One of those teams, purchasing & technology, shows how sustainability can fit naturally into the work people already do by working towards 1) reducing the campus printing footprint by digitizing self-service options and encouraging electronic resources, 2) sourcing technology that uses environmentally conscious best practices and manage its lifecycle responsibly, and 3) educating and engaging the campus community about sustainable technology practices.

Those strategies might sound complex, but the team says most of the work builds on existing processes and collaborations. Adding sustainability often means asking one more question or making one small adjustment.

鈥淲e regularly partner with purchasing on contract management and business agreements,鈥� said Pat Donohue, one of the team leads and the university鈥檚 deputy chief information officer. 鈥淎dding a request for sustainability transparency from our vendors is a natural improvement of existing processes to align with university strategic objectives.聽 This is an example of how bold strategy can often be a minor adjustment in organizational behavior.鈥�

Patrick Schwartz is the assistant director of procure to pay at 乱伦视频 and one of the team leads for the purchasing & technology implementation team. He added, 鈥淛ust by being part of this team, the collaboration between our two departments was already strong, and it strengthens every day.鈥�

When IT evaluates vendors, the team already asks about data security, storage and compliance. Now, they also ask vendors to disclose their carbon footprint and energy consumption. It is a simple step that helps 乱伦视频 make informed decisions about the products and services it uses.

In addition, Schwartz said the purchasing team can see the purchasing trends on the backend and, leveraging their strong relationship with IT, work together to assure that vendors are providing products to campus that are environmentally and fiscally sustainable and responsible.

Collaboration creates momentum

Collaboration has been key to success. Conversations about sustainability often uncover other opportunities to improve processes, strengthen partnerships and share resources.

Edith Smith shared one of those ideas. She serves as a purchasing agent at 乱伦视频 and is a member of the purchasing & technology implementation team. She worked with Amazon to ensure that the first products displayed when employees search for a product are those that have sustainable qualities. In addition to this, Smith and others are looking into ways to encourage the university to increase its partnership with local vendors to reduce environmental impact and support the local economy.

鈥淚t can be difficult to put a list of vendors together for a campus with decentralized purchasing, but for me, it鈥檚 important to ask how we can encourage our colleagues on campus to use local vendors more regularly and to work with vendors that will cut emissions,” said Smith.

鈥淭he focus on sustainability gave us a framework to accelerate improvements we were already pursuing,鈥� said Donohue. 鈥淚t has been a clear example of how bringing together diverse mindsets with a shared purpose can improve service delivery, streamline business processes and create long-term value for the university.

Schwartz agrees with this sentiment and adds that the team is educating people to consider which sustainable products are offered by vendors.

鈥淣one of us can do this work on our own,鈥� he added.

Fiscal responsibility meets sustainability

One of the most significant changes was extending the lifecycle of university-owned laptops and desktops to five years.

鈥淲e ensure an extended lifecycle by applying updates and doing necessary maintenance on the equipment throughout its usable lifecycle,” said Rebecca Black,聽director of campus technology support and member of the purchasing & technology implementation team.

When the lifecycle of the technology ends for us, it goes through a chain of disposal through an agreement with ethically responsible vendors, who repurpose the equipment or its components.

鈥淭he equipment we recover doesn鈥檛 just go into a waste facility. It has another, purposeful life afterward,鈥� she added.

Donohue added that the proceeds from selling depreciated equipment is reinvested to subsidize advanced support of 乱伦视频 computers.

鈥淭his benefits our community through faster repairs and maintenance while allowing campus technology support specialists to focus on high-value service delivery than hardware break/fix efforts. It鈥檚 a win-win,鈥� he said.

The same principle applies to reducing the number of printers on campus. Fewer devices mean less energy consumption and less paper use, but the change also reflects a cultural shift. Convenience often competes with sustainability, and the team acknowledges that change takes time.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a fine line between doing what鈥檚 easy and convenient and making an extra, impactful effort towards sustainability,鈥� Beck said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in the moment where this is a necessary priority.鈥�

Schwartz added, 鈥淭his is one of the best examples of how our work aligns together. We evaluated paper processes on campus and moved purchase card request forms and Adobe signatures to digital processes.鈥�

In addition to the paper and cost-savings, Schwartz and Smith say that these processes also simplify and better organize employee workflows.

