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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.

The only person that does not make mistakes is the person that is doing nothing. Strive for action, learn from your mistakes, don’t make them twice, and move toward the future.

  • Taking smart risks and making mistakes paves the way for learning.
  • We acknowledge and build from our mistakes; we grow and move forward.
  • We are quick to admit mistakes.
  • When we do not know the answer, we ask for help.
  • When in doubt, always do the right thing for our students.
  • It is always my responsibility.
  • We respect mistakes – we understand that new endeavors are challenging, and mistakes will happen.

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 value diversity. Diversity of ideas, background, experience, education.
  • 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

"Dr. Graetzer is always present and available for his students. He is quick to respond to any student inquiry, and adds additional information such as research articles he thinks the student may be interested in. Students have reported that he is super knowledgeable and quick in his responses. Dr. Graetzer is dedicated to student success and embodies the Q1 Vibe of "We move fast". When discussing these qualities with him, he simply says that it is the right thing to do. His quick action with student inquiries serves them well and definitely improves our student completion and success rates. His dedication to our students is much appreciated.” Thank you, Daniel!.

"Julia has been the ice in every drink CTL...she keeps her cool, she keeps the tasks manageable, she instinctively knows what faculty resources can better to serve our students with a sense of urgency in turning faculty training materials from laborious to more succinct. Specifically, I have been blessed to facilitate new faculty training, and with Julia's leadership, she deconstructed the new faculty training - training materials with the mindset to ease onboarding for new faculty, with the focus of what our students need from faculty's use of D2L resources quickly, easily, and logically. Julia spent many hours revamping visuals, videos, and narratives throughout the training materials to streamline and improve the new faculty experience with the results designed to improve the readiness of faculty for class, ultimately lending to student success. I happily nominate Julia for WE MOVE FAST because of the quickness she responded to recent survey feedback and the call for CTL APUS101 revisions was just that, FAST, FURIOUS, with FABULOUS improvements.

"They recently quarterbacked the TechQuest program which required organizing multiple presentations throughout the week with many different contributors, including one graduate student. Julia was available to be available for every session and to get everyone organized and had to jump from session to session, many which were very closely spaced. I attended multiple sessions as well as presenting in one session and she was always present and helpful. She would monitor the chats to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to put in a question while being mindful of the allotted time for each presenter.” Thank you, Julia!

“Caroline takes pride in providing quick and efficient service to support APUS's students with disabilities. She recognizes how to cater to each of their unique needs to help resolve their issues in a timely manner and to promote an inclusive educational experience for each student she engages with. This commitment to finding fast and effective solutions to often complicated situations underscores Caroline's passion for making education accessible to all.” Thank you, Caroline!

"I am writing to enthusiastically nominate Mike Manning for the “Achiever of the Month” award within our dynamic “We Move Fast” Vibe. Mike’s unwavering commitment, agility, and proactive approach have significantly contributed to our team’s success.  
  1. Seizing Opportunities: Mike embodies the spirit of seizing opportunities. When presented with a chance, he doesn’t hesitate; he dives right in. His proactive mindset ensures that no opportunity slips through the cracks.
  2. Rapid Adaptation: In February, Mike transitioned to a new role. Without missing a beat, he swiftly engaged with his partners, establishing crucial meetings and forging connections. His ability to adapt rapidly is commendable.
  3. Business Development Dynamo: Mike’s keen eye for new opportunities is unmatched. He consistently scans the horizon, identifying potential growth avenues. Whether it’s building a business case or seeking support, Mike acts swiftly and decisively.
  4. Event Success: Mike’s impact extends beyond theory. In February alone, he played a pivotal role in securing four major outreach events. Despite the demanding pace, he didn’t flinch. Each event was meticulously set up, and Mike seamlessly transitioned from one to the next.
  5. Unwavering Drive: But Mike doesn’t stop there. While at his first event, he unearthed four additional opportunities from a target account. His relentless pursuit of success is inspiring.
  6. Expanding Our Horizons: Mike’s dedication to our University’s growth knows no bounds. He consistently seeks ways to expand our impact, ensuring that our success story continues to evolve.” Thank you, Mike!

