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Our Employee Values:


We, as education leaders, must obsess over our culture.
Why? Because we understand its profound significance.
Great higher education programs and services are the products we build for our students.
Culture is the product we build for our staff and faculty.
And we must tirelessly nurture it, day in and day out.



We take swift action to respond to opportunities and needs that better serve our students, always with a sense of urgency.

  • Do not let overanalyzing freeze your decision-making.
  • Not acting comes at a cost. Making a mistake comes with a lesson.
  • We make wise decisions despite ambiguity.
  • Strive for excellence, not perfection.
  • Embrace change. It is the only constant in life.

Otherwise, why bother? Become obsessed with being the best available option for the audiences we serve.

  • Thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy. We create and communicate an ambitious direction that inspires results, and we go after our goals with everything we’ve got.
  • It is no longer enough to satisfy our students. We must exceed their expectations.
  • Listen to the market and prioritize student desires.
  • Student obsession: we start with the student in mind and work backwards.
  • We are never done learning and always seeking to improve ourselves. We can always serve our students better.
  • We create new ideas that prove to be powerful.
  • We are high performance people who are continuously self-improving through experience, observation, introspection, reading, and discussion.
  • We elevate each other through strong performance, forging a winning team where collective success is our shared goal.

We are known for candor and directness. Respectful disagreements are welcomed and valued among our community.

  • We know it is ok to respectfully disagree with our superiors. Great minds create innovations and a variety of solutions.
  • Constructive criticism may be difficult, but it is necessary. It allows us to address challenges we may not otherwise recognize.
  • Our community is encouraged to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. We do not compromise for the sake of avoiding a conflict. Once a decision is final, we speak with one voice.
  • We respectfully say what we think even if it is controversial.
  • We question actions inconsistent with our values.
  • We maintain calm poise in stressful situations.
  • Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.

Everyone, regardless of their position in the University, has an impact on the success of the student.

  • You treat people with respect independent of their status.
  • Each person is important; each has the opportunity and the obligation to make a positive and impactful difference.
  • If we all focus on our community all else will follow.
  • Everyone has open access to anyone in the University. We have an open door policy.
  • We all work to provide the best student experience possible.
  • We put ourselves in the shoes of others. Our care drives our community to perfect our craft.
  • We believe that if our staff and faculty are happy, they will be motivated to make our students happy. It is just the way it works.
  • The success of the University is the people, if our staff and faculty are happy, they will make our students happy.

We believe that continuous learning and improvement are essential. Challenges are opportunities to improve, and we strive to grow, adapt, and innovate in all we do.

  • Challenges are learning opportunities, and self-awareness helps us grow.
  • Taking smart risks and learning from mistakes drives growth and innovation.
  • We quickly recognize mistakes and take proactive steps to move forward.
  • We acknowledge mistakes, learn from them, and keep moving forward ensuring we don’t do the same mistake again.
  • If we don’t know the answer, we seek help.
  • We prioritize what’s best for our students.
  • We take ownership and responsibility in all we do.
  • We embrace continuous improvement—we are always evolving.

Great organizations always have great people.

  • We are great at attracting and retaining outstanding colleagues.
  • We are passionate about our mission.
  • We believe in the pursuit of doing good.
  • We are energetic about work.
  • We are optimists.
  • We have creative solutions to our problems.
  • We value what people bring to the table.
  • We welcome different perspectives, recognizing that unique experiences and backgrounds strengthen and drive our success.
  • We promote autonomy to allow team members to perform at their highest level.
  • We surround ourselves with people that challenge our ideas.
  • Our leaders advocate for the ability of their team members to carry out their responsibilities.
  • Our leaders develop future leaders and take seriously their role in coaching others.

It’s the ultimate form of sophistication.

  • Making things simple is incredibly hard.
  • Truly “smart people” simplify things and reduce ambiguity.
  • We are concise and articulate in speech and writing. We can wade through the details and identify what matters.
  • We always look for efficiencies and ways to minimize and/or organize complexity.
  • We strive to accomplish more with less. Challengers promote resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention. There is nothing special about growing headcount, budget size, or fixed expenses.
  • We think strategically and can articulate, execute, and organize in simple terms what we are trying to do.

We consistently evaluate all the available options to ensure that we focus efforts and resources on what truly matters.

  • Student success is what drives us to achieve our goals. How we define a winning mindset isn’t based on how we perform on our best days, it’s how we respond on the worst days. We hustle, fight, overcome adversity, and play to win because of the commitment we have to our community.
  • We identify root causes and get beyond treating symptoms.
  • We separate what must be done well now, and what can be improved later.
  • We seek what is best for our community, rather than what is best for ourselves and our team.

If we can’t measure what we’re doing, we probably shouldn’t be doing it.

  • We care about efforts that lead to brave mistakes OR great results.
  • Work smarter, not harder.
  • Sustained B-level performance, despite “A for effort” has little value. Sustained A-level performance, despite minimal effort, has a high value. A-level performance should always be the objective and we reward it.
  • Markets change, student needs change, competition changes. We believe in constant evaluation and adaptation.
  • Measurement is not just a one-time event; it's an ongoing practice to drive continuous excellence.
  • We highly embrace data-driven decision-making to ensure that choices are aligned with desired outcomes.
  • We set clear, measurable objectives and key results to provide a framework for success.
  • Each team member understands their role in achieving overarching goals through measurable results.
  • We foster a culture where responsibility is tied to measurable performance.
  • Profit is not the purpose of our University, but rather the test of our sustainability.

For us, the true definition of quality is delivering more than what is expected. Especially for our students.