鈥淲hen we thoughtfully scale technology resources in ways such as consolidating printers and encouraging digitization, we also reduce costs and free-up resources that can be reinvested into new innovations that benefit the university,鈥� Beck said. 鈥淭hese efforts will also help us operate more efficiently and enhance the quality of services for our 乱伦视频 campuses.鈥�

About the Sustainability Master Plan

The Boldly 乱伦视频 Strategic Plan calls on 乱伦视频 to 鈥淓ngage the campus in sustainable practices to become carbon neutral by 2037 鈥� invest in renewable energy, reduce campus energy consumption 20 percent, purchase offsets to make the global study program carbon neutral and continue to build LEED certified buildings 鈥� and prepare students to lead lives that build a sustainable future.鈥� The 10-year Sustainability Master Plan 2025 is a roadmap for that bold commitment.

In a message to the 乱伦视频 community announcing LeMire’s decision, Vice President for Business and Finance Janet Williams shared how she “will very much miss Joe鈥檚 depth of knowledge and his dedication to campus safety” and that his success as a chief “centers on building trust and collaboration with student organizations and enhancing relationships and safety understanding with faculty and staff.”

As a member of the Finance and Administration leadership team, LeMire has led a department of 21 certified police officers, a dispatch center that provides 24-hour dispatching services, and a team of community service officers who assist with parking enforcement and building and environmental security on campus.

Since arriving on campus in March 2021, his achievements include restaffing the department with certified police officers, building up community policing, advocating for the increased use of security cameras, launching an upgraded E-Alert system, achieving reaccreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, and earning accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

乱伦视频’s Campus Safety and Police is among a very small group of agencies in the United States that is dually accredited.

A national search will soon be launched to identify 乱伦视频鈥檚 next Chief of Police.聽Following LeMire’s departure in April, and until a successor is named, responsibilities for 乱伦视频 Campus Safety and Police will be managed by Interim Chief of Police Doug Dotson, who has loyally served the university for 30 years.

Currently, many teams manage leave in various ways. Some teams use spreadsheets, some use email and all processes include retroactive entry in OnTrack. This updated approach encourages planning when possible, which will create shared expectations between employees and supervisors, and improve how we communicate about time off across departments.

While time away cannot always be planned, this new tool makes it easier for employees to be proactive and collaborative with their leave planning and reporting. The goal is to reduce ambiguity, strengthen coordination and build confidence in how time off is submitted, reviewed and tracked.

Employees and supervisors will use OnTrack to request and approve time away. Requests will be submitted and tracked in a single, consistent system, helping ensure that time away is visible, timely and clearly understood by everyone involved.

This process is designed to support:

• Thoughtful planning between employees and supervisors
• A shared understanding of time-off timelines
• Coordinated scheduling that supports team operations
• Confidence in how time away is managed across the university

Time off matters 鈥� for each of us, for our teams, and for the way we work together.聽By using a consistent, transparent system to plan time away, teams can communicate more easily, and employees can feel confident and supported whenever they need to take time off.

Janet Williams, vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer

Training and support

乱伦视频 is committed to ensuring staff are supported throughout this transition. Leading up to the January and February launches, Human Resources is offering multiple training options to help employees and supervisors engage with the new process and feel informed and prepared. Staff can explore:

Step-by-step training guides – Currently available in document form and coming soon to a centralized page on the HR website. Direct links will be shared in upcoming campus emails.

Video walkthroughs of the process in action

• Bi-Weekly-Paid Staff Video Walkthrough is coming soon

Live training + Q&A sessions

• Supervisors
  • Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 10:00 a.m. – Register + Add to Calendar
  • Monday, Dec. 15 at 2:00 p.m. – Register + Add to Calendar
• Monthly-Paid Staff
  • Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 2:00 p.m. – Register + Add to Calendar
  • Monday, Dec. 15 at 10:00 a.m. – Register + Add to Calendar
• Bi-Weekly-Paid Employees: Sessions coming in January

“We understand that adjusting to something new takes time,聽鈥� said Melissa Clodfelter, associate vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer. 鈥淥ur focus is on making this feel manageable and supportive, whether that means walking through it together in training, or giving you tools you can use on your own terms.”

Missed the preview sessions?

Employees can still watch the Nov. 12 sessions and submit their thoughts:

Feedback from pilot and preview participants has already shaped training materials, and every additional voice helps strengthen the experience.

Questions

For questions at any time, contact hr@elon.edu or visit the .

Their role: collect data and information about the systems and processes of both institutions to eventually bring together the best operational elements of both schools.

