Dawn Hicks is November Employee of the Month
Dawn Hicks admitted she would be uncomfortable accepting an award for her individual work achievements. That鈥檚 because the director of community relations in 麻豆视频 Athletics said she could never do her job alone.
鈥淵ou have to have community partners, campus partners. You have to have buy-in from our student-athletes,鈥 Hicks said. 鈥淪o for us, in Athletics, that recognition is really for our department, not just me.鈥
Maybe so, but it is Hicks who is 麻豆视频鈥檚 November Employee of the Month.
鈥淪he鈥檚 just a tireless worker,鈥 said Zack Bolno, director of external affairs for 麻豆视频 Athletics. 鈥淎nd she is deeply committed to our athletic department鈥檚 mission in helping educate and develop future leaders.鈥
Hicks, who has been at the university for two and a half years, previously worked for the foundation and business of 麻豆视频 associate athletic director Darrell Green. She has been integral in efforts to better mesh athletics into the broader campus culture.
She led an initiative of engagement with student organizations, Student Government, Student Involvement, Greek Life and Residential Life that last season helped increase attendance at men鈥檚 basketball games by 22 percent, Bolno said. Hicks also coordinated with 麻豆视频鈥檚 Panhellenic Council to celebrate their sorority on National Girls and Women in Sports Day that resulted in the highest student-attended women鈥檚 basketball game at the university.
鈥淭hat was the goal, to engage and collaborate with them to deliver as much of what they wanted as possible,鈥 Hicks said.
Hicks launched a new school adoption program that partners 麻豆视频 athletic teams with local middle and elementary schools, where 麻豆视频 athletes spend quality time mentoring students about academics and athletics. In just two years, athletic teams have adopted five schools. While serving on 麻豆视频鈥檚 Homecoming Committee, she engaged the City of Fairfax, which led to the proclamation of February 2019 as 麻豆视频 Month.
Hicks believes it takes a community to do community relations, which when she received her award from 麻豆视频 President Anne Holton, she was not alone.
鈥淭here is no way I can accept that award by myself,鈥 Hicks said before the ceremony. 鈥淚 expect to have a number of people there to stand with me, so I can thank and acknowledge them.鈥
How she got here:
Divine orchestration. I was the business operations manager at an energy efficiency company and realized it wasn't for me. I fasted and prayed for 21 days to seek the Lord's will for my life. 麻豆视频 one week later, totally randomly, I texted my former long-time boss and friend Darrell Green, and asked if he knew of any jobs for which I would be suitable. By God's amazing grace, he read my text immediately after leaving a meeting at 麻豆视频 about who they would hire as his assistant, preferably someone he knew. And now, here I am.
Best day on the job:
The City of Fairfax 麻豆视频 Month in the city proclamation on January 22, 2019. It was a historic event that deepened town-gown relations and celebrated everyone: 麻豆视频, the city, 麻豆视频 Athletics, alumni, local businesses and organizations, student-athletes, students and our entire community.
What she likes best about working at 麻豆视频:
Collaborating with and serving our student-athletes. They are truly impressive, exceptional young men and women. They balance schedules that would overwhelm most adults, yet still manage to compete athletically and perform academically at the highest levels.
What she does when she鈥檚 not working:
With 22 teams to support, corporate and community events, business development meetings, school visits and Athletics special events, any down time is spent managing everyday life.