Poole College Celebrates 2025 Staff Award Recipients and Nominees

June 20, 2025 tmwood 3-min. read

The Poole College of Management recognized extraordinary staff this spring with college and university awards. Meet the nominees and recipients.

Poole College Awards

Poole College Organizational Excellence Staff Award

In Poole, organizational excellence means responsibly developing and deploying resources to support the strategic priorities of the college. This award recognizes staff members who have made extraordinary contributions to their department, student service unit, or any other college operations during the academic year.

Elizabeth Shamblin (right) and Dean Buckless at the spring college meeting.

Alissa Dodds, MBA
Christina DeBerardino, Career Center
Deborah Wilkins, MBA
Elizabeth Shamblin, IDG (Recipient)
Jonathan Hennessy, OBS
Kait Gorman, Advancement
Mabel Yancy, MBA
Megan Joyner, Career Center
Megan Van Hook, MBA
Storm Kaffenberger, MBA
Taylor Wood, Communications
Vanessa Bak, MBA

Poole College Staff Innovation Award

The Innovation Award aligns with Poole College’s mission to “actively engage with industry and academia to create an innovative and collaborative intellectual environment that fosters learning, scholarship and service.” This award recognizes leaders with an entrepreneurial mindset and analytical problem-solving capabilities.

Doug Rowe (left) and Dean Buckless at the spring college meeting.

AG Osborne, Career Center
Allison Anthony, MBA
Doug Rowe, OBS (Recipient)
Eric Mason, MBA
Julie Fleming, MBA
Rob Sandruck, Global

Poole College Student Success Award

The student success award recognizes staff members who demonstrate excellence in attracting, educating, supporting, or preparing students to work in a global environment. These individuals go above and beyond to empower students for a lifetime of success and impact.

Julie Cline (left) and Katelyn Brown-Gomez (right) with Dean Buckless at the spring college meeting.

Alissa Dodds, MBA
Allison Anthony, MBA
Allison Smith, OUP
Alyssa Elliott, OUP
Christina DeBerardino, Career Center
Deborah Wilkins, MBA
Elizabeth Shamblin, IDG
Gwyn Howard, OUP
Julie Cline, Career Center (Recipient)
Katelyn Brown-Gomez, Global (Recipient)
Megan Akogyeram, MBA
Megan Van Hook, MBA
Stephanie Reiley, OUP
Toyette Sullivan, OUP

Poole College 3-E Service Award

The 3-E Service Award represents the pinnacle of customer service, whether to students, faculty, staff or external constituents. The 3 E’s are: exceptional, efficient, and effective service. The recipient represents the highest level of service in these categories.

Kait Gorman (left) and Dean Buckless at the spring college meeting.

Allison Anthony, MBA
Christina DeBerardino, Career Center
Darien Bradley, Career Center
Doug Rowe, OBS
Elizabeth Shamblin, IDG
Jaquan Scott, OUP
Joyce Yun, MBA
Kait Gorman, Advancement (Recipient)
Mei Mei Ngai, Marketing
Megan Akogyeram, MBA
Terry Price, OUP
Vanessa Bak, MBA

Poole Graduate Student Advisory Board (GSAB) Staff Member of the Year

This award honors a staff member who goes above and beyond in support of graduate students, programs and initiatives. The recipient exemplifies excellence in service, a student-centered mindset, and outstanding collaboration that enhances the graduate education environment.

GSAB member Katie Birdsall (left), Dave Solloway (middle) and Dean Buckless at the spring college meeting.

Dave Solloway, Career Center (Recipient)

University Awards

NC State Award for Excellence

The Award for Excellence is the most prestigious honor bestowed upon non-faculty employees. This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of individual employees, above and beyond their normal job responsibilities.