The team includes representatives from both universities and has met weekly to listen widely, surface key questions early, test ideas with data, uplift academics and student life, and report regularly on progress.

Susan M. Kirkland, associate vice president for finance and administration at 乱伦视频, and Matt Packey, chief financial officer and vice president for administration at Queens University of Charlotte, are focusing their work on understanding where systems align, where differences may require attention, and where opportunities exist to improve and enhance support for students, faculty and staff.

In a recent conversation, Kirkland and Packey explained more about their responsibilities and the benefits both universities will realize from their work together.

What are your roles on the sprint team and what have you been focusing on since September?聽

Matt Packey: Our work centers on finance, human resources and shared services – things like budgeting, vendor and payroll payments, procurement, financial and regulatory reporting, treasury and cash management, oversight of investments and endowments, annual and compliance audits, and student billing. We鈥檝e been examining where our two universities operate similarly, where differences will need to be addressed and where combining systems could improve operations. There is a lot of detail involved, but the goal is to understand the landscape clearly before decisions are made.

Susan Kirkland: I鈥檇 agree. Much of our work has been developing a roadmap and determining the major areas that will require focused attention going forward. This early stage is about identifying the big questions and laying the groundwork for more detailed planning as conversations progress.

Why is evaluating these areas important early in the merger planning process?聽

SK: We need clarity on what is legally and structurally possible under regulatory requirements. Once planning advances, the work shifts toward identifying operational enhancements. We also look at how systems could be improved to better serve students, from admissions and registration to billing and access to services. This work is foundational to both short-term planning and long-term student experience.

What might people not realize about how finance and administration contribute to the university鈥檚 successes?

SK: Much of our work isn鈥檛 student-facing, but it is essential. We make sure departments can purchase what they need and that faculty, staff and student employees are paid accurately and on time. We also manage regulatory reporting, which is critical for accreditation and continuing access to federal financial aid. When these systems run smoothly, people rarely notice them, but they are the backbone of institutional stability.

MP: We鈥檙e also deeply involved in strategic planning. When new academic programs or initiatives are proposed, we help model the financial implications so leaders can make informed decisions. It鈥檚 significant work that doesn鈥檛 always show up in day-to-day campus life, but it helps our institutions grow responsibly.

How is this work benefiting both campuses now, even before a merger is finalized?聽

MP: I鈥檓 hopeful this work is helping us identify potential issues, things like contracts, systems, service providers, and the ways each campus handles certain processes. The goal is to get ahead of questions. This is a learning opportunity 鈥� we can look at where each institution might have a stronger or clearer approach and improve things together. There may be things we can eventually do differently or better, simply because we鈥檙e taking the time to look closely now.

This is a learning opportunity 鈥� we can look at where each institution might have a stronger or clearer approach and improve things together. There may be things we can eventually do differently or better, simply because we鈥檙e taking the time to look closely now.

– Matt Packey,聽chief financial officer and vice president for administration at Queens University of Charlotte

What have you learned from working together that has influenced your perspective in your current roles?聽

SK: Conversations with administrators at both institutions have highlighted a shared dedication to students and to the mission of higher education. That commitment has been energizing and grounding, especially during busy periods.

MP: I鈥檝e seen the same. There is deep mission commitment on both campuses.

Let鈥檚 end with a fun question that helps people learn more about the team co-leads that are doing this important work. Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving tradition?聽

SK: For many years, I enjoyed running in the annual Turkey Trot in my hometown when I was there for the holiday. I can鈥檛 run the race anymore, but I鈥檝e kept another tradition 鈥� I watch the Macy鈥檚 Thanksgiving Day Parade each year and text with a close friend while we critique the floats and performances. It鈥檚 something lighthearted that always makes the morning feel special.

MP: Thanksgiving has always been a family-centered holiday for us. My parents host, and it usually turns into a three-day gathering. On Wednesday night, my dad cooks a homemade pasta dinner. Thursday is the traditional Thanksgiving meal 鈥� we graze throughout the day, watch football and eat too much. On Friday, we finish the leftovers during the day and, for reasons no one quite remembers, we always order pizza that evening. I now live in North Carolina, and my family is in Ohio, so those days together feel especially meaningful.

Related Articles

• 乱伦视频 faculty and staff recognized for excellence at 2025 awards luncheon

乱伦视频 celebrated the dedication, innovation and service of its staff during 2025 Staff Appreciation Day on Friday, May 30, honoring individuals and teams whose work exemplifies the university鈥檚 mission and values.