  • We owe our students nothing less than excellence. They trust us with their education, time, and money.
  • We inspire others with our thirst for excellence.
  • Good just isn’t good enough.
  • We offer programs and services that we are exceptionally proud of.
  • We must love our brands if we want our students to love them too.
  • We have relentlessly high standards — many people may think these standards are unreasonably high. And that’s ok.
  • We are continually raising the bar and driving our teams to deliver high quality academic programs and services.
  • We take our marketing and communication very seriously and we are proud of everything that we put out there.
  • We never say, “that’s not my job;” we seek out the answer and how we can support the goal.
  • We see being great at something as a starting point, not an endpoint.
  • We are never satisfied and always focus on continuous improvement as a pursuit of excellence.
  • We set ourselves goals we know we cannot yet reach.
  • We encourage and give to our faculty all the tools to provide the best quality and experience to our students, students will always remember the professors/subjects that support their professional development.

Be confident, but never arrogant. Always listen, and always learn.

  • We will actively listen to understand in order to make informed decisions.
  • We seek to understand our strategy, market, and stakeholders to evaluate our goals, opportunities, and challenges
  • We are ego-less when searching for the best ideas welcoming diverse perspectives and opinions.
  • We support our colleagues and help them succeed, fostering a culture of trust and respect.
  • We share information openly and proactively in a timely fashion and seek feedback and input from others.
  • We admit and learn from our faults, even if it’s hard, and we help each other improve.
  • We know that we are good, but we aspire to be so much better.

Life is too short to spend it doing something you don’t love.

  • It is a short journey. Let’s make the best out of it.
  • We thrive on joyful work and spirited celebration.
  • We want everyone to enjoy the adventure we are on together.
  • We help each other to be great and to have fun.
  • We keep improving our culture and community as we grow.
  • Celebrating achievements reinforces the value of measurable performance and encourages a high-performance culture.

 

Quarterly we recognize employees who exemplify a subset of our APUSVibes:

We Move Fast

"I nominate Kim Otterstetter for the Q1 "We Move Fast" award in recognition of her exceptional contributions to WEBSoB. Kim embodies the criteria of this award through her swift and decisive actions, her ability to embrace change, and her commitment to excellence. There are two noteworthy examples of Kim's work detailed below.

First, as the SHRM faculty co-chair, Kim played a critical role in facilitating elections and onboarding new members with remarkable efficiency. Her ability to manage these processes quickly and effectively ensured that the 2025 leadership team could hit the ground running, better serving our students and advancing our chapter's mission.

Second, Kim demonstrated her dedication to excellence by completing her first course development assignment of 2025 weeks ahead of schedule. Her development work is stellar, and her proactive approach allowed the course to move to Instructional Design earlier than anticipated, which will ultimately bring this improved course content to our students much sooner.

Kim's ability to make wise decisions despite ambiguity, her willingness to embrace change, and her commitment to excellence make her a standout candidate for this award. Her contributions have had a significant positive impact on our university, and I believe she is highly deserving of this recognition."

"Paul Tate embodies AMU’s “We Move Fast” mindset, taking swift action to create meaningful impact. In just a few months time, he transformed one of the Military Outreach Team's largest installation offices into a fully operational, self-sustaining unit. His leadership and urgency in driving key partnerships have strengthened AMU’s presence within military, veteran, and legislative communities around Fort Cavazos.

Paul has been most instrumental in his work with the National Guard, taking decisive action to advance education benefits. Just last month, he met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to submit legislation aimed at expanding educational opportunities for all National Guard members and their families. His ability to navigate high-level discussions and push initiatives forward ensures AMU stays at the forefront of military education policy.

Beyond policy work, Paul moves quickly to enhance internal team performance. This month, he stepped up to lead professional development sessions for the Military Outreach Team, sharing valuable insights that elevate team effectiveness. He also continues to drive AMU’s mission forward by coordinating major events, establishing critical partnerships, and engaging directly with military students.

Paul doesn’t wait for opportunities—he creates them. His ability to anticipate needs, take immediate action, and deliver results makes him a force multiplier for AMU’s success. His unwavering commitment to our students, his team, and the broader military community makes him a standout leader who consistently exceeds expectations."

“Amanda went from idea to implementation in just a matter of days in order to bring our #BeWell group in CareerLink to life. In order to ensure our institutional commitment to wellness is more than just a single campaign/communication, Amanda developed a group within our CareerLink platform that allows all community members - students, alumni, faculty, and staff - to connect with each other and to share their goals related to wellness this year.

We are kicking off our wellness focus with a physical step challenge: March to Commencement. Amanda's creativity and hard work is helping to make this challenge a reality. Thank you, Amanda, for your effort to create the step tracker, develop the relevant wellness resources, and to connect with each of the group members within CareerLink. Here's to a year of many more wellness initiatives that will benefit from the work you did this quarter to get us started.”

We Are Ambitious

“Jim had the idea to develop a course offering where an Industry Expert was brought into the classroom and paired with a faculty member. This Team Teaching model was piloted at the end of 2024 and shows great promise. We were able to work with an Industry Expert who has worked in the NBA, NFL, and NBA G league along with numerous other high profile sporting entities. This shows the caliber of buy in from the industry.

Additionally, this model engages students and connects them directly to real world happenings while they continue their academic course work. It also provides opportunities to develop their network and solicit mentors. Beyond the student impact, this initiative also positions the Sport Management program as a thought leader within the sport industry, innovating to ensure the highest quality education for our students. Kudos to Jim for such an innovative idea that shows we (and he) are ambitious and always play to win!”

“Loren Rovere is the kind of leader who doesn’t just show up—she dominates. As her direct supervisor, I’ve seen firsthand how she turns ambition into action, always pushing boundaries to ensure we are the best available option for those we serve. She doesn’t settle for participation; she plays to win.

Nowhere is this more evident than in her role as Student Veterans of America (SVA) Chapter Advisor for American Military University (AMU). Under her leadership, AMU’s SVA chapter didn’t just grow—it became the largest online SVA chapter in the nation. This wasn’t by chance. Loren saw an opportunity, built a strategy, and executed relentlessly. She cultivated a powerhouse community of student veterans, ensuring they had access to the connections, resources, and opportunities necessary to thrive.

