News Release

Seven UNC employees honored for excellence

CHAPEL HILL -- Seven University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill employees have been honored for their leadership and creativity, receiving one of two prestigious university awards - the 2006 Chancellor's Award and the Excellence in Management Award.

This year's Chancellor Award recipients are:

• Todd Allen of Snow Camp, business manager in the School of Medicine's department of cell and developmental biology;
  
• Garland Burton of Cary, Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) coordinator in Facilities Planning and Construction;
  
• Carol Nichols of Mebane, administrative secretary in the department of political science in the College of Arts and Sciences;
• Naser Rezk of Hurdle Mills, research associate in the School of Pharmacy; and
  
• Ann Simpson of Chapel Hill, associate dean for development in the School of Government.

The winners, who receive a monetary award of $1,000, a special leave award of 24 hours and a framed certificate, were recognized by Chancellor James Moeser at a luncheon held in their honor Oct. 4 at the Carolina Club of the campus' George Watts Hill Alumni Center.

Established in 1991 by Chancellor Emeritus Paul Hardin, the Chancellor's Award recognizes meritorious or distinguished accomplishments in devotion to duty, innovation, public service, safety and heroism, human relations or other achievements.

Allen manages the financial services of the cell and developmental biology department with a vast knowledge of the complex policies and procedures.

Under Burton's leadership, Carolina now leads the University of North Carolina system in the value of construction contracts awarded to minority firms with 15.5 percent minority participation on construction projects.

Nichols has created a positive environment for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as her co-workers, during her time in the political science department.

Rezk is responsible for the development of homegrown assays to measure drugs and metabolites in biological fluids to answer important questions in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and other diseases. The data he generates are critical to improving patient care.

Simpson has created a successful development program for the School of Government that has completed a capital campaign of more than $4 million and is on track to meet its Carolina First Campaign goal of $10 million.

Chancellor Moeser also recognized this year's Excellence in Management Award recipients at the luncheon. The winners, who will each receive a $500 monetary award, are:

• Donna Braxton of Graham, administrative manager in the department of physics and astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences; and
• Katrina Coble of Graham, business manager in the College's department of computer science.

Braxton is responsible for overseeing the fiscal well being of the department, including management of contracts and grants. She has a keen understanding of financial matters, such that faculty rely on her for advice about their budgets all the way from the proposal stage to closing out accounts.

Coble is recognized for her efforts as the volunteer co-chair of the university's campuswide recruitment committee for the annual Carolina Blood Drive, the largest single-site blood drive on the East Coast.

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Photo URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/faculty/awards/chance_award.jpg
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News Services contact: Lisa Katz, (919) 962-2093 or lisa_katz@unc.edu