鈥淲hether you directly support our students, contribute to our academic mission, care for our beautiful campus or ensure that our numerous services run smoothly, your exceptional efforts create an extraordinary environment for learning growth and success at 乱伦视频,” said Chief Human Resource Office Melissa Clodfelter during her opening remarks Friday.

Clodfelter joined 乱伦视频 in spring 2025 as Chief Human Resources Officer. She thanked the attendees for a warm welcome to the university in her first months and set the tone for the ceremony.

鈥淭his is a day to celebrate the whole, to recognize that it takes all of us, the ones who open the doors in the mornings, who prepare meals and classrooms, who teach and tend, who organize and uplift, who listen, who build, who clean, who care,” said Rev. Kirstin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, during the event’s invocation.

Phoenix Awards

Four Phoenix Awards are presented each year to recognize outstanding innovation, collaboration and dedication to the university鈥檚 mission.

Phoenix Innovation Award

Lasse Palomaki was named the 2025 Phoenix Innovation Award winner. The award is presented to a member of the 乱伦视频 staff who has displayed innovation by creating, designing, improving and implementing a new idea or a program that benefits the university or the community.

As associate director of career services for alumni, Palomaki has redefined professional development at 乱伦视频. From launching the Career Search Foundations course to leading the 乱伦视频 in LA Bridges program, Palomaki鈥檚 work has expanded opportunities for alumni and aligned career services with the university鈥檚 strategic goals.

鈥淚n close collaboration with his supervisor and key campus partners, he has shaped the direction of alumni career services,鈥� one nominator wrote.

Phoenix Rising Award

Gia Pineda was named the 2025 Phoenix Rising Award winner. The award is presented to one newer member of 乱伦视频’s staff who has consistently displayed excellence in pursuit of 乱伦视频’s mission with an engaged mind in inspired leadership and global citizenship.

As director of short-term programs in the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center, Pineda manages nearly 50 programs with clarity, compassion and creativity. From helping students secure funding to ensuring accessibility for students with disabilities, Pineda鈥檚 dedication is unwavering.

One nominator recalled her steady presence during a program disrupted by the Los Angeles fires: 鈥淪he helped us navigate urgent and difficult decisions regarding student safety and program continuity, always centering the health, well-being and dignity of our students.鈥�

Phoenix Collaboration Award

The Phoenix Collaboration award was presented to Nature RX, led by Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach, and Tumi Shadreck, counselor/outreach coordinator. The team includes staff from Counseling Services, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the Office of Sustainability. The award is presented to an 乱伦视频 staff team or group that has fostered cooperation, collaboration and open communication across two or more departments/offices/centers on campus.

Since 2019, Nature RX has coordinated programming that promotes mental and physical well-being through outdoor experiences. During this time, more than 750 people have participated in programming, such as mental health heights, staff training, classroom presentations, event series, the signature stargazing of mental health events, and other partnerships with student organizations, residential neighborhoods and academic departments.

The group will make mental health benefits even more accessible with a new app funded by an 乱伦视频 Innovation Grant, which will launch in 2026 and connect students, faculty and staff with green spaces and across campus more effectively.

鈥淭he collaborative nature of this project is what has enabled it to be effective,鈥� one nominator wrote. 鈥淣ature Rx could not succeed if it was an individual staff member or department project.鈥�

Blanche Garrison Memorial Award

The 2025 Blanche Garrison Memorial Award was presented to Susan Tripp, horticulturalist for 乱伦视频. The award was established in memory of the late Blanche Garrison, an 乱伦视频 Medallion awardee, who served the university with distinction as a staff member at Maynard House. This award was created through the generosity of President Emeritus Leo Lambert and Laurie Lambert and recognizes a staff member who has contributed significantly to shaping the student experience at 乱伦视频 through their everyday commitments and actions to support, encourage, and mentor 乱伦视频 students.

Tripp was recognized for her engagement with students in the Gender & LGBTQIA Center and the Phoenix Free Collegiate Recovery Program, meeting students for lunch and class projects, and for generally being a welcoming and friendly presence on campus.

鈥淔or young people that are discovering who they are and maybe who don鈥檛 always feel they have majority views 鈥� I just think it’s important to slow down and pay attention. And it’s what I do,” said Tripp after receiving the award.

Staff Member of the Year Awards

Three Staff Member of the Year Awards are presented annually to university non-teaching staff 鈥� one for each of the following categories: facilities management, professional hourly staff and administrative staff. 乱伦视频 President Connie Ledoux Book, announced the award winners.

