October 05, 2011

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Few people have the time and determination to do everything they want to at work. Lisa Perry might not have the time, but she surely has the determination.
 
Perry, business manager in the Department of Maternal and Child Health (MCH), has been selected to receive the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health’s 2011 Staff Excellence Award. The award, given annually to one of the School’s more than 400 staff members, recognizes excellent attitude, leadership and outstanding initiative.

Perry’s colleagues and friends are invited to attend the presentation of her award following the School’s fall faculty and staff meeting on Thursday, Oct. 13, in the Michael Hooker Research Center’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation Auditorium. The meeting runs from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.Those unable to attend the staff meeting in person may participate online.
 
“Lisa is superbly competent, responsive, hardworking, conscientious and fair, recognizes good performance and advocates for staff,” said Herbert Peterson, MD, Kenan Distinguished Professor and chair of maternal and child health. “Intelligent and friendly, she has a great sense of humor and helps all of us maintain an even keel, especially in challenging times.”
Perry performs numerous business officer tasks with great skill, organization and planning in order to maintain the financial health of the department. She reorganized the department’s research capacity and greatly improved efficiency by modifying grant procedures. She regularly helps faculty and research staff prepare grants for submission and facilitates communication with the Office of Sponsored Research.”Lisa is highly competent and our department is incredibly lucky to have her. She thoroughly knows how to work within the University systems as well as how to guide faculty to work within the federal and grant-funded structures,” said Claudia Fernandez, DrPH, clinical assistant professor of maternal and child health.

With such a long list of responsibilities vital to the functioning of the department, one would think that these tasks consume all of her time in the office. However, when a human resources manager position became vacant in 2010, Perry assumed the full range of human resources responsibilities in addition to her already full-time position.

“Lisa Perry is a true leader, who encourages others, yet takes on the difficult roles, goes above and beyond on a daily basis and has inspired me to feel like part of the team here in the Department,” said Alice Wertheimer, maternal and child health program assistant.

Perry’s colleagues say her exceptional responsiveness and consistent good spirit became evident during the renovations of Rosenau Hall when the department was relocated several times. Even when a damaged sprinkler sent thousands of gallons of water into fourth floor offices, Perry maintained a steady composure and worked tirelessly to move equipment and salvage the affected space.

“Lisa courageously took on myriad responsibilities in addition to her own and maintains tremendous enthusiasm to bolster the entire staff, whose workloads are also greater than ever,” said Emily Taylor, MPH, deputy director of the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute.

“Time and time again, Lisa takes charge, sees projects through to completion and helps us anticipate what is just around the bend,” Peterson said. “She is well-versed in School and campus policies and procedures and is an unparalleled resource in our department.”

Perry began working with the School in February 2007, and has accumulated 21 years of service to the University and the state of North Carolina. She graduated from the University and is an avid Tar Heel fan. She and her husband, Mike Perry, live in Eli Whitney, N.C. She enjoys spending time with her family, including her two children and six dogs.

“I am honored to be the recipient of this award,” Perry said. “Working in the department has always been my pleasure because I get to work with great faculty, staff and students. I feel like this award should be shared with the entire department because of all of their hard work and dedication.”

The Staff Excellence Award has been presented annually since 1991.

This year’s selection committee included co-chairs and previous awardees Chris Perry (Communications, 2010) and Sue Robeson (PHLP, 2009), award manager Lori Evarts (PHLP), Nancy Beach (HPM), Vera Bennett (BIOS), Cindy Hodgin (MCH), Phyllis Johnson (EPID), Rebecca Riggsbee Lloyd (ESE), Helena Mullen (HBHE), Sherry Roberts (NUTR) and Betsy Seagroves (BIOS).

More information about the award is available online.

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UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.

 

 

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