She didn’t stop there. Recognizing the need for veteran leaders to have a presence at national events, Loren secured a $5,000 travel budget for SVA chapter officers—funding that allowed them to attend critical conferences, expand their influence, and forge high-value relationships. Because of her efforts, our student veterans had a seat at the table where decisions were being made.

Loren also played a pivotal role in the SVA Legacy Project with the Library of Congress, ensuring that veterans’ stories were recorded and preserved for eternity. She saw beyond the present moment, recognizing that this initiative wasn’t just about history—it was about impact. Thanks to her leadership, countless veterans were empowered to share their experiences, creating a permanent record of their service.

Loren is the definition of a high-performance leader—relentless, strategic, and results-driven. She doesn’t just work hard; she works smart, ensuring that every effort translates into tangible, lasting success. Any organization looking for a leader who plays to win should look no further."

“Michaela is someone who understand that success is a team effort and works to create a supportive and collaborative environment where everyone can thrive. She makes sure to help out the team whether its questions in the chat or offers through a one-on-one basis.

Michaela has also taken it upon herself to do learning checks each week for the team to make sure the team is up to date on their knowledge in financial aid. She ensures to help mentor new team members to develop their skills and knowledge through these learning check. Michaela has helped me numerous times and I always feel confident to reach out as I know the information she provides will be a positive outcome. She is a valuable asset that I know information provided will be accurate. For instance, as someone who handles emails on a daily basis, I had a difficult email I couldn't close. Not only did Michaela offered to call me through teams to review the issue with me, but she also walked me through the process to get it closed to ensure I was not wasting time to move on to the next task. Michaela is always one to offer her long-term knowledge with the university and is willing to help out anyone to make sure the team is successful as a whole.”

We Are Honest

“Kylee is a very outspoken advocate for the student and for her colleagues. She is a change maker and champions changes that will benefit all. Kylee does the selective and MyCAA ETP training. She has been involved in all types of trainings for new employees and existing employees. She is also willing to do impromptu meetings for things like selective assistance as well as generally being a supportive colleague. She has historically been very present to help in the group chat, and she's very involved with the Social and Wellness Committee. She is so deserving of this award!”

“Mr. Murali Ramaswamy has consistently demonstrated the values of honesty and courage in his role as an instructor, making him an exemplary candidate for this recognition. Mr. Ramaswamy's approach to teaching is characterized by candor and directness. He provides personalized feedback that helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses, offering constructive criticism that allows them to address challenges they may not have otherwise recognized. His commitment to respectful disagreements is evident in the environment he creates, where students feel encouraged to participate in discussions and express their views.”

Mr. Murali Ramaswamy demonstrated honesty and courage as an instructor when he voluntarily regraded assignments for an instructor and student who were in conflict with the views of the assignments and grading results in WEBD241 Web Development Using JavaScript®. He rescued this situation and brought forth an acceptable solution for the student, faculty and the program. He consistently tackled several challenging issues, where he delivered with satisfying results for faculty who needed help teaching certain subjects. He inspired and significantly enhanced teaching and learning experiences for many faculty and students through various systematic methods.

Mr. Ramaswamy is not afraid to challenge decisions, when necessary, even if it is uncomfortable. His responsiveness and helpfulness in teaching show his dedication to addressing student concerns and ensuring that their voices are heard. He maintains calm poise in stressful situations, ensuring that students receive timely and constructive feedback. As a leader, Mr. Ramaswamy guides students and faculty members forward, providing quality instruction and mentoring and using various means such as teaching and reinforcing tools. His sincere and caring devotion as an instructor sets high expectations for his students, which they frequently meet. His energy, enthusiasm, and strong commitment to his students have resulted in many students celebrating their learning achievements due to his influence.

He demonstrated exceptional engagement and effectiveness in his teaching, receiving a high SSI score of 99.6% in his teaching. Overall, Mr. Murali Ramaswamy's dedication to his students and peers and his commitment to the values of honesty and courage make him an excellent candidate for the "We are honest and courageous" award."

“I know that technically David Rizzo works for APEI and not APUS but hear me out please! The amount of help that he provides on a DAILY basis for the Academic Advising department is substantial enough to merit recognition. David is my go-to person for all things IT… the people who have been here for some time in IT have been so important during their transition because they are our intermediaries when something isn't getting fixed due to a miscommunication. They just overall make us feel like the issue is being worked on so as a Manager I can take a step back assured that my Academic Advisor is being assisted and will be back online in a timely manner.

David Rizzo is this person for me. He does all of the above and so many more things! And he does it all when he knows that we're frustrated. Facing a frustrated manager and her whole team of 16 Advisors when you know they are ALL frustrated calls for a level of honesty and courage that I don't think many people have. David has to give bad news sometimes and I don't like to receive bad news! But he does it in such a gracious way that he makes it okay. At the end of the day, all anyone wants to know is that they were heard and that someone is trying to help. David Rizzo is consistently a helper in the most honest and direct way possible and I GREATLY appreciate him.”

Everyone Matters

“Dr. Gardner is everything a Professor should be and is a tremendous human being. Because of Dr. Gardner, I've gained back so much in life: confidence, esteem, and a terrific education. This man is more than a professor; he is a hero in so many ways, a true inspiration. What I am asking from the college is to offer Dr. Gardner a certificate or an award. I am asking this because I have been diagnosed with an incurable blood disease, which will ultimately take my life. I am asking because of the good that he has done for me and many other people at American Military University, I'm asking because I do not believe I will be around for the next ballot or voting for Educator of the Year, please consider my request as Dr. Gardner is very deserving of this special acknowledgment. Something to let him know how appreciated he is.

Dr. Gardner is a Hero, and I am proud to call him my Professor. He has helped me in more ways than any of you could know in education and just being there to help me cope with what is going on in my life and my struggles.”

