Claire Kirby, Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs
Innovation
Melissa Battle, Meal Plans and 49er Card, Business Affairs
Human Relations
Sara Watson, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Academic Affairs
Community and Public Service
Ashley Williams Clark, Urban Institute, Academic Affairs
2018
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Devotion to Duty
Buffie Stephens, University Communications
Human Relations
Dawn Tench, Office of Academic Affairs
Innovation
Lisa Meckley, Office of Enrollment Communications
Community and Public Service
Jordan Harris, Community Relations
Safety/Heroism
Virginia Fuentes, Parking and Transportation Services
2017
Devotion to Duty
Gary Edwards, Facilities Management
Human Relations
Phillip Brown, University Communications
Innovation
Leslie Zenk, Office of the Provost / Office of Academic Affairs
Community and Public Service
Tamara Johnson, Office of Academic Affairs
Safety /Heroism
Brent Offenberger, Facilities Management