A closer look at devotion to duty in our campus community

Above and beyond.

This is the phrase ascribed to an employee for their outstanding devotion to duty. It isn’t just about meeting a standard but exceeding it through hard work and selfless service. Each year, UNC Charlotte uses five categories to honor employees through the Staff Employee of the Year Program. The “Devotion to Duty” category recognizes an outstanding employee who goes far above normal requirements and is devoted to their job, all while advancing UNC Charlotte and serving the citizens of North Carolina.

Some of the well-deserving employees of this award in past years include Christy Jackson, Claire Kirby, Buffie Stephens, Gary Edwards and Tina Dadio. Each was nominated for different reasons, but all demonstrated devotion to their job.

In addition to her daily work managing the communications for the Division of Business Affairs, Christy Jackson is responsible for crisis communications. Her work coordinating and managing the communications response during and after the April 30, 2019, shooting on our campus earned her the 2020 Employee of the Year Award in the category of devotion to duty.

Claire Kirby, director of admissions and the 2019 recipient, led her team in enrolling the largest and most academically qualified freshman class for fall 2018 with the goal of increasing diversity among students.

Director of media relations and issues management, Denise “Buffie” Stephens, plays an instrumental role in the hundreds of news stories the community sees, hears or reads about the University every year, earning her the award in this category in 2018.

After serving 30 years at the University, Gary Edwards, grounds construction crew supervisor, demonstrated his devotion to duty by managing and leading the 2016 year-end road repairs among other daily duties.

In 2015, Tina Dadio, a member of the Office of Legal Affairs, was recognized for serving as a Giving Green Champion, dedicating her time to New Employee Orientations every two weeks, assuming additional responsibilities and duties, and processing an increased number of public record requests.

These employees from past years went above and beyond, and for 2020, there are many employees who have done the same through an unprecedented, difficult and challenging crisis. If there’s a colleague you’d like to nominate or would like to know more about nominating, additional information can be found on the Human Resources website.