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Michelle Thies Earns Board of Regents KUDOS Award

Thies was recognized by her colleagues for her exceptional dedication to student success.

  • published: 2024/10/14
  • contact: UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Pictured from left to right: Brian Thies; Michelle Thies; UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA; UNO Student Body President/Regent Ishani Adidam; University of Nebraska (NU) System President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.; and UNO School of Communication Director Heather Hundley, Ph.D.

Pictured from left to right: Brian Thies; Michelle Thies; UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA; UNO Student Body President/Regent Ishani Adidam; University of Nebraska (NU) System President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.; and UNO School of Communication Director Heather Hundley, Ph.D.

At their October meeting, the University of Nebraska (NU) System Board of Regents presented Michelle Thies with a KUDOS Award for her exceptional dedication to student success.

As Office Associate for the School of Communication within the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media (CFAM) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), Thies is known for her willingness to go above and beyond in her duties, and her collaborative spirit that makes others feel welcome and supported.

Abbie Syrek, assistant dean of CFAM, said that “Michelle has many outstanding qualities that make her a tremendous asset to the school, college, and university, but perhaps the most impressive ethical standard she has upheld is that of student success.”

This spring, Thies stepped up to the plate to support academic advising while an advisor was on leave. She made sure each student had what they needed to enroll for classes. In one instance, she went the extra mile to connect a student concerned about completing their degree with the dean’s office to explore avenues for achieving their goals.

“Due to Michelle's outreach, the student successfully graduated and is a proud UNO alumnus!” said Syrek.

While working in the School of Communication, Thies also completed her master’s degree at UNO.

“Excited by her coursework, Michelle often incorporated concrete examples, theories, and innovative solutions into her daily work and advising role… Michelle is a Maverick at heart! She loves collaborating with her colleagues and peers. She can always be found with a smile on her face.”

In presenting the Board of Regents KUDOS award to Thies, UNO Student Body President/Regent Ishani Adidam thanked her for her dedication to UNO.

Congratulations, Michelle!

KUDOS Award Nominations
The University of Nebraska KUDOS award recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding employees and is presented six times a year during NU Board of Regents meetings. Do you want to submit a nominee for KUDOS? Use the People Are Everything software by clicking on the tile in Firefly under Self Service.