Akura is the heart and soul of the President’s Office. She deftly manages a myriad of tasks for President Hans with calm efficiency and virtually instant responsiveness any time of the day or night (or weekend!). Akura also provides leadership and support to the other EAs in the organization, keeping them informed of important matters and working with our leadership team to address their concerns. Finally, Akura does a masterful job in supervising our Presidential Scholars program, giving these bright young graduates from our institutions the experience of a lifetime while providing invaluable service to our divisions. Akura, we can’t thank you enough for doing the work of 3 people expertly, efficiently, and with good humor!

Nominated by Norma Houston

Kim juggles many balls at the System Office, most of them behind the scenes, and she keeps all of them in the air. From event planning to making sure our Board members and guests are well-fed and treated with gracious hospitality, to assisting other team members with a myriad of administrative matters, Kim does it all with a cheerful attitude and warm smile. Kim never says “no.” Instead, she says, “how can I help you” and “let me take care of that for you.” And she always does! Thank you, Kim, for all you do for all of us at the System Office!

Nominated by Norma Houston

Matt Gibson has lead the Military Equivalency Project to the completion of Phase I. This has been no small task, since this has been a project that struggled to get going after the General Assembly legislation mandating a consistent approach, system – wide, to evaluating military credentials. As of this date, all institutions have entered the foundation equivalency rules into their student information systems. Matt has also lead the development of the Phase II roadmap, which will lead to a developed operations manual, training for personnel, operational oversight, and data mart integrations. This may all sound mundane, but for those who have worked in an admissions or academic advising environment, this is an achievement. What sets Matt apart is his calm approach to leading the team, which is comprised of very smart and very invested people. This project is one where one can easily miss the forest for the trees. Matt’s ability to maintain strategic direction for a project that could easily be derailed by focusing on the spokes and not the hub, is impressive. Matt sends out concise notes following each meeting which keeps everyone on track. As a general rule, many approach meetings as a place to do work. Matt set the stage that MES meeting were used to canvass what work was done since the last meeting and what work needs to be accomplished moving forward. I am more than optimistic that we will complete Phase II, and in my thirty – plus years in higher education, including times as a chief enrollment officer, Matt’s leadership is one of the finest examples of professionalism that I have ever encountered. “Project Manager” is often a very misunderstood role. As far as I am concerned, when that term is defined, Matt Gibson’s picture should be there. I am hopeful that we can recognize his contributions!

Nominated by Thomas Walker

Jack is awesome! When you encounter a problem, he does his BEST to ensure you understand the issue and steps you can take to resolve it in the future. Although I know he is swamped with work he never makes you feel rushed. His response time is fantastic. You don’t have to wait long before help is on the way. Thanks Jack! I really appreciate your assistance with my recent AV tech issues.

Nominated by Tami Chargois

Jack is always quick to respond to tickets and calls from our office. He is always helpful and willing to show and teach users on best practices for our needs. Also, he has done a great job with mentoring our new IT interns!

Nominated by Akura Fontenot

Tami’s exceptional efforts and dedication to our team and system has been evident since day one. Her hard work, camaraderie, and proficiency have not gone unnoticed. She is willing to go above and beyond and extend a helping hand, without hesitation or needing to be asked. Her positive attitude willingness to help, even in the most challenging situations, has been a source of inspiration for everyone around you. Thank you for enriching our workplace culture!

Nominated by Akura Fontenot

Angelisa’s initiative, teamwork, and hard work have made a positive impact in our new work spaces, administrative projects, and overall success of the organization. Her proactive approach to problem-solving and dedication to teamwork is much appreciated. She is constantly sharing knowledge and providing support to her peers, fostering an environment of camaraderie and mutual growth! Thank you Angelisa!

Nominated by Akura Fontenot

Jack is always helpful with volunteering to assist me with any heavy lifting no matter what he is doing at the time. If he sees me lifting anything heavy, he will always step in. His kindness is highly appreciated.

Nominated by Kearara Bethea

Estefane has been a dedicated member of the GEAR UP NC team and takes the initiative to go above and beyond. Estefane was promoted to College Access & Success manager about a year ago. Prior to this promotion, she served in an admin role and handled financial processing for GEAR UP NC. During her transition and while GEAR UP NC hired a new budget and finance specialist, Estefane continued to assist with financial processing and helped to train the new hire. Estefane’s contributions to the GEAR UP NC team are greatly appreciated and deserve a ROUND OF APPLAUSE!

Nominated by Patti Harris

Tenora has done yeomen’s work assisting with the System’s GEER mental health grant. In June she completed over 80+ subawards to support mental health projects not just for the UNC System, but also for the NCICU and NCCCS campuses. Thanks to her efforts over 80 new mental health initiatives are being launched across the state. We so appreciate all her time, energy, and assistance with this tedious process.

Nominated by Bethany Meighen