We Are Ambitious

“ Jack has not only played to win but he is winning as a leader in the Gen Ed math department. He is always aware of the stats and working to ensure that the courses are running as smoothly as possible. He works with all faculty to ensure they are successful as well as the students. The Gen Ed Math courses have some of the best success numbers in the school of STEM. AND all of the Gen Ed courses have some of the highest student success rates of any school in the nation.” Thank you, Jack!
“LaVarn worked tirelessly last year and into Q1 of 2024 to launch the redesigned APUS Ambassador program. His hard work not only saved the University the cost of paying for an additional platform, it allowed us to streamline and improve the quality of the current Ambassador experience. LaVarn hit the ground running in January and has spent time this past quarter sharing the enhancements to our partners across APUS and APEI. We are formally launching this program at 2024 commencement but have already increased our total Ambassador participants. Thank you to LaVarn and team for the hard work put towards this program. The quality and meaningfulness of the experience will benefit both Ambassadors and APUS.” Thank you, LaVarn!

We Are Honest

“Dr. Dondanville (Abbey) is the epitome of - We are honest and courageous – She holds her students to a high standard and is direct and honest with her feedback. As PTF, she can be counted on to be consistent and respectful with all students, which is not always easy given their frustration with a grade and/or classroom requirements. Abbey's professionalism is without reproach, and she embodies an unwavering commitment to our APUS mission with an honest, ethical, and courageous approach.” Thank you, Rebecca!
“Andie is an exceptional individual whose unwavering commitment to doing what is right is truly remarkable. Her honesty, integrity and willingness to speak up in difficult situations is highly appreciated and refreshing. She possesses a wealth of knowledge when it comes to FSA regulations and is an invaluable resource to the team. Her meticulous attention to detail and thorough understanding of regulatory requirements are simply outstanding. Whenever any queries arise regarding regulation interpretations, she always comes fully prepared with the proper documentation, making her an indispensable asset to the team.” Thank you, Andie!
“Val stands out as one of the finest and most diligent Admission Coaches within the APUS organization. Her unwavering commitment to both the department and our students sets a remarkable standard. Particularly commendable is her adeptness at representing our voices in various forums, including all-staff/all-hands, admission department monthly gatherings, and QA sessions. Val fearlessly tackles challenging subjects, striving to enhance the services we offer to our students. With 13 years of dedicated service at APUS, she is truly deserving of recognition for her exceptional contributions and steadfast dedication.” Thank you, Valerie!

Everyone Matters

“Dr. Garibay has a warm, helpful, and supportive leadership approach with his team and everyone he meets. He takes the time to get to know each department chair and communicates with them in the way that best fits their needs and priorities. Anthony takes time away from work to consider those with whom he interacts and focuses on how he might support them uniquely. I recall an occasion when we first began working together in which he demonstrated that everyone mattered to him in a special way. We were interviewing potential department chairs together and interacted with one individual that seemed to be in crisis. We considered what might help this person we had never met before and might not see again in the future. Anthony contemplated this person's needs and added her to a prayer list to provide potential support in one of the only ways available at the time. When there are opportunities to recognize staff members, Anthony also takes the time to speak positively and lift up those who lead the mission forward from staff positions. He also welcomes new members of the APUS team and finds ways to connect and support them with resources, information, support, and relationships. Overall, Anthony lives and leads in a way that expresses the importance of the individual and also highlights the impact they make in our university and on student success.”

“Dr. Lindenmeyer has a unique role at APUS, working with students in crisis and hardship. On top of a massive workload (emotionally and physically taxing), she also takes the time to serve as an expert on DEIB related topics and training. Cynthia embodies the "Everyone Matters" and "We Surround Ourselves with Amazing People" because she takes the time to center discussions around people--asking questions that aren't always easy to answer. I admire Cynthia for her honesty and mission to educate. In her role, the education takes on a new level of real-world application. She reaches beyond just simply everyday interactions, trying to get to the heart of issues that don't have easy answers. I'm part of her book club currently, exploring racial trauma. After one session, I'm in awe of her energy and drive to challenge others to engage in difficult conversations. She is a champion of all and feels incredible safe. I am proud that APUS has Dr. Lindenmeyer in the Chaplain role. I imagine she has changed lives in her role--maybe saved some.