“Kim Jacobs has focused on including everyone in the faculty development offerings. Her actions of drawing out others' strengths have been clear throughout the recent past and over many years as she captures specific ways people illustrate a teaching idea, integrate technology, or better serve students. As you look through APUS Engage, for example, you see practices and contributions from a wide variety of faculty and department chairs. She notices and invites others to contribute what they can and helps everyone truly feel that they matter!”

“Althea is a long-term employee with APUS, beginning in SSC solely but moving to Student Accounts and has been a wonderful addition to the team from the beginning. Her loyalty to the University and our students is exemplary. I wanted to highlight her for Everyone Matters. Althea has great patience and empathy, not only for our students but for her coworkers. She is very understanding of another representative's day and workload. She is never accusatory if she reaches a rep having a bad day but understands and lifts them up. She personifies the Everyone Matters value and understands that it takes all of us to be successful, no matter what department or affiliation. She has mentored and trained many representatives and always takes the time to listen to concerns, whether they relate to her or not. Althea is a true teacher and bestows her grace on her team, students and all of the departments she works with. She understands each of us play a role in our success. She leads by example, and we are truly grateful for her work.”

We Embrace a Growth Mindset

“Biz demonstrated a remarkable growth mindset by responding to a request to design a secure, innovative AI-driven solution to improve student mental health support. Volunteering his time and expertise, he not only built a customized web triage platform, but also led the early development of an AI integration framework focused on safe and ethical use. His initiative came in response to a complex challenge: how to offer timely, effective support to students navigating mental health needs.

Despite the demands of his regular APUS role, Biz devoted many weekends to architecting and coding the platform, preparing it for presentation at the Higher Learning Commission’s April gathering. He is deeply dedicated to perfection and continues to work diligently to ensure that this design becomes fully operational as he recognizes the urgency and scale of the growing student mental health crisis. His pursuit of this innovation will help to implement a sustainable solution that connects students with the mental health care they need without navigating bureaucratic labyrinths.

His commitment to continuous learning, his technical excellence, and his drive to make a real difference exemplify the APUS spirit of embracing growth, overcoming challenges, and using innovation to serve others. I am very thankful for exemplary growth mindset!”

“Simeon has taken on a role totally outside of his knowledge. He lost his support staff person in July 2024 and has had to assume her responsibilities as well as co-lead a finance policy project and assume leadership of the Academic Scheduling Team. He has learned various policies and processes that he has not needed in his previous role. He’s taken on this new role with a positive attitude and has learned new policies and processes that impact staff, students and faculty. He has been successful with absorbing these new responsibilities while simultaneously participating in the decommissioning of Quintiq, the scheduling platform for faculty.”

“Vaughn exemplifies the growth mindset every day in APUS Advising. He hit the ground running when he started his role as an advisor in October 2023 and truly has gotten better with every single student interaction. As a lifelong athlete, Vaughn brings the kind of resilience, determination, and focus on improvement that creates winning seasons, and that effort really shined throughout Q2. Transitioning from the playing field to the setting of academic advising hasn't been without challenges, but with each hurdle Vaughn takes ownership and embraces feedback. Even when receiving praise, he makes a point to push the goalpost even further with the desire to continue growing and learning.

Vaughn works a unique schedule within the department which means he is presented with questions about every program and course we offer, which can be very overwhelming. Not all departments or support is available during the evening hours, so Vaughn has worked hard to strengthen his customer service skills to successfully navigate situations where he might not have the immediate answer, he adds value with encouragement and assurance.

A quality that I value so much in Vaughn is that he trusts his instincts and prioritizes what is best for our students. So many times, Vaughn has been proactive in seeking feedback about a student situation where he wasn't certain exactly what we could do to support the student, but he knew that within our team we could work together to improve things. Vaughn is always eager for new opportunities to learn and develop his advising skills and that energy is contagious! In his efforts to be the best he can be, he brings our team and students right with him and for that he deserves this award.”

We Surround Ourselves with Amazing People

“Dr. Ashar has been a mentor to me since my first day at work at the University. She was not assigned to be my mentor, she just did it out of the goodness of her heart. I greatly appreciated her guidance while I was getting acclimated to the system and the University and still to this day as she is always willing to help with any questions I have even if they are not of an academic nature. Recently Dr Ashar invited me to be on the CRC committee where we review proposed changes to the curriculum. She has assembled an amazing team of people which makes all of our work on this difficult committee quite easy. Dr Ashar is one of the greatest mentors I have ever had as well as one of the most amazing people I have met. She truly deserves to be recognized for all that she does for the University is my hope that you will provide her with the Achiever Award. Frankly I feel so strongly about this that I will continue to nominate her until I see that she wins. Dr Ashar is one of the people that makes this university an amazing place to learn and work.”

“As the University Archivist, over the past two months, Justin was instrumental in the decommissioning of the physical Trefry Archives & Library and exemplifies the Vibe of We Surround Ourselves With Amazing People. Justin led the onsite efforts in coordinating the proper packing and shipment of archival material as well as finding very reputable homes for the Trefry archival collections. Facing a quick turnaround in moving the materials from the Archives & Library, Justin worked diligently and efficiently by carefully inventorying each item, working with APUS remote and onsite personnel to coordinate the transfer and movement of items, while packing up most of the items himself. We couldn't have completed this move in such an organized and seamless way without his attention to detail and dedication. Throughout the entire move, Justin maintained a positive and professional demeanor and continued to provide the highest quality of reference front line services to our students and all APUS constituents. Justin is truly amazing!!!”

“Jaclyn is always super helpful in the SGS chat. She provides helpful answers and resources. She is great at cultivating templates that other group advising members can use to give our students important, detailed information. Before I could manually register students, she was always willing to lend a helping hand with registrations. She is a valued member of our team!

