Global Campus presented annual awards for Cross-functional Collaborator, Rookie of the Year and Unsung Hero as part of its ongoing support of staff for exemplary work.              

Recipients receive a framed certificate designed by the Global Campus media production team as well as a monetary award.

Cross-functional Collaborator Award

This award recognizes the spirit of cross-functional teamwork that helps Global Campus achieve its goals. To be eligible for this award, staff must produce results that increase productivity and efficiency, boost morale, improve customer service, support retention or other accomplishments in alignment with Global Campus' strategic goals.

The employee must provide outstanding and ongoing excellence in service to faculty, staff, students, community and co-workers.

The Collaborator Award recipient for 2024-25 is Benjamin Matthews, academic records management analyst in Partnerships, Scheduling and Records. Matthews joined Global Campus in January of 2024. He primarily handles the day-to-day processes for the Guild partnership—a collaboration between Guild Education, the U of A and companies Walmart and Tyson Foods to support their education benefit programs. His duties require working with the online student liaisons, coaches, Slate team and Treasurer's Office.

Matthews also works with various colleges, data analysts and online program managers to update class schedules and effectively reserve seats for online students. He also assisted with a major overhaul of the fall online schedule as part of the transition to Workday Student, requiring extensive collaboration with other teams.

"It's always nice to be recognized," Matthews said. "It is not difficult to collaborate here, and I am happy to be in a role where I get to work with so many great teams and people, all easy to get along with and working to accomplish the same goals."

Nancy Arnold, director of Partnerships, Scheduling and Records, is Matthews' supervisor. She said, "Benjamin has fostered great working relationships with colleagues in Global Campus and beyond. He is certainly deserving of this award, and I am so pleased for him to be recognized in this way."

The other nominee for the Cross-functional Collaborator Award was Randy Forst, online student orientation specialist, Online Student Coaches team.

Rookie of the Year

This award spotlights appointed or hourly staff members who were hired between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. It recognizes a new employee who goes above and beyond, one whose efforts in some way supports, boosts or enhances the services provided to Global Campus staff, as well as students, departments and the community at large.

The Rookie of the Year award for 2024-25 goes to Will Hobbs, recruiter for the Innovation and Online Student Experience team at Global Campus. Since joining Global Campus in November of 2024, Hobbs has traveled around the country, attending events and conferences where he promotes the university's online programs. When he's not on the road, Hobbs connects with prospective students in other projects such as the recent launch of a successful webinar series, as well as graduates on this year's Razorbug Diploma Tour.

"The webinar series that we have worked on over the last six months has been incredibly successful," Hobbs said. "We have had hundreds of prospective students either attend or watch the recordings of these sessions, and several people have used contact information within the webinar to follow up or have applied to the programs."

Patty Milner, assistant vice provost for Innovation and the Online Student Experience and Hobbs' supervisor, said, "Will has been a great addition to our recruiting team. I have really been impressed with his initiative and willingness to try new things. He has been a critical part of the success of the team this year."

The other nominees for the Rookie of the Year award were:

• Cindy Folsom, assistant to the vice provost for distance education, Office of the Vice Provost
• Santi Mendoza, technology support specialist, Technology and Building Services team
• Uthara Unnikrishnan, data and innovation resource specialist, Professional and Workforce Development team

Unsung Hero Award

This award was established to bring recognition to staff whose duties are integral to the smooth running of Global Campus whose routine but vital tasks do not normally stand out.

The Unsung Hero Award for 2024-25 goes to Kathy Green, administrative support supervisor for the Instructional Design and Support Services team. Green started at Global Campus in June of 2023. She uses her background in graphic design, illustration and media to support her team, as well as manage her supervisor's calendar, order supplies and arrange travel. Green also collaborates with the online program manager to troubleshoot class scheduling and compliance and facilitate connections between new online instructors and the instructional designers.

"When I do my job well, things go more smoothly for the teams I serve," Green said. "I get a lot of satisfaction from making someone else's day go just a little bit better. We do important work here at Global Campus, and I just try to be responsive to what my team and other Global Campus colleagues need to be able to accomplish their work."

Miran Kang, director of IDSS and Green's supervisor, said, "Kathy is truly an unsung hero for so many of us, both within and beyond our unit. If I add up all the small differences she has made in our work lives, the total would be humongous. She helps with such joy and grace and somehow always finds a way to go one step further—offering thoughtful ideas that make our work smoother, better, and brighter the next time."

The other nominees for the Unsung Hero Award were:

• Benjamin Matthews, academic records management analyst, Partnerships, Scheduling and Records team
• Stephanie Reid, online student liaison, Online Student Liaisons team
• Wanda Donaghe, academic records assistant, Innovation and Online Student Experience team

The Global Campus supports the U of A academic colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online degree programs and 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.