Preparing to retire in December after more than a decade at UNC Charlotte, Bridget Johnson has left a lasting impression on a building that sees thousands of students each day.

Max Hofmann started at Charlotte as a graphic designer for Housing and Residence Life before moving to the Student Affairs Marketing and Communications team. Now, as assistant director of creative services, Hofmann helps support campus partners by creating marketing materials.

While Denis Vargas always had some level of passion for the arts, his mind was originally set on a different path. Eventually, those other possibilities led him to studying arts, working at a local magazine and to his position at the University, where he started in fall 2023.

Guided by service as her core value, Katie Tomer plays a key role in campus student wellbeing. Tomer's efforts helped her earn both the Student Affairs Rising Star Award and, as of March 11, the Staff Employee of the Year Award in Community and Public Service.

For Wendy Moore, the most meaningful part of her work isn’t found in titles or recognition, but in the everyday interactions that make her workplace feel supported and connected. Moore's patience, kindness and willingness to help earned her the 2024-2025 Positive Impact Award for Student Affairs.

For Katie Russo, offering support to Charlotte students is more than just offering resources. It’s that mindset that helped Russo secure the 2024-2025 Dedication to Students Award for Student Affairs. Russo started at Charlotte in 2018 in Student Assistance and Support Services (SASS).

For 14 years, Steven Begley has been a vital part of UNC Charlotte’s Housing and Residence Life team, serving as both the inventory control supervisor and a mentor to countless students over the years.

It’s usually difficult to stand out in a crowd, but Sean Grandison finds a way to do exactly that for the thousands that walk through the University Recreation Center every day. Grandison, building environmental services technician at UREC for three years, makes his personality part of the job.

Higher education is not just a job for Milan Novaković the training and development specialist for Housing and Residence Life at UNC Charlotte, it is a calling rooted in curiosity, community and a deep belief in people.

For anyone who has walked around campus, chances are they’ve seen a design or two from Benjamin Moten and the creative services team. As a leader in the creative services space, Moten feels it’s not just about producing designs worth showing, but making sure the team of designers feels supported.