Beyond that, Cynthia's energy and poise at Commencement were amazing! She has an amazing way to calm and center people. She deserves a ton of recognition just for being and dedicating her life to service of others. I hope she wins this award.”

“I nominate Terri Wilkin, Department Chair, Emergency Management, School of Security and Global Studies, for the Everyone Matters award. Terri far exceeded her normal duties of leading the Emergency Management department when she assumed the role of acting Department Chair of Legal Studies from October 2023 - April 2024, a six-month time period. As acting Department Chair, Terri managed 26 fulltime and part-time Legal Studies faculty and over 45 Legal Studies courses. At all times, Terri ensured that she made the Legal Studies faculty feel part of the team and she kept us updated on all University announcements and changes. Terri also addressed numerous Legal Studies issues involving post-course extensions and students who needed substitute courses to the curriculum requirements in order to complete their degrees. As if this wasn't enough, Terri also assumed the role of Chair of the hiring committee to find a new Legal Studies Department Chair. Terri led the team that initially reviewed over forty resumes and job applications, conducted numerous interviews, and narrowed the field down to two finalist applicants. Terri was an extraordinary leader during this time period and ensured the Legal Studies department ran smoothly and efficiently despite not having a Department Chair. She is without a doubt the best of the best at APUS and should be recognized accordingly!”

We Welcome Mistakes

“The Global Impact Report was a HUGE lift, and it was complicated by a lot of back and forth guidance/directives from stakeholders. Melanie took all of that feedback in stride, making quick edits to the report again and again (even after it was published!) so that we could end up with the best version possible.”



“Alexis Gutierrez has been in Academic Advising for 4 years and is a standout leader in the department as a whole. In fact, she was recently promoted to a Manager just this week! She is consistently looked to on her teams for assistance with tough or confusing cases, and communicates her knowledge and advice clearly with every person she comes in contact with.

While nominating someone for We Welcome Mistakes can seem as though someone has made a mistake that stood out so much, that it needs to be reiterated, that is not the case with nominating Alexis. In my brief time as her Manager, I found it very rare to find a mistake in her work. She is always warm with students, wishes them a great evening or weekend in every interaction, engages with any personal information the student may share genuinely, and is able to assist students with confidence and ease.

My reason for nominating Alexis is the way in which she communicates with feedback. To hear feedback and take it as a learning experience, a chance for a conversation about advising principles and theory, and to take thoughtful care to incorporate such conversations moving forward I do not believe are teachable skills at the level Alexis is at. This attention comes from a passion for what we do every day and a way to see other perspectives and grow in one’s career. Alexis is a true professional and cares about each and every student, it is in these conversations about advising methods and best practices that she has also taught me different perspectives, it’s an invaluable character trait Alexis has and I look forward to seeing her grow in her new role.”

We Surround Ourselves With Amazing People

“Dr Frakes is one of the most amazing servant leaders I have ever had the pleasure of working for in both my military career and my move into academia. She is exceptional at making sense of requirements, supporting the faculty and having their back, while as fully engaging with our students. She is especially good with working with thesis students that are having significant challenges.

I have come to her with several new opportunities, for SSGS over the years and she has always supported each and everyone. Additionally, her monthly staff meeting provides detailed information, allow for discussion (which on occasion can get spirited) and always leave the entire team feeling part of a unified effort. When I consider John Maxwell's definition of a Servant Leader Dr Kelli Frakes is the first name I think. She embodies the term used in this award "amazing"...and she leads her subordinates to be "amazing" also. She is the Natural choice for the "We surround ourselves with amazing people" award.”

“Lindsey embodies the core values of our organization through her collaborative spirit and compassionate leadership. She has fostered a culture of inclusivity and continuous improvement, consistently encouraging team members to strive for excellence and supporting their professional development. Lindsey’s ability to inspire and motivate those around her is evidenced by the high morale and strong sense of community within her team.

Lindsey’s exceptional work ethic and empathetic leadership make her an exemplary figure within our university. Her contributions have not only driven tangible results but have also set a standard of excellence for others to follow.”

