Charini Urteaga has been named employee of the year by the U of A Global Campus.

Urteaga won the award for her exceptional service and support to U of A faculty who teach online and on campus. This is Urteaga's second time receiving this award. In 2018, she received both the Global Campus employee of the quarter and employee of the year awards. In addition, Urteaga was named an employee of the quarter by the U of A as a whole in the fourth quarter of 2021-22.

"I enjoy meeting so many enthusiastic and dedicated people across campus," Urteaga said. "I appreciate everyone I've worked with; thank you for making every day fun and memorable."

Urteaga was recognized for her outstanding service by Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education and head of the Global Campus. Murphy named Urteaga the Global Campus Employee of the Year for 2021-22 at a short staff meeting on Sept. 7.

"Charini is a phenomenal asset to Global Campus and the university, and I am thrilled that we are able to recognize her amazing contributions." Murphy said. "Her passion for her work and compassion for others are tremendous and guide everything she does. She is truly exceptional!"

Urteaga's work as an instructional designer at Global Campus primarily involves working with faculty to design, develop and maintain online courses. She joined Global Campus in 2015 as an academic technologist, where she provided services and tools to faculty who use technology to enhance teaching and learning environments. She transitioned into her current instructional design position in 2019.

Urteaga's immediate supervisor, Ken Muessig, praised Urteaga's exceptional work performance.

 "Charini cares a great deal about student success," Muessig said. "It shows in her work and the additional projects she involves herself in, like online student orientation courses that help students learn about the university without physically being here."

Co-workers who nominated Urteaga praised her consistent concern for and commitment to student success. Her dedication to providing top-quality support to students and faculty exemplifies the Global Campus' commitment to all advances in innovative teaching and learning.

"This has been another challenging quarter for the [Instructional Design] team," Urteaga's co-workers said. "IDs like Charini are collaborating with faculty on several new course developments and also managing last semester's course evaluations. Student success is so important to Charini that, without being asked, she sought to work with other staff members on projects such as a communication plan for online student coaches, as well as help establish instructions for software programs like TutorMe and WISR that provide 24-hour-a-day support and connections for students."

The Global Campus employee of the year is chosen from among the four employee of the quarter recipients who remain employed with Global Campus through the end of the award year. The award recognizes outstanding achievement and accomplishments that relate to the unit's goals and the U of A mission. The award recipient receives a commemorative certificate and a monetary award.

Two other candidates qualified for Global Campus employee of the year 2021-2022. They were Yakeshia "YaYa" Jenkins, web designer in Marketing and Communications, and Suzanne Kenner, online program coordinator in Instructional Design and Support Services.

The Global Campus supports U of A academic colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online degree programs and courses, self-paced online courses and workforce development programs. This unit provides instructional design services, learning technology support, media production services and assistance with financial administration, recruitment and marketing.

The Global Campus also supports the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship, which is open to undergraduate and graduate students studying in online degree programs.