Staff Member of the Year 鈥� Professional Hourly

Elizabeth Bowen was honored as the professional hourly staff member of the year. She serves as the executive assistant to the vice president for enrollment and assistant vice president and dean of undergraduate admissions.

Described as the glue that holds her team together, Bowen brings foresight, flexibility and a spirit of service to every aspect of her work. In her role, Bowen manages a wide range of responsibilities鈥攆rom coordinating travel and overseeing safety plans to operating technology during meetings and to fielding questions from prospective students. One nominator even said that without her, counselors wouldn’t have enough publications for travel, cars wouldn’t be properly checked out, office supplies would run out and the admissions email account would be bogged down with thousands of emails.

Bowen addressed the audience after receiving the nomination to express gratitude for the award recognizing 鈥渢he little things that we do.鈥�

鈥溌衣资悠� is kind of like a ship聽鈥撀爓e are familiar with the captain and the wheel, but it鈥檚 what all the people in this room are, the little nuts and bolts, that you don鈥檛 see鈥ithout those, she ship would fall apart,” she said.

She ended the speech by saying, 鈥渇rom one nut to all the others, thank you!鈥�

Staff Member of the Year 鈥� Administrative

Doug McIntyre was awarded the administrative staff member of the year. He serves as the ERP application architect.

Working at 乱伦视频 for over 30 years, McIntyre was recognized for his historical institutional knowledge and profound understanding of university operations.

With more than three decades of service to 乱伦视频, McIntyre has become a cornerstone of the university鈥檚 technological infrastructure. His role extends far beyond his title. Colleagues describe him as a historian, mentor, data integrator, system expert and developer鈥攕omeone whose deep institutional knowledge and collaborative spirit have shaped the university鈥檚 operations in profound ways.

Known for thriving under pressure and never settling for 鈥済ood enough,鈥� McIntyre approaches his work with a calm, thoughtful energy. He is often the first to respond to urgent system issues鈥攕ometimes before the rest of campus has even started the day.

“His sense of responsibility and care for the university鈥檚 operations never turns off,” one nominator noted.

Claudia Sparks, associate director of enterprise solutions, accepted the award on McIntyre鈥檚 behalf. She added a brief praise of her colleague, mentioning that he is dedicated, always figuring things out and generally a good person to work with.

Staff Member of the Year 鈥� Facilities Management

Dee Fuller won the 2025 Facilities Management Staff Member of the Year award. She serves as a custodian for 乱伦视频 and is responsible for the care of Alamance Building.

Fuller was recognized for being accommodating for people in the building and for creating a welcoming atmosphere that uplifts students, faculty and staff who interact with her. She was praised for routinely going above and beyond the scope of her job description and ensuring every detail is attended to with the utmost care and precision.

鈥淚 was not expecting this, but I am truly honored, and I thank everyone who who’s involved in this , and I’m just grateful and thankful,” said Fuller after receiving the award.

Gratitude Expressed Towards the Service of 乱伦视频 Retirees

Rebecca Kohn, provost and vice president for academic affairs, honored staff members who are retiring this year:

• Ann Flaherty, director of leadership & development
• Betty Garrison, business research librarian
• Marietta Herbin, custodian
• Annie Hester, program assistant for The Oaks
• Rene Sellers, student account specialist
• Cindy Sweeney, senior associate director of career services for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business
• Rex Terrell, carpenter
• Karen Walter, senior associate director of financial aid and liaison to athletics

After a decade of use in its current format, will receive significant upgrades in May that university administrators said they are excited to debut.

A few of the most noticeable changes will be access to real-time on demand statements, the option to create payment plans, and the ability to accept international payments via ACH or credit card. At present, e-Bill statements are uploaded periodically, families must enroll in a payment plan via a separate portal, and international payments can only be accepted via wire.

鈥淭his new system reflects our ongoing commitment to providing a seamless and transparent billing experience for students and families,鈥� said 乱伦视频 Bursar Alessandra Gabriel. 鈥淲ith real-time updates, integrated payment options, and easier access to account information, we鈥檙e making it simpler than ever to manage educational expenses.鈥�

Important Information for 乱伦视频 Students and Families

What Will Students Need to Do with e-Bill?聽

• Students won鈥檛 need to do anything. Access to e-Bill will continue uninterrupted for all undergraduate and graduate students who log in with their 乱伦视频 credentials.