“I am writing this nomination for Kristina Lloyd, Senior Manager, Training. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kristina for a year and a half now as part of the training team. Kristina is a go-getter, a hard worker, and will do anything to make things great for staff, which in turn impacts students. On top of Kristina’s regular training and QA responsibilities, she has been very involved in the transition from eGain into Salesforce. Starting last year, she provided training and guidance to move Student Support, TCE, Student Accounts, and Academic Advising from eGain into Salesforce. To do this, she led numerous trainings for each of these teams and she worked with their leaders to ensure they understood how Salesforce works so that they could request the correct functionality from IT. She currently is still serving as a bridge in the gap between IT and our staff. This year she has helped transition the Office of the Registrar, DSA, and Document Services. She is also currently working with Curriculum and Assessment/LOA, Student Services, the Conduct team, Compliance, and Financial Aid/Financial Aid Services. Kristina has such a positive attitude. There is always a smile on her face and she’s willing to help with whatever is needed. Kristina is creative – she brings fun to the training she holds and she’s forward-thinking – she knows what teams may need before they realize they need it. Kristina’s help in these transitions has been instrumental. For this nomination of ‘great organizations have great people, it’s clear that Kristina is one of those great people.

Kristina is a staple in Enrollment Management. Not only is she an outstanding trainer, but her quick and accurate responses are greatly appreciated when we call on her for help. Her knowledge of our systems is incredibly helpful, be it for building reports or when someone on our team needs a refresher to gain a better understanding of our systems. She is always willing to go above and beyond and does so with a smile on her face. Anyone that has had the chance to work with Kristina, knows she has an incredible work ethic and is amazing to collaborate with.”

“Keechia has done a tremendous job in focusing on the student experience for the courses in Health Information Management program. In the past year, she has worked extensively with the faculty in her program to ensure that students were getting faculty that were engaged, timely in their responses and grading, and that provided substantive and appropriate feedback on all assignments. She spent just about all of the past year coaching, counseling and working to build a strong faculty, which included making some difficult decisions on individuals to make sure our standards of teaching excellence and classroom quality were upheld. She recently has hired several excellent new part time faculty to fill the vacancies created to ensure adequate bench strength. Her desire to give our students the faculty that they deserve should be commended.”

We Love Simplicity

“Erin manages to balance an endless amount of projects and stakeholders, and the conflicting prioritization and timelines that come with that, in a truly simple way. She's great at keeping folks focused so we don't veer off on tangents or scope creep, documents information from meetings and emails and Teams messages into a single source of truth (RH) to keep everything easy and aligned, and the biggest reason (to me) she fits this #APUSVibe is because she cuts through the nonsense, easily. In just the last few weeks, I've been in a meeting with her where she advocated for herself NOT needing to be involved at that specific part of the project (and clearly articulated when the right time to bring marketing in would be), and I've had side bar conversations with her where we plan for a project by talking through the main deliverables, key work and timing needed to achieve them, and joked about how when it all goes awry at the finish line, we'll just side bar, regroup, and get it done. To me, Erin is a great example of "we love simplicity" --- she doesn't fluff the work up or make mountains out of molehills, she just takes an assessment and figures out how to make it work. Great job, Erin!”

“Erin is an absolute joy to work with as a project manager. She keeps projects moving forward by wrangling everyone and making sure tasks are completed. Erin approaches people with kindness and breaks tasks down to ensure that people aren't overloaded with any single "To Do" item. Erin embodies what it means to work in a team setting, she keeps work-related tasks simple and easy--and she claps and cheers for others!

I adore working with Erin and when we're tasked with Marketing-related projects together, I have full confidence it's going to be a success.....even if we're running through the pouring rain at 11pm in the middle of DC to pick up stranded employees and equipment!