I’m proud to nominate Jaclyn Liss for exemplifying the spirit of “We Surround Ourselves With Amazing People – Great organizations always have great people.” Jaclyn consistently brings empathy, insight, and collaboration into every interaction. A recent example stands out—she offered to help me write a sensitive email to a student, and her guidance was thoughtful and supportive. Rather than simply offering edits, she asked meaningful questions and suggested approaches that prioritized the student’s experience and well-being.

Jaclyn is also a reliable presence in our Teams communications, often one of the first to respond when someone needs help. If she doesn’t know the answer, she asks—with curiosity, humility, and a genuine desire to grow. Her commitment to learning, collaboration, and keeping students at the center of our work makes her an invaluable colleague. Jaclyn truly reflects what it means to surround ourselves with amazing people, and she makes our organization stronger every day by not only her eagerness to help, but her empathetic approach to offering this help.”

We Love Simplicity

“ Starting something new in the workplace can feel like being invited to dance at a party where you don’t know the rhythm, the steps, or even the song. It’s exciting, but also uncertain. When I joined the Advising Digest team, Danielle Ramsak was the kind and steady partner who took my hand and said, “Let’s dance.” She didn’t just show me the steps: she helped me hear the music.

Danielle has a rare gift: she simplifies the complex, clears away the noise, and makes space for others to learn and grow with confidence. Her guidance was never overwhelming or rushed. Instead, it was like learning from a thoughtful teacher who understands that the first step is the hardest and that encouragement is just as important as instruction.

She embodies the APUS value of “We Love Simplicity.” Danielle breaks down ambiguity into clarity, organizes complexity into manageable pieces, and communicates with precision and warmth. Her approach made me feel not just capable, but welcome. Because of her, I didn’t just learn the dance—I wanted to keep dancing.

Danielle reminds us that simplicity isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about connection. It’s about making others feel seen, supported, and part of something meaningful. And that’s a rhythm worth celebrating, regardless of the dance floor.”

“ As a project manager, Anya Smith-Jordan consistently demonstrates the APUS value of “We Love Simplicity” by maintaining clarity and structure in the face of complexity. Her leadership in coordinating course builds and managing vendor relationships is marked by a calm, methodical approach that brings order to even the most exception-laden workflows.

Anya’s ability to simplify processes is especially evident in her coordination with external partners like MagicEdTech. In situations where access issues, format incompatibilities, and communication delays could easily derail progress, Anya keeps the team focused and informed. Her email correspondence reflects a clear understanding of institutional constraints (e.g., Microsoft-only access) and a proactive approach to resolving issues without creating confusion. Anya contributes to streamlining initiatives that involve multiple stakeholders and shifting priorities. Her presence ensures that conversations remain focused and actionable, even when the path forward is complex.

Anya doesn’t just manage projects, she makes them manageable. Her work reflects the belief that simplicity is not the absence of complexity, but the mastery of it”

“I am honored to nominate Dr. Meagan Wilson in recognition of her outstanding leadership as she took on her new role as Associate Dean for the School of Health Sciences and STEM. Her commitment to simplifying academic processes, enhancing communication, and prioritizing student success has made a lasting difference across departments and for hundreds of students.

One of her most notable achievements has been her promptness to tackle any challenges or initiatives brought to her attention. Meagan has fostered a culture of collaboration and transparency, ensuring that information flows effectively between teams and that decisions are made with input from all relevant voices. This has led to more cohesive planning and a stronger sense of shared purpose.

Her responsiveness to student feedback and concerns has been exemplary. She consistently takes swift, thoughtful action to address issues raised by students, demonstrating a deep commitment to their well-being and academic success. Her proactive approach has built trust and improved the student experience in meaningful ways. For example, Meagan does not hesitate to propose or support curricular changes, such as thoughtful review of either implementing or removing prerequisites or adjusting required assignments within the classroom environment based upon student and instructor feedback.

A major highlight of her leadership is her role in implementing and leading the Preparing Your Future courses, which have now been taken by hundreds of students. These courses provide essential skills and guidance for academic and career readiness. Meagan asks for faculty feedback on this course monthly and takes it to the larger PYF committee to monitor the progress of the course in its first year and to propose changes so that the course is as useful as it can be for our new students.

Finally, her work on course progression and scheduling issues, particularly through the “Perfect 40” initiative, has been exceptional. Meagan has involved all stakeholders, from Department Chairs to advisors to members of our Scheduling team in the review of course progressions and course availability. It may seem like involving more people would make a project more cumbersome, yet Meagan demonstrates that early collaboration makes for lighter work for everyone down the road. Leading this collaborative effort helps to ensure that students can progress smoothly toward graduation, reducing delays and improving academic planning.

Dr. Meagan Wilson is a true leader—innovative, student-centered, and deeply committed to continuous improvement. Her contributions have elevated our academic school and deserve recognition in our quarterly Achiever program.”

We Are Focused

“It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Sarah Matrisciano, Academic Advising, for the APUS Vibe Award. As a Senior Academic Advisor, Sarah consistently goes above and beyond in her role, not only supporting students with care and precision but also uplifting the entire advising team through her leadership and positivity.

One of Sarah’s most recent contributions has been her initiative in teaching the entire Academic Advising team how to use Copilot effectively. Her guidance has empowered advisors to streamline workflows and enhance our communication skills. This aids in better serving our students!

Sarah’s communication is another standout strength. Her emails are consistently detailed and thoughtfully written. In our team chat, she brings a heap of positivity. Her attitude fosters a welcoming environment.

Above all, Sarah is a true team player. She shares her knowledge and uplifts those around her. Her work has had a lasting impact on our department’s culture and effectiveness, and she deeply deserves this recognition.”

“Brent Webber exemplifies the APUS value of “We Are Focused” through his strategic CARE collaborations and his thoughtful engagement in the Copyleaks Pilot initiative. His contributions to the MGMT311 course reflect a clear understanding of how to align content with student success and institutional goals.