What Will Parents (and Others) Need to Do with e-Bill?聽

• While access is currently open to e-Bill, starting May 13, 2025, currently established authorized users will be prompted to verify their existing account with a new password. Until you do so, you will be unable to access account histories or make future payments.

What to Expect with Upcoming Tuition Invoices聽

• Students, parents and other authorized users can still access the current e-Bill system to make payments for either summer session or for summer study abroad programs. Note: Undergraduate students who register late for summer session will be billed through the new e-Bill system.Otherwise, the first students who will be billed through the new e-Bill system are 乱伦视频 Law students and MBA/MSBA who have registered for summer courses. Those bills will be delivered May 20th. The next set of students who will be billed through the new system are graduate students in the School of Health Sciences who can plan to receive tuition invoices on June 2.

When Will Bills Be Sent to Undergraduates for Fall Semester?聽聽

• Students and families will receive those bills on June 24, 2025. The due date for these bills is August 1.

What to Expect Next聽

• 乱伦视频 will send additional emails to parents and other authorized users as a reminder of these changes and how to get in touch with the university should they have questions when e-Bill undergoes its update on May 13, 2025.

Who to Call with Questions鈥�

• The Bursar鈥檚 Office (which undergoes its name change to Student Financial Services at the very end of the spring) can assist students, parents, and authorized users with questions during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

University leaders believe the change will better communicate the office鈥檚 role in student financial matters and ensure that students know where to go for billing-related assistance.

The services, functions and location will remain the same with the name change becoming effective June 1, 2025. Alessandra Gabriel, 乱伦视频 bursar, says that while the term 鈥渂ursar鈥� has been used for many years, including at 乱伦视频 and other institutions, it feels outdated and uninviting.

鈥淭he word 鈥榖ursar鈥� sounds medieval,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 really convey the friendly, supportive environment we want to offer students.鈥�.

Because many parents often handle tuition payments, when students do need financial assistance, they may not immediately recognize the Bursar鈥檚 Office as the place to go.

The new name, Student Financial Services, is expected to provide greater clarity by more accurately reflecting the office鈥檚 role in managing student accounts, billing and payments.

How does Student Financial Services (Bursar鈥檚 Office) assist families?

The office is responsible for:

• Billing all students for tuition, fees and other charges.
• Processing payments and helping students with payment plans.
• Issuing refunds for overpayments or financial aid disbursements.
• Collaborating with the Office of Financial Aid, Residence Life, and 乱伦视频 Dining to ensure all financial matters are covered.

鈥淲e are essentially the bank of the school,鈥� Gabriel said.

While Student Financial Services works closely with the Office of Financial Aid, the two remain separate. Financial Aid focuses on grants, scholarships and loans, whereas Student Financial Services manages tuition payments, account balances and refunds.

Student Financial Services will continue to direct students to the appropriate resources if their needs fall outside its scope.

鈥淲e know that students will adapt quickly,鈥� Gabriel said. 鈥淥ur focus will be on making sure that parents, faculty and staff are aware of the change, as they may be more accustomed to the old name.鈥�

Students with billing-related questions are encouraged to visit the office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Alamance Building, Office 113.

The Bursar鈥檚 Office/Student Financial Services joins another prominent campus office in changing names at the end of the semester. The Office of Disabilities Resources will be renamed the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility effective June 1, 2025.

An administrator and executive coach skilled in building relationships and fostering collaboration has been named 乱伦视频鈥檚 next associate vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer.

Melissa Clodfelter, currently the assistant vice president for faculty & staff experience at Wake Forest University, begins her new role on Feb. 26, 2025, following a national search.

As chief human resources officer, Clodfelter will provide comprehensive oversight for all operations within the Office of Human Resources, including the development and management of effective strategies for attracting, recruiting, and hiring top talent to meet the university’s needs in pursuit of goals outlined in the Boldly 乱伦视频 strategic plan.

Clodfelter will oversee onboarding processes, employee benefits programs, management of human resources information systems, and wage and salary administration. She will also provide guidance and assistance as needed for employee relations issues, ensure compliance with Title IX regulations, and lead and support inclusive excellence initiatives, among other responsibilities that will include a role on the university鈥檚 senior staff starting in August.