Keeping it simple, to me, is about making things happen and Erin Caulfield makes things happen! ”


“Michelle has worked at APUS for almost 2 decades now and during this time she has refined her skills to a point where she can handle the most complicated student situation and make it simple for the student to follow. For example, Michelle has been the point of contact for the MBA-BBA pilot students for the last two years and although this is a relatively small group of students, she has blazed a path for them through this unique program by identifying roadblocks that they may encounter before they occur for the student and then reaching out to the department to come up with a reasonable and simple solution to remove that roadblock. Now she worked with both the Graduations and Transfer Credit teams by keeping everyone informed of the moment when students graduate from their Bachelors degree and move into the MBA program so those two teams can make sure the student only has to pay for the graduation application one time and that the Masters courses they completed at the undergraduate level will transfer to the Masters degree program. Michelle is great at keeping everyone in the loop so what we accomplish behind the scenes is seamless and the student's progress never has to be halted due to administrative tasks on our end. Beyond this very specific example, Michelle has also assisted with training multiple new hires for the Academic Advising department over the last two years and she works to make often complicated job duties of an Advisor understandable to those new to this job so they can in turn be successful at assisting our students. Lastly, Michelle is our go-to person for policy explanations for our team because she has a way of making the difficult situations just make sense, both for students and her Advising teammates. Michelle is the best!”

“I am delighted to nominate Julia Beglane, Faculty Development Coordinator at American Public University System, for the "We Love Simplicity" award. Julia's exceptional ability to streamline processes and create efficient solutions embodies the essence of this award, demonstrating that simplicity truly is the ultimate form of sophistication.

Throughout the past year, Julia has shown a strong commitment to simplifying and optimizing the Center for Teaching & Learning's (CTL) Professional Development Unit (PDU) tracking operations. By transitioning CTL forms to O365 Forms for streamlined PDU reporting and implementing a clear schedule for PDU reports, Julia has significantly enhanced the efficiency of our processes. Her efforts resulted in over 11,100 records being added to Faculty Success, reflecting her dedication to quality assurance and high standards of performance.

Julia's meticulous management of various initiatives, including the successful execution of webinars like Coaching Catalyst and The Engage Summit, has been instrumental in providing valuable training opportunities for our faculty. Her proactive approach in managing the CTL inbox, engaging with stakeholders, and supporting faculty in navigating training spaces has created a user-friendly experience that aligns with our organizational goals.

Julia's strategic overhaul of the CTL's video library and her effective communication strategies, such as quarterly PDU emails and welcome emails to new faculty, further highlight her commitment to simplifying processes and enhancing professional development opportunities. Her contributions have not only streamlined our operations but have also fostered a collaborative and supportive culture within the CTL.”

We Are Focused

“Associate Professor of Legal Studies Anne Gorla has distinguished herself within the University by providing legal research seminars to APUS students outside of her normal classrooms. Anne routinely offers evening legal research seminars to APUS students to ensure that they fully understand how to perform the complex research needed to succeed in their classes. Anne also instructs of the proper use of The Bluebook, the required citation guide for Legal Studies. Anne's continual focus on APUS students shows her dedication to the University and her desire to ensure that APUS students continue to receive a world-class education. Anne is a must select for the "We Are Focused" achiever award, because she continuously focuses her efforts and resources on what truly matters, our phenomenal students!”

“I am writing to recommend Tama Brown for recognition under the "We Are Focused" vibe. Tama brings a great deal of faculty credentialing experience to the HR team, and handles this process with focus and efficiency, supporting our faculty hiring, accreditation needs, and program qualification criteria. Tama is an active collaborator with all of our academic schools and drives outcomes forward with a sense of urgency. Tama attends department chair meetings after work hours, and works closely with all members of her team to keep abreast of recent developments. These critical functions help keep the university's academics running in the background, and most impressively, she manages to accomplish her tasks while working as a part-time employee! Though she would not seek recognition herself, I feel strongly she deserves it for her dedication to her work and focus on what truly matters.”

“Working in student conduct and with student complaints, Haley is contently evaluating all of the information and documentation presented to find and focus on the reason for the student's misconduct or the root of the student's complaints. She uses what she learns from her caseload to recommend meaningful change to the University's policies and practices. For example, having worked closely with academic misconduct cases related to generative AI (AI), Haley has established herself as a knowledgeable resource for our faculty and students and is a key member of the University's AI Task Force - the group responsible for shaping the university's policies and best practices related to AI in the classroom.

