2024 Provost’s Unit Awards for Excellence Announced

The Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost has recognized five outstanding staff members as recipients of the 2024 Provost’s Unit Awards for Excellence.

The University Awards for Excellence represent NC State’s highest honor for non-faculty members. Each nominee demonstrated excellence in one of the following areas: customer service, efficiency and innovation, human relations, outstanding state government service, public service, safety and heroism, and the spirit of North Carolina.

Award recipients were honored at an in-person ceremony held Thursday, March 21 in the James B. Hunt Jr. Library.

The following text includes excerpts from nomination materials.

This year’s recipients of the Provost’s Unit Awards for Excellence are:

Carolyn Howard, Program Coordinator, Office of Professional Development, NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education

• Customer Service – SHRA

Carolyn embodies the values of dedication, collaboration and student-focused care that define the NC State mission. She constantly cultivates an inclusive, caring culture across the university community. Carolyn gives fully of herself, takes on more than her share willingly, and exudes selfless positivity daily.

Brionna Johnson, Library Coordinator, African American Cultural Center, Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity

• Human Relations – SHRA

Brionna developed core programs that stood out as exceptional and collaborative for the African American Cultural Center. She built a community with students, staff and patrons, initiating and developing programs from a collection of visions. Taking initiative and providing leadership in her role, Brionna brings best practices and is creative and innovative.

Caitlin McKeown, Lead Instructional Designer, Digital Learning, DELTA

• Customer Service – EHRA

Through her outstanding work with the Accessibility Team and beyond, Caitlin has consistently demonstrated a passion for ensuring accessibility in course design and fostering a culture of inclusion. She has an exceptional blend of professionalism, attention to detail and genuine care for the educational products she helps create.

Valerie Oti, Associate Director, Parents and Families Services, Enrollment Management and Services

• Customer Service – SHRA

Valerie is the root of Parents and Families Services past, the creativity behind some of its most unique programs, and most notably, the familiar and kind “voice” of the Parents’ Helpline. She manages each parent inquiry with an individualized approach. She provides stellar customer service by prioritizing each parent and every student in the moment regardless of the level of question or concern.

Susan Varnell,  Assistant Director, Upper Coastal Plains Learning Council, NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education

• Public Service – EHRA

Susan works diligently to help neighbors in need by leading vital dental outreach and developing important community and educational programs. She oversees a program that has reached more than 70,000 participants and works with organizations to improve students’ reading and math fluency and access to STEM programs.

Each winner will receive eight hours of paid leave, a framed award certificate and a $250 cash award. They will now move forward for consideration for the universitywide Awards for Excellence.

Certificates of recognition will be given to the other eight nominees:

• April Baer, Equal Opportunity Officer, Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity
  • Efficiency and Innovation – EHRA
• Shannon Bass, Business Services Coordinator, Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity
  • Customer Service – SHRA
• Kathryn Behling, Data and Compliance Analyst, Office of International Services, Office of Global Engagement
  • Efficiency and Innovation – SHRA
• Raj Bohsale, Director of Information Systems, the Graduate School
  • Customer Service – EHRA
• Charla Blumell, Director, LGBTQ Pride Center, Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity
  • Human Relations – EHRA
• Janet Del Pinal, Program and Communications Specialist, Office for Faculty Excellence
  • Efficiency and Innovation – EHRA
• Aisha Grant, University Library Technician, William Rand Kenan, Jr. Library of Veterinary Medicine, NC State University Libraries
  • Human Relations – SHRA
• Allison Haskins, Global Programs Coordinator, Office of Global Engagement
  • Efficiency and Innovation – EHRA
• Katelan Haynes, Support Services Associate, NC State University Libraries
  • Efficiency and Innovation – SHRA
• Ryan Hunter, Technology Support Specialist, NC State University Libraries
  • Efficiency and Innovation – EHRA
• Melissa Jackson, Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost, Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity
  • Customer Service – SHRA
• Kimberly Little, Assistant Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education
  • Human Relations – EHRA
• Kimberly Mahl, Business and Communications Coordinator, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education
  • Customer Service – SHRA
• Ashley McIver, Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost, Office of Assessment and Accreditation
  • Customer Service – EHRA
• Hillary Patton, Assistant Director, Office of International Services, Office of Global Engagement
  • Human Relations – EHRA
• Kyle Pysher, Senior Associate Registrar, Registration and Records, Enrollment Management and Services
  • Efficiency and Innovation – EHRA
• Maria Rice, Human Resources Specialist, Libraries Human Resources, NC State University Libraries
  • Efficiency and Innovation – SHRA
• Valerie Schwartz, Assistant Director and Head of Admissions, Institute for Advanced Analytics, Office of Instructional Programs
  • Human Relations – EHRA
• Stacy Somers, Lead Finance and Business Accountant, DELTA
  • Efficiency and Innovation – SHRA
• Rebecca Stojancic, Program Specialist, Genetics and Genomics Academy, Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs
  • Efficiency and Innovation – SHRA
• Geneva Walata, Program Associate, Study Abroad Office, Office of Global Engagement
  • Customer Service – SHRA
• Jessica Whittier, Liaison for Certificates and Special Projects Coordinator, the Graduate School
  • Efficiency and Innovation – SHRA
• Merranie Zellweger, Director, Project Management, Academic Technology, DELTA
  • Efficiency and Innovation – EHRA