乱伦视频鈥檚 Office of Human Resources includes 23 professionals and manages human resources operations for more than 1,600 university employees. Clodfelter joins 乱伦视频 during a period of significant investment in the university鈥檚 faculty and staff, highlighted by initiatives such as Navigate Your Career, the establishment of 乱伦视频鈥檚 childcare center, and the revitalization of the Office of Leadership & Professional Development.聽

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Clodfelter to 乱伦视频,鈥� said Janet Williams, the university鈥檚 vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer. 鈥淢elissa stood out because of her impressive experience and her ability to negotiate complex situations and relationships to build trust and initiate change, which aligns perfectly with 乱伦视频’s culture. She is an excellent person to fill this vital role.”

Melissa stood out because of her impressive experience and her ability to negotiate complex situations and relationships to build trust and initiate change, which aligns perfectly with 乱伦视频’s culture.

– Janet Williams, Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO

Clodfelter has called Wake Forest University home since 2001 when she started work in higher education following a career in hospice chaplaincy.

Success in her earliest roles with students in Wake鈥檚 School of Divinity quickly led to opportunities for recruitment and professional development programming through the Office of Human Resources and, by 2019, leadership responsibilities as an assistant vice president overseeing campus engagement and employee relations.

Among the responsibilities in her current role, Clodfelter has:

• Provided strategic oversight, program development, and change management to four functions across the employee lifecycle including learning & development, employee relations, recruiting, and employment solutions resulting in building a stronger, more proactive bridge between Human Resources and the academic enterprise
• Served as coach and strategist with university leadership around issues of organizational change, organizational structure, and employee relations
• Co-chaired the Student Information System Steering Committee and developed the Office of Institutional Equity where she served as interim executive director pending the successful outcome of a search for the office鈥檚 first leader
• Co-chaired a working group established to create policy and procedures on discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and craft recommendations for the Office of Human Resources
• Crafted and implemented a series of conversations between HR team members and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion’s 鈥淩ealizing Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity鈥� framework to forward a goal of transparency, development, and inclusion within the Human Resources team
• Initiated and implemented a pilot program with the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity and the Office of the Provost to support 17 faculty in research discipline and endeavors

鈥淚 have a deep love of higher education and an appreciation for the significant work that faculty and staff do in the formation, support, and education of our next generation of leaders,鈥� Clodfelter said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such an honor to get to stand close to those who are student-facing to support them by securing the resources they need to thrive in their teaching and mentoring of young people.鈥�

Clodfelter earned a Bachelor of Arts from Gardner-Webb University, a Master of Arts from Southeastern Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational leadership and cultural foundations from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Before entering higher education, she served as a hospice chaplain, bereavement counselor, and volunteer coordinator for StaffBuilders Home Health and Hospice in Louisburg, North Carolina.

Clodfelter succeeds Kelli Shuman, who had served 乱伦视频 for more than five years before joining the administration of Carnegie Mellon University in August as associate vice president and chief human resources officer.

About 乱伦视频

乱伦视频 is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture.

At 乱伦视频, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are teaching and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. 乱伦视频 is ranked No. 1 for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.

乱伦视频鈥檚 academic divisions include 乱伦视频 College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Search Committee for the Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer

• Janet Williams, Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO, co-chair
• Chris Leupold, Professor of Psychology and Faculty Athletics Representative, co-chair
• Owen Covington, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications and Media Relations
• Allie Duffney, Dean of Graduate 乱伦视频
• Kelly Elliston, Executive Assistant to the President
• Emily Krechel, Director of New Student Programs
• Lak茅 Laosebikan-Buggs, Director of Inclusive Excellence for Graduate and Professional Education
• Margaret Laws, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Finance and Operations / Chief Financial Officer
• Jozi Snowberger, Assistant Vice President for University Advancement – Parent Engagement
• Jackie Riffle, Academic Affairs Chief of Staff
• Christopher Waters, Associate Vice President of Information Technology and CIO

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Dear 乱伦视频 Faculty, Staff and Students,

It is with great sadness that I share with you that Monte Markley, Community Service Officer with 乱伦视频 Campus Safety and Police, passed away Saturday, May 18. Monte joined 乱伦视频 as a member of the Facilities Management team in 2015, and moved to 乱伦视频 Campus Safety and Police in 2022.

It can be difficult to process the grief we experience after the loss of a colleague and friend. There are several sources of support available from the university, including chaplains in the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. Faculty and staff may utilize 乱伦视频 Work-Life Resources聽for support.

Students can access counselors in Counseling Services聽or through TimelyCare, supportive staff in Student Care and Outreach, or 24/7 crisis resources from the crisis counselor on-call at 336-278-2222, TalkNow from TimelyCare, or the Student Life administrator on-call through Campus Safety and Police at 336-278-5555.