It is so easy to be mired down by the details and emotions shared in the types of escalations Haley works with, but she meticulously picks through the noise and focuses her efforts on the demonstratable facts and truths. When recommending equitable resolutions to student complaints, Haley considers the facts, human experience, the University's mission and values, and our students' rights and responsibilities so that her recommendations are fair and reasonable and consider what matters most to all parties involved.“

We Measure What We Treasure

“Elina pays careful attention to course assessments, continuously evaluating which assessments are best aligned to meet course objectives and program outcomes. It is Dr. Keiser's careful attention through Focused efforts and an Evaluation mindset that results in high quality courses that fit a dynamic healthcare climate and prepares our students for advanced critical thinking and clinical decision-making.

“Mitch consistently seeks new ways to leverage our data for improvements. He continuously collects and monitors student and faculty data points, such as NPS, SSI, and FEI, and collaborates with the deans and academic teams to identify root causes of issues and develop effective solutions. Moreover, Mitch is one of our most dedicated champions of data interpretation and understanding. His efforts, like the Peregrine socialization initiative, help us all become more proficient and efficient in using data. Mitch truly embodies the "We measure what we treasure" value and is committed to ensuring that we all uphold this standard.”

“I am delighted to nominate Mitch for his outstanding contributions and exceptional performance. Mitch embodies the principles and values that our institution holds dear, consistently demonstrating a commitment to "We measure what we treasure". Mitch is a strong advocate for using data to help the University improve and is always ready to dive into the information, make sense of the data, and provide digestible insights to be used as a guide. Understanding the importance of measurable performance, Mitch fosters a culture of accountability and responsibility. Mitch is a remarkable asset to our institution. His dedication, innovative mindset, and commitment to excellence make him highly deserving of this nomination.”

“I would like to nominate Aaron Hargrave, Senior Workforce Analyst. Aaron is an unsung hero who works behind the scenes, contributing to the University's success. He works closely with many of the student-facing teams in regard to forecasting and scheduling to ensure proper coverage is in place and our students receive timely service responses. Many factors play into his analysis such as staffing, historical volume, and new initiatives. Aaron always strives to find the right balance when scheduling to accommodate the needs of the team, staff members, and students. The University has been able to answer over 400,000 phone calls this year and maintain a 90% handle rate, which is a direct result of Aaron's input and assistance. He is a go-getter and is willing to do whatever it takes for us all to succeed.“

We Are Proud of our Quality

“Dr. Albin has been Department Chair of Space Studies and Earth Sciences since 2016. He has been dedicated to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation within our department. When the "Earthers" (Earth Science faculty) migrated to Space Studies, there was some trepidation - to be honest - about how we'd fit. But Ed was the kindest, most inclusive person. He opened the doors for us, welcomed us, and helped us find our fitting in the department. I'll be forever grateful!

Under his leadership, he has introduced new concentrations in Astronomy, Earth Sciences, and Space Entrepreneurship, broadening the scope and appeal of our program. These additions have significantly increased student enrollment and satisfaction, reflecting Dr. Albin's commitment to providing a high-quality educational experience for our students.

Dr. Albin coordinates the university's Wallace Boston Observatory, where our faculty and students actively use the telescope to engage in cutting-edge astronomical research. Their work on supernovae, variable stars, and exoplanets has not only contributed valuable data to the scientific community but also enhanced the learning experience for our students.

Additionally, Dr. Albin has worked collaboratively with faculty to establish the Analog Astronaut Research Group (AARG), which has quickly become one of our most popular and impactful initiatives. This group offers students unique, hands-on research opportunities that are both challenging and rewarding.

Under Dr. Albin's leadership, the department established the annual APUS Space Education and Strategic Applications (SESA) conference, which contributes to the quality and achievements of our program. This #ApusVibes/Achievers nomination is a testament to the dedication of Dr. Albin to our faculty and students.“

“Alexis Gutierrez, a manager in the Academic Advising department for the School of Security and Global Studies at APUS, is simply a dedicated and wonderful leader. Alexis came to us and became the manager of our team earlier this year. Although she has been our manager for less than one year, Alexis "hit the ground running" when she stepped into her leadership role and has been a phenomenal and dedicated leader ever since. She is always there for us and is willing to quickly start up an impromptu meeting whenever we have questions, even when she is busy with her daily work.

