Shout-outs to Staff
The following are Libraries staff who have received a shout-out from one or more of their colleagues for going out of their way to be extra awesome at their job.
Kristen Rivers
Kristen is so helpful, prompt, and informative! She continually supports the User Research Team by placing orders and getting the details just right. Her kindness and cheerfulness make working with her a delight.
- Robin Davis, Jan 9, 2026
Aryn Baker
I don’t know if Aryn wears a step counter but if she does, I think we would all be astounded by her daily totals. She is always on the move and always in service of someone or some thing. If you notice that everything is running smoothly in the Makerspace or at their events, it's because of Aryn's work to make it so. More evidence of her work, care, and creativity is in the Studios newsletter and any time you see students crowded around a fun craft in the lobby. Many thanks to Aryn for all she does so quietly and so swiftly as she moves through the library on a different mission any given day.
- Alison Edwards, Dec 9, 2025
Alison Edwards
Working with Alison is sometimes just a matter of sitting back and staring in awe at how much she both accomplishes and supports. This year alone she’s organized the TA toolkit, Access Fest, the LSS instruction program group and the Instruction Programs meetup. She takes new library workers from different departments to lunch and can always be counted on to grab an open shift at Ask Us. I think Alison is one of the secret pieces that keep the Libraries running and I wanted to make sure she got applauded for all she does.
- Sojourna Cunningham, Dec 9, 2025
Troy Hurteau, Beth Ashmore, Danica Lewis
A big thank you to Troy, Beth and Danica for their help and advice on accessibility assessment of NC LIVE's subscription resources. Their guidance has been hugely beneficial in working on accessibility compliance for databases available to libraries across North Carolina. Also, a special shout-out to Troy for his time and expertise in reviewing VPATs!
- Claire Leverett, Dec 3, 2025
Troy Hurteau
When we recently had a last-minute need to swap some content for the Art Wall at Hunt Library, Troy stepped in at 5 p.m. on a Friday to save the day. This is just one example of the kind of thing Troy does all the time. Not only is he a pleasure to work with, but he’s also thoughtful, technically adept, and always ready to find creative solutions to problems. I’m grateful to have him as a colleague.
- David N Woodbury, Nov 10, 2025
Alison Edwards, Alexis Boone, Aasta Thomas
Alison, Aasta, and Alexis are a team more reliable and resourceful than AAA.
Without Alison's superior planning skills and creative ideas, the AccessFest 2025 collaboration may not have even happened. Alison's skills at fostering partnerships with other campus stakeholders like DELTA has helped the Libraries to play an important role in supporting accessibility campus-wide.
On the day of the event, Aasta and Alexis were so welcoming and helpful to all the faculty and staff looking for accessibility help with their instructional materials. Aasta has been working hard to advocate for accessible instruction since she started with the Libraries and it was so nice to have her wonderful attitude and expertise at the event. Alexis is also proving herself to be a great addition to the team (and she is fast enough to keep up Ms. Wuf!)
Thanks LSS for being accessibility advocates in the libraries and beyond!
- Beth Ashmore, Nov 9, 2025
Cas Saroza
Cas has helped me in a big way this semester. They stepped up and led collaborations with campus centers on community exhibits in the Visualization Gallery. This was an easy transition for our community partners because Cas is already a familiar face and proven colleague. I do not think that these collaborations would have gotten as much attention as they deserve if Cas wasn't willing to take the lead. Cas is quick and reliable, and I never wondered or worried about how things were going because I knew it was all in good hands. I have also enjoyed co-teaching a few Social Sciences instruction sessions with Cas. They have great ideas for making our lessons more interactive and useful for students.
- Hannah Rainey, Oct 21, 2025
Trevor Thornton
I am so happy whenever Trevor reaches out with an idea for an exhibit in the Visualization Gallery. Not only does he have great ideas, Trevor also has the skills and talent to execute them well. He's worked on multiple exhibits that showcase faculty research (on sharks and beavers, to name a few). More recently, he led the creation of an exhibit about Science Misinformation. Trevor did most of the work for this exhibit by scripting, editing, and finding and compiling the visual elements. The exhibit was displayed earlier this month and can be requested by classes in the future. Collaborating with Trevor is always such a great experience!
- Hannah Rainey, Oct 21, 2025
Maria Rice
Shout-out to Maria Rice for helping to develop and launch the transformative new Student Management Workshop! This initiative helps empower supervisors of student employees with the tools, community, and confidence they need to lead with care and clarity. Your thoughtful approach is shaping a more supportive campus culture, and we’re so lucky to have your leadership. Your passion for student supervisors and commitment to student success truly shines through!
- Nellie Maurer, Oct 1, 2025
Tarida Anantachai
I want to send a huge thank you and shout-out to Tarida!
Beyond being a consistently positive and wonderful presence who always makes my day brighter, Tarida is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to offering support.
In particular, I want to thank her for the incredible assistance she always gives me by reviewing my article drafts and presentation slides. Her feedback is consistently thoughtful and constructive, and it makes a huge difference in my final products.
Thanks to her guidance, I always feel more confident and prepared, whether I'm submitting an article for publication or stepping up to the podium for a presentation.
Thank you, Tarida, for your generosity, your keen eye, and for being such a supportive part of the Libraries' HR team!
- Laura Blessing, Sep 26, 2025