Brent’s focus extends beyond course design. During the ongoing Copyleaks Pilot, he demonstrated exceptional commitment to the initiative’s goals by promptly accessing his development site, updating assignments, and contributing to the shared tracking spreadsheet. His feedback was not only timely but also insightful, helping the team refine implementation strategies and improve the student experience. Brent’s ability to apply the tasks at hand with precision and purpose helped move the pilot forward and ensured that faculty and students alike benefited from a smoother transition.””

“I would like to nominate Jason Zhang for the Q3 APUS We Are Focused Achiever Award. Jason consistently demonstrates exceptional attention to detail and a proactive approach to project execution. He routinely sets up meetings or reaches out with thoughtful, effective questions to ensure that requested projects are not only delivered exactly as needed, but also thoroughly vetted for any potential errors prior to publication.

I truly value having Jason assigned to my projects because I can count on the work being completed accurately, efficiently, and on time. One standout example of his impact is a report he developed that resulted in an estimated 60% time savings, equating to 472.65 hours of manual processing saved for the MRRS team in May 2025 alone.

Jason’s dedication and hard work have made a significant difference, and I’m grateful for his continued support. Thank you, Jason—you truly deserve this recognition!“

We Measure What We Treasure

“Bridgette is the embodiment of We Measure What We Treasure. She spearheaded the acquisition and adoption of Asana, transforming how our community of professionals organizes, tracks, and delivers results. With a sharp eye on KPIs and OKRs, Bridgette ensures that every initiative is measurable, aligned with our strategic goals, and moving forward. Her unique blend of diplomacy and determination keeps teams motivated, engaged, and accountable—without losing sight of the human element. Because of her leadership, APUS has become more focused, data-driven, and successful than ever.”

“Bridgette consistently brings measurable value to everything she touches. She has a unique ability to align complex projects with clear outcomes while keeping the team focused and on track. From organizing efforts through tools like Asana to driving initiatives with structure and accountability, Bridgette ensures that our work is not only progressing — but that it’s aligned with what matters most. She understands how to translate big-picture goals into actionable steps, and her thoughtful, organized approach helps the entire team deliver results that are both meaningful and measurable. Her impact isn’t just felt — it’s seen in the outcomes she helps us achieve.”

“For over a decade, Kacie has been the quiet powerhouse behind Career Services’ ability to adapt, improve, and deliver results. In a world where markets shift, student needs change, and we’re constantly being asked to do more with less, Kacie keeps us focused on what truly matters—and she does it with consistent, A-level performance.

Kacie is not afraid to surface what the data says—even when it’s uncomfortable. She has shown us where student engagement has dropped, pinpointed the reasons, and helped us turn those insights into solutions that work. By translating complex, multi-system data into clear dashboards, tools, and reports, Kacie has saved the team countless hours and eliminated guesswork. We no longer chase metrics that don’t matter—her work keeps us locked on the goals that will move the needle for students and alumni.

She continually refines our data processes to ensure they reflect the evolving needs of students and changing market conditions. Kacie has made ongoing measurement part of our culture. She ties data directly to our objectives and key results, so every team member sees their role in achieving success. Her work has built a culture of responsibility tied to measurable performance. Her ability to adapt ensures that our strategies stay relevant and effective.

Because of Kacie’s work, we’ve redesigned programs for greater impact, shifted priorities with confidence, and celebrated wins backed by real evidence. Her data storytelling doesn’t just inform—it inspires.

Kacie doesn’t just meet this award’s standards—she embodies them. She is proof that when you combine clarity, courage, and excellence, you don’t just measure results—you create them.”

“Dileon has played a significant role in structuring our course development processes so that it is aligned with the university's CARE procedures. The developed pipeline ensures that we have all the pieces in place for our ID colleagues to smoothly roll our courses in. Furthermore, the pipeline enhances our understanding of the layout and makes it easy to measure our production outcomes, conversion rates and completion rates. These together makes it easier for us to churn our course development quickly and efficiently.“

We Are Proud of Our Quality

“Dr. Cynthia “Cindy” Nolan is the Security and Defense Studies Department’s exemplar in terms of quality – defined as delivering more than what is expected, especially for our students – and she deserves recognition as one who exemplifies the elements of the “We Are Proud of Our Quality” award. Cindy is tireless in her efforts to pursue excellence, in terms of her teaching, her courses, and her students. Her work with students in the National Security MA program has produced at least six “Pass with Distinction” capstone thesis in the previous 18 months, including several this quarter. Cindy is always willing to take the lead on innovative approaches and inspire others to join her. Most recently, Cindy led a department-wide effort to gather examples of to present at the October APUS “AI and the Future of Education Conference.” Cindy has been serving as an integral member of the department’s rubric revision committee, making substantial contributions this quarter to the major revisions made to the department’s common discussion and grading rubrics, which were adequate but just not good enough for her as an educator. In terms of having high standards and helping students achieve them, I refer to Cindy’s work in directing MA capstone theses, which has resulted in a higher-than-average number of “Pass with Distinction” products (I am the person in the department for making such recommendations to the chair, so I read and evaluate all recommended capstone theses). Cindy is one of the workers in the department who can be counted on to do more than her fair share of the tasks, never hiding behind an excuse of “that’s not my job” and even when she is busy with other endeavors that are her job. She volunteers for most committees within the department – like the rubric revision committee – and remains an active contributor until the task is completed (even if/when the scope of work exceeds the mandate of the committee, as is the case with the rubric revision committee). Cindy also represents the department on two important external committees – Graduate Council and the Student Conduct Board – and she has attended several SSGS dissertation defenses this quarter as an active participant. In terms of providing the highest quality learning experience to our students, Cindy’s course revisions are models of innovation, striving always to incorporate the latest and most innovative learning methods and pedagogy into them. Most recently, she has been working with an Intelligence Studies graduate course this quarter to find ways to integrate AI into the lessons and assignments that are on the cutting edge of educational approaches. She not only keeps abreast of such developments within education but routinely suggests areas and ways that we can incorporate such developments into the courses within our department. In these and many other ways, Dr. Cindy Nolan continuously delivers more than what is expected of her, is an exemplar in terms of quality, and deserves recognition as one who exemplifies the elements of the “We Are Proud of Our Quality” award.”