When Alexis stepped into the role as the manager of our team, she quickly began a dedicated effort to help us with our goals for success in our department. In the short amount of time that she has been my manager, she has encouraged me and allowed me to participate in various activities and projects that have allowed me to feel like I am more successful as well as an essential part of my department. I am much more confident in my role, and I feel very supported now that Alexis is the leader of our team. Before Alexis stepped into the role of manager of our team, I did not feel this way. Alexis is a dedicated manager and puts forth so much effort to support her team and to encourage our success.

Since Alexis has become the manager of our team, I believe that we have become a more unified team. I believe that her encouragement for our success allows us to be more successful in our role and allows us to be the best that we can be for our students. She is truly an amazing manager and the best manager I have ever had. Her contributions to our team are incredible and should not go unnoticed. Her dedicated efforts make her an excellent candidate for the Q4 APUS Achievers award for being proud of our quality!”

“At the very core of our #APUSVibes is the fact that we obsess over our culture, and we nurture it day in and day out - without exception. Michele is a walking #vibe and I cannot think of a better alignment than "We are proud of our quality." Michele's role as the Manager of the Office of the President requires a tireless commitment to the product quality of each and every item, material, and conversation that goes out from the Office of the President, with bold dedication to deliver above and beyond expectations. Michele has a distinct quality that sets her part and that is her constant determination to be excellent and to inspire excellence because "good just isn't good enough." She is a walking advertisement for "how may I help?" Even when the task at hand may not fit roundly within her role - she will still rise to the occasion, however she may ensure that the job gets done in a seamless way. Michele does not boast, will not complain, and will always show up not only to represent her position in the best way possible, but to bridge any gaps that she may see due to absence or the unknown. She takes every ounce of conversation as feedback for continuous improvement on the path to excellence and will not stop until she reaches that goal. Michele - we know that you are proud of APUS quality, and we are proud of your unmatched commitment to make us better.”

We Stay Humble

“With great honor, I nominate Sean Paine for the Q4 Vibes Award for "We Stay Humble." When I think of humility, Sean instantly comes to mind. He is truly one of the humblest individuals I have ever known. In his role within the Financial Aid Department, he consistently demonstrates an impressive level of energy, encouragement, and enthusiasm, contributing significantly to fostering a positive work culture within the team. He graciously welcomes feedback and willingly takes on additional responsibilities to ensure that students have the best possible experience.

Sean is an exceptional candidate for this award as he is always quick to offer his assistance to students who are struggling and need special attention in complex situations. He does not hesitate to help frustrated students, placing their needs above all else. Even during peak periods, he maintains a positive attitude and focuses on how he can best support the students. Just last week, when I encountered a few difficult student situations, Sean was the first person I thought of to help due to his tact and meticulous attention to detail. He embraced these challenges with enthusiasm, ensuring that each student received comprehensive support. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to Sean for his unwavering willingness to assist and his humble approach to learning from new experiences. Thank you for being such an inspiring leader on our team.”

“Dr. Ross carries out her daily tasks in a way that is quiet and unassuming. But the work she does and what she accomplishes is amazing!

Recently she completed her Doctorate, Health Information Management specialty accreditation, in addition to managing her faculty, course revisions, students, and the various Dept. Chair tasks that come our way.

While she was extremely happy about her Doctorate, she never boasts- she completes one thing and then moves on to the next. Thank you for being you!!”

“I'm torn between nominating Megan for We Stay Humble or We Love to Have Fun, because I truly believe she embodies both!

Megan has stepped in and stepped up to her Director of Product Management role with years of experience understanding what our students and partners are looking for from their education--key foundational information for the product management perspective we need. She's a complete rockstar who very easily could have stepped into this new role and kept going with the in-place processes and standards, or could have created completely new ones based on her understanding of product, project, and process management... but instead she's come in with a genuine sense of humility, curiosity, and enthusiasm to partner with the academic experts she knows we have here.

Megan embodies our "We Stay Humble" vibe; she is always confident and energized, and it's clear that it's not only authentic but that it's based on an appreciation for those around her and the understanding that she knows what she doesn't know. Way to go, Megan!”

