Two programs, two supervisors and two offices could have most people seeing double, but it’s all in a day’s work for Kimi Tippett.
As the administrative assistant for the doctoral programs in organizational science and public policy, interdisciplinary offerings housed in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Tippett said she is a liaison and resource for students, faculty and the public. She handles day-to-day administrative operations for the programs, such as budgeting, purchasing and other financial paperwork, and she works closely with supervisors Steve Rogelberg (organizational science) and Beth Rubin (public policy) on maintaining and updating class schedules. She also administers the graduate assistantship process and program websites.
“Both programs are interdisciplinary yet unique,” said Tippett. “Each draws faculty from other disciplines, which makes our programs and graduates more marketable and valuable to employers.”
One of the challenges in supporting two programs is splitting time between two locations. “I’m in Colvard on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and in Fretwell on Tuesday and Thursday, but I work for both programs every day. Ideally, in my perfect world, they would be in one building in order to be easily accessible to students and faculty of both programs.”
Tippett noted the best aspect of her job is working with the wide-ranging, diverse students in the two doctoral programs. “I consider myself a supporter of student excellence. I am here to make the students’ experience as trouble free as possible and help them to succeed in getting their Ph.D.s”
Having supportive supervisors makes the job easier, too, said Tippett adding that Rogelberg and Rubin are excellent leaders and role models who advocate opportunities for professional and personal growth.
Such encouragement resulted in Tippett’s involvement with the Staff Council. As treasurer, she is a member of the council’s executive committee. “The Staff Council works to raise employee morale and serves as the voice of the staff members to the administration.”
A native of Sylva, Tippett also worked at Western Carolina University before moving to Concord. Joining UNC Charlotte in August 2008 was an adjustment for Tippett. She said UNC Charlotte was much larger and operated at a much faster pace; however, a benefit of working at Western Carolina was employees paid a small fee to enable them to use student health services.
An avid motorcyclist when not on the job, Tippett said she enjoys riding with her husband David, a police officer for Concord, and son Hunter, a junior who is enrolled in the early college high school program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Tippett’s oldest son, Jonathan, is a deputy sheriff in Swain County.