“Anna has proactively taken on the daunting task of updating the decision summaries in the CurCom Launchpad. As part of this review, she is comparing countless documents, meeting notes, and anything else she can find to make sure that our information is accurate. She isn't just checking the box to make sure a task was done, but also ensuring that the information we are sharing with our faculty, staff, and ultimately our students, is accurate and at the highest level of quality. When making curriculum decisions and updating records, every letter, word, and number counts. One mistyped number could mean updating the wrong course, while the wrong word could change the meaning of a program. Not only does her initiative and desire for accuracy and quality help to maintain our curriculum, but it reminds the rest of us to aspire to do our best!“

“Anna is an incredibly hard worker who pursues excellence! She took on a new role this year and jumped right in to learn and move forward. She's been flexible to take on new responsibilities and has been helping others acclimate to new processes as well. I love how she checks and double-checks things! She takes on tasks either in the front or behind the scenes. She's a great support to both faculty and staff. I'm so grateful for her attention to detail and pride in her work. Thank you, Anna!”

"I would like to nominate Anna Ciampa for her work as Curriculum Support Coordinator. Anna embodies the principle that quality means delivering more than what is expected, consistently demonstrating relentlessly high standards in her work with CARE and the Curriculum Committee. She understands that we owe our students nothing less than excellence, and this drives her meticulous attention to every review and process.

Anna has an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement. She seeks out solutions and takes ownership of goals that extend well beyond her formal responsibilities, like tracking curriculum changes through our approval pathways, identifying gaps in processes, or supporting teammates. She approaches the curriculum process with the understanding that every decision impacts student education, time, and money—investments our students trust us to honor. Her standards may seem unreasonably high to some, but Anna knows that settling for less would be a disservice to our students. Anna exemplifies what it means to love our brand and inspire others to share that commitment."

“Dakota (Cody) Sarkisian embodies the spirit of We Are Proud of Our Quality through his exceptional dedication, high standards, and relentless pursuit of excellence during the October User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for the Degree Planner project.

This project represents a major step forward in our Salesforce environment, transitioning from the traditional Contact record structure to a Person Account framework. Though the change will appear seamless to our end users, it required a complete reworking of our system’s underlying architecture, a transformation that touches every integration, workflow, and process we rely on to serve our students.

Cody approached this complex task with an unwavering commitment to quality. His strong technical literacy and deep understanding of Salesforce processes allowed him to test and validate every aspect of the system, including:

  • Data integrations
  • Application and Student Rights and Responsibilities processes
  • Team workflows
  • Reporting
  • Email to Case and Form to Case functionality

 

In addition to his individual contributions, Cody took on a leadership role by organizing and guiding a team of UAT participants. He kept the group focused, coordinated testing efforts across multiple workstreams, and ensured that all feedback was clearly documented and communicated. His leadership helped maintain momentum throughout a demanding testing cycle and ensured the team worked efficiently toward a shared standard of excellence.

When other teams were unable to step in due to competing priorities or limited bandwidth, Cody willingly took on additional testing responsibilities to ensure nothing was missed. He did so without hesitation, demonstrating his belief that excellence is a shared responsibility and that “it’s not my job” is never an acceptable answer.

Cody’s thoroughness, proactive problem-solving, and attention to detail inspired others on the team to elevate their own standards. His work reflects our belief that good just isn’t good enough, excellence is the only acceptable outcome when it comes to serving our students. By stepping up when it mattered most, Cody ensured that our Salesforce platform continues to deliver a seamless, high-quality experience that our students and staff can depend on. His passion for doing things right, his willingness to go above and beyond, and his drive to continuously raise the bar make him a true example of what it means to be proud of our quality.”

We Stay Humble

“By all accounts, Kristen is an absolute rockstar. The Instructional Designers fight over who gets to work on her courses, she's in nearly every pilot Global Digital Journey has launched, and she is the first person to raise her hand to trial, take on, or dig in. One could easily let this go to their heads, and yet Kristen is one of the most humble people here --- she's a true team member, always gives a shout out to others and recognizes the large and small contributions, and goes out of her way to consider alternate perspectives and solutions.

I've seen Kristen present, train, explain (you name it!) to peers and even the highest levels of leadership here and am always impressed with how confident and professional she is while remaining constantly open to feedback and new approaches.

Kristen is awesome, and she almost doesn't know it... she is "we stay humble" to a tee.”

“I would like to nominate Kelsey Hotaling, Director of Research Experiences, for her leadership in executing our academic conferences this year. Kelsey's approach to this initiative perfectly exemplifies the principle of staying humble as she remained confident in her vision while welcoming perspectives and opinions from all corners of our academic community in her search for the best ideas and most effective routes.

Throughout the planning and execution phases, Kelsey remained open in sharing information and seeking feedback. She fostered a culture of trust and respect by supporting our committee members and helping them succeed in their various conference roles, from abstract review processes to logistics coordination. Her willingness to be vulnerable about what we didn't know, combined with her determination to find answers, created an environment where innovation thrived and everyone felt valued.

Despite the success of our academic conferences, she has already begun gathering feedback and identifying opportunities to make next year's events even stronger. She knows the conferences were great, but she aspires to make them so much better. Kelsey's leadership has not only paved the way for a new tradition of academic conferences at our institution but has also modeled how to lead transformative initiatives with collaboration and an unwavering commitment to growth.”

“Cassie exemplifies what it means to stay humble through her consistent commitment to listening, learning, and lifting others up. She approaches every challenge with confidence rooted in collaboration—not ego. Cassie is someone who actively listens to understand, ensuring that every team member’s input is valued before decisions are made. Her openness to diverse perspectives creates an inclusive environment where ideas can grow stronger through shared insight.

