Staff Spotlights

For Elizabeth Beattie, returning to UNC Charlotte was not just a career move: It was a meaningful continuation of the personal transformation that began when she transferred to the University years ago.

For Joshua Boyd, helping people combat food insecurity isn’t just a passion for him, it hits home too. Boyd has been at UNC Charlotte since 2022, rejoining the Dean of Students office in December 2024 as program director of basic needs.

When she is not treating UNC Charlotte students as a physician with Student Health, Dr. Kisha Young helps others in need access medication and more through NC MedAssist, a volunteer role she has held for more than 15 years. Her efforts earned her the Joyce Award for Excellence in Volunteerism.

Donny Edwards earned a Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) Award for his efforts surrounding the construction of Wilson Hall at last year’s divisional awards ceremony, a moment that felt like the final chapter of a six-year project that took up more than half of his tenure so far.

From a first-generation graduate to now leading first-generation students to success, Shayauna Newsom has a personal connection to the program they’ve piloted, and is now being acknowledged for it.

Carla Hines has been on campus for 21 years, and as she nears the end of her UNC Charlotte tenure, her hard work for the University earned Hines the Niner Legacy Award at last spring’s Student Affairs End-of-Year Awards.

Being front and center is something Jordan Bullington-Miller isn’t used to. In her day-to-day life, in fact, it’s quite the opposite. But this past spring, Bullington-Miller stepped to the forefront as the 2023-24 Behind-the-Scenes Award winner for the Division of Student Affairs.

In June of 2017, Maksymowski accepted a job at UNC Charlotte as an assistant director for the Center for Leadership Development, now called Leadership & Community Engagement. Seven years later, Maksymowski is not only the interim director, but also an award winner.

Mikala Harvey was one of five UNC Charlotte faculty and staff members to earn an employee of the year honor, but that was not the only award she won in the spring: Harvey also earned the Rising Star Award at the Student Affairs end-of-year celebration.

In less than two years of working at UNC Charlotte, Alexis Rice is already being recognized for her outstanding contributions to the Health and Wellbeing department, earning Rookie of the Year at the Student Affairs end-of-year awards.