We Love to Have Fun

“Building team cohesion was one of my most important goals as a newly appointed Associate Provost this past year. I knew that I would need to use informal activities and teambuilding to bring the group together, but I also don't have the most bubbly personality. After instituting a monthly meeting (we call it "Fun & Random) to bring my team together on a Friday to decompose, it quickly became obvious that we had an asset in the group that could really help our entire division have a great time--Angie Becher.

From her relentless use of extremely well-timed and relevant GIFs in the Team's chat, to her constant appeal to the group's humor, Angie truly showed our division what the meaning of fun truly was. As a facilitator of teambuilding activities, Angie is unmatched. She knows how to read a room and bring everyone together under the banner of some good, clean laughs.

More importantly, Angie's love of animals allows her to constantly showcase the lighter side of life, as she shares her various endeavors to rescue and rehabilitate a variety of species. She brings fun into every conversation and reminds us all that, as much as we need to work hard, we also need to play hard to and love life to the fullest.

THANK you, Angie, for making APUS a fun place to work!!”

“Cora Blimline, a manager in Financial Aid Advising, truly embodies the vibe of "We Love to Have Fun." She was recently promoted to manager in the department after serving as a team lead from April 2023 - August 2024. During this time, she spearheaded the following team engagement initiatives for her direct team:

  • Photo of the month
  • Question of the week
  • Spotify playlists of favorite songs
  • Introduction presentations for the team and new team members
  • Daily Mood Tracker

Her team regularly and eagerly engaged in these activities and have commented on how it has made their work weeks more fun and less monotonous. She has shared these activities and ideas with other managers in the departments to help with their team engagement as well. Cora even created a Teams channel just for her direct team to access to see their various activities and post kudos for each other. She also created a OneNote that she, her manager, and the team's senior advisor can access to keep track of the various engagement initiatives they were working on for their team.

Cora also truly enjoys contributing to overall team development. She independently began creating weekly learning checks for her direct team members to complete to help reinforce their knowledge in a fun way. She soon expanded to sending these to all managers to give to their team members so the entire department can complete them. She has these organized and available in Microsoft forms for managers to easily access and track their team member's answers.

Cora has directly impacted our team's level of engagement, helped foster team relationships, and improved advisor development through her passion for team engagement and development and finding ways to make these activities fun and accessible.”

“Kristi Drexler embodies "We love to have fun." As an environmental scientist, she takes science and research seriously but enjoys every minute of it, approaching every project and task with a spirit of curiosity and lightheartedness. When she travels for work, she always takes the time to get to know the local culture and take part in activities that are enjoyable and educational that she shares with students. She works hard to incorporate students into hands on activities that make the learning process fun, whether it is scuba diving to an underwater research facility or conducting field research in Central America with students. Kristi approaches every task with a big smile and a cheerful focus on the outcome. She is always willing to help out and has great ideas about improving student success and satisfaction, drawing on her long experience at APUS and her doctoral education. Kristi is a pleasure to work with and brings an infections joy to both her colleagues and students, through her passion for her content and her ability to bring fun to challenging or mundane tasks.

Dr. Drexler values fun and play. She brings fun into her classroom too; in GEOG 101, we "travel the globe' each week as we investigate people/cultures and their relationships with the natural world. Also, outside the classroom this past year, Dr. Drexler has participated in several "work with fun" activities:

Jules-APUS Analog Research Group (AARG) mission in Key Largo in January (SCUBA diving with 3 APUS graduate students to stay 24 hours at an undersea facility); Faculty research to Alaska and New Mexico in July and November 2024 (and Belize and Guatemala in 2023) with Michelle Watts and graduate students. Drexler extended these trips to kayak, hike, and pick berries near Kodiak and Juneau.

International conferences to Colombia (June '24) and Guatemala (2023). She extended both trips to explore parks and cultural-historic sites.

In her personal travels this year, she spent 6 weeks camping on the Oregon-Washington Coast this summer (while teaching); also, she spent 3 weeks in Bali, Indonesia in September (vacation).

In all instances, fun is necessary and often a great connector with people and place.”

Congratulations to these employees!