Cassie also demonstrates humility by proactively sharing information and seeking feedback. Whether it’s updating teammates on progress or inviting constructive input on her own work, she fosters transparency and mutual trust across departments. This openness builds a culture of respect where everyone feels empowered to contribute.

Finally, Cassie models personal and professional growth by acknowledging mistakes and turning them into opportunities for learning—not just for herself, but for the entire team. Her willingness to reflect and improve inspires those around her to do the same. She knows that we are good, but she reminds us—through her actions every day—that we can always be better together.”

“Cassie goes above and beyond for our team. She takes whatever task is thrown at her and absolutely crushes it every time! Everyone knows that she is the G.O.A.T, but she would never say that about herself, so her team will do it for her. Keep in mind, this had to be very edited for length!

One: Cassie is the best teammate anyone could ask for. No matter the task, Cassie shows up with a positive attitude and a willingness to help. She’s humble, dependable, and deeply respected by everyone on the SGS team. She never seeks the spotlight, yet her impact is undeniable. APUS and our students are so lucky to have her!

Two: Cassie is such an integral part of our advising team. She never asks for recognition but instead quietly assists every one of her peers on a daily basis by answering questions, offering to walk them through a process, or just by providing support when they need to talk. She is always looking to assist her peers, and you can tell she takes pride in seeing those around her succeed. Our team would not be as strong as it is without Cassie's presence.

Three: She is the quiet force behind the toughest challenges. She is always the first to volunteer but never the first to seek credit. Students adore her for her thoroughness and gentle touch that makes them feel truly heard. She brings warmth and wit to every conversation, keeping things light even when the work is heavy. All of it done with heart, but never for praise.

Four: Cassie is a perfect example of "we stay humble". She leads with quiet strength, offering unwavering support and guidance while remaining genuinely humble. Her deep knowledge and approachable nature create a space where our team feels empowered and truly supported. She rarely seeks recognition, yet her impact on our team is certainly recognizable. Our team thrives because of her humility, wisdom, and dedication!

Five: She’s the kind of person who operates like a quiet superhero: always present and always dependable, even when you don’t realize they’re working behind the scenes. But when she’s needed, she shows up in full force, ready to support, lead, and uplift those around her. She never seeks the spotlight, but her impact is undeniable. She reminds us that true leadership often speaks in quiet actions rather than loud declarations.

Six: Cassie has stepped up and been a leader for the team and me in more ways than she can count. She's always willing to lend a hand and gives great advice. She brings all of us together and encourages us to do all we can for the students. I appreciate her humor and am super glad she is OUR ROCKSTAR!

Seven: Cassie has been an amazing leader. She helped mentor me when I first joined the SGS team, and has continued to provide valuable assistance during my time with APUS. She is knowledgeable and always quick to jump in and help her teammates. Her guidance, support, and humor are irreplaceable! She undoubtedly deserves this Q4 APUS Achievers award!

Eight: Cassie demonstrates exceptional character through her consistent support, responsiveness, and genuine care for our team. She is always quick to respond to questions in our team chat, offering thoughtful and helpful advice that makes our work easier and more efficient. Her presence is a steady source of positivity and energy. She operates at 110%, and it’s clear she gives her best every single day.

Nine: When you type a question in the team group chat and you see “Cassie is typing,” you know you’re about to receive the most accurate, thoughtful, and efficient response. She consistently shares updates and insights from other departments, ensuring the entire team is informed and empowered. She is the kind of colleague who uplifts others quietly, never seeking recognition but always deserving of it. Cassie exemplifies what it means to be a humble leader. She is an incredible peer, mentor, and advisor whose impact is felt across the team, department, university, and by every student she works with.””

We Love to Have Fun

“Doris Blanton, beyond being an exceptional leader, embodies the spirit of joy and purpose at APUS. She consistently shows up with heart, festive energy, and unwavering support, making my work not only meaningful but genuinely fun. I’m deeply grateful to her as a seasoned colleague whose actions remind me that teaching can be both rewarding and enjoyable. ”

“Nicole radiates positivity and purpose in everything she does. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and she has a remarkable ability to turn challenges into shared victories and to keep our team energized and aligned. Through her leadership and collaboration, she ensures that our Military Outreach Team remains informed, engaged, and inspired to keep improving together

As a key creative behind the Military Outreach Newsletter, Nicole keeps us connected through thoughtful storytelling, humor, and a strong sense of community. Her efforts not only highlight our collective success but also celebrate the people behind it.

Nicole lives by the idea that “life is too short to spend it doing something you don’t love.” She brings joy to her work, supports our team and our students with kindness and encouragement, and consistently reminds us that success is best shared.

She embodies our commitment to joyful work, spirited celebration, and helping each other be great, making every step of our shared journey something worth celebrating!

Nicole operates from her heart, and this is reflected in her engagement with our students and this team. She truly is the face and heart of the university.”

“In a land of degree plans and course codes galore, There’s a manager named Rachael we all just adore. She’s got pep in her step and a sparkle in eye, And a planner so full it could practically fly! She checks in with kindness, she leads with a grin, Making sure every advisor’s all in for the win. “Are you doing your job?” she’ll ask with a wink, “Also—did you laugh today? Go grab a drink!” Her meetings are lively, her emails a treat, With GIFs and emojis that just can't be beat. She juggles the chaos with magical flair, While reminding the team: “Self-care! Self-care!” She’s the queen of the calendar, boss of the chart, But she leads with compassion and a big, goofy heart. Whether it’s outreach or students in need, Rachael’s the captain who helps us succeed. So here’s to our manager, fun-loving and wise, With her party hats, pep talks, and surprise high-fives. She keeps us on track, but lets joy be the theme— Rachael, the soul of our advising dream team! ”

Congratulations to these employees!

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