We will update you on the scheduling of gatherings and arrangements as they may become available in the coming days. Expressions of condolence for Monte鈥檚 family can be dropped off at the Truitt Center main desk or sent through campus mail to Truitt Center, 2960 Campus Box.

Please keep Monte鈥檚 family, friends, colleagues, and students in your thoughts, and let us know if there is anything we can do to support you.

In sadness,

Connie Book
President

乱伦视频 is enhancing the amenities for its faculty, staff and students who are parents with the addition of a new on-site child care center that is scheduled to open in Spring 2025.

The new child care center will be built on South Campus and will serve children who are infants through age two once it is completed in Spring 2025. The center will be operated by , a child care service provider that operates its own campuses and provides on-site care and learning services to employers nationally.

The center will initially enroll up to 30 children, and the university plans to expand capacity and serve older children in future phases of the initiative. Parents who are interested in learning more about the center, its services and Vivvi can . On this website, parents can also fill out a form to express their interest in enrolling their child, sign up to receive more information about the center and be notified when the center begins accepting enrollment applications and announces the official open date.

Addressing Child Care Accessibility

鈥淭his announcement brings to fruition a longstanding goal of the university to provide employees with quality and accessible child care,鈥� said 乱伦视频 President Connie Ledoux Book. “These steps ensure that 乱伦视频 remains a best place to work and thrive for our faculty and staff. I鈥檓 also excited to see all the positive engagement the new child care center will bring to our community in the years ahead”

In growing communities like Alamance County, child care solutions have become increasingly difficult for parents to find. Having a center on campus for 乱伦视频 employees and students will help alleviate some of the burden that comes as parents seek out affordable and convenient child care options.

鈥淭here is a shortage of quality child care centers in our area and across the United States,鈥� said Janet Williams, vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer. 鈥淥ur main focus right now is to address this issue for infants, toddlers and twos. We want to establish a child care center specifically for them in phase one.鈥�

Offering an employer-sponsored child care center will not only support 乱伦视频 employees and students, it will also create a nurturing environment for their children.

鈥淭hese steps ensure that 乱伦视频 remains a best place to work and thrive for our faculty and staff.”

乱伦视频 is committed to offering a five-star facility, the highest rating for child care centers in North Carolina, with experienced teachers, space for outdoor play and group activities and children’s classrooms designed for learning and development.

鈥溌衣资悠� employees will be able to perform their best and focus on their work knowing their children are receiving five-star care close by,鈥� said Kelli Shuman, associate vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer.

乱伦视频 selected Vivvi as its partner in the initiative due to its ability to support 乱伦视频 employees and students with child care and early childhood education that is flexible and meets parents where they are.

“乱伦视频鈥檚 investment in on-site child care signifies its commitment to the health and well-being of its student body, faculty and staff,鈥� said Charles Bonello, Vivvi co-founder and CEO. 鈥淔lexible, high-quality child care not only enhances long-term career opportunities for working parents, but also positively impacts the lives of the next generation鈥攖he children of 乱伦视频鈥檚 students, staff and faculty.”

The need for high-quality child care in the area is significant. It took 乱伦视频 faculty member Jason Husser over a year to secure a spot in a local child care center for his child due to high demand. An associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Policy Studies, Husser serves on the 乱伦视频 committee comprised of faculty and staff that was tasked with developing a plan for the university to provide on-site child care. He and his wife juggled child care between themselves while balancing work needs for the year that they waited for their child to be accepted to one of the many child care centers that they were on the waitlist for.

鈥淚t struck me firsthand how important it is to have a child care center for employees,鈥� Husser said. 鈥溌衣资悠� is invested in the well-being in its community and providing support for our youngest is key. We want to provide a valuable and meaningful five-star educational experience for the children of our employees and students.鈥�

The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education reports that North Carolina has one of the highest rates of working mothers with young children compared to the national average. The rising cost of care, coupled with the challenges of high demand, can result in parents dropping out of the workforce. 鈥淗aving a child care center will help us attract and retain talented individuals and maintain a positive workplace culture,鈥� Williams said.

Husser expects that the launch and growth of the child care center will generate opportunities for collaboration within the university community. 鈥淏eyond having a great resource for faculty and staff families, I鈥檓 most looking forward to having the intellectual collaborations we鈥檒l see between campus entities,鈥� he said.