Levine Scholars Program staff member receives award of excellence

Levine Scholars Program staff member receives award of excellence
Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Abey T. Dessie, associate director of UNC Charlotte’s Levine Scholars Program, recently received the Chris Murphy Award of Excellence from the Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (CACRAO). This award is presented annually to an outstanding member of the organization who has made major contributions to the association, its member institutions or higher education in North and South Carolina. 

Dessie, who is vice president of admissions for CACRAO, was recognized for his leadership this year during the COVID-19 pandemic. He facilitated moving in-person programming to a virtual format and developed a virtual newcomers conference that achieved the largest attendance in the organization's history.  The newcomers conference provides professional development opportunities for recent admission professionals.

Additionally, he oversaw the development of a virtual high school counselors conference with a regional focus in Greenville, Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte and Asheville. The event was a continuing education program for school counselors as they support high school students with the college search and selection process. Dessie also helped develop college exploration programs focused on high school and college transfer students. Presenters from 193 colleges and universities participated in virtual information sessions and panels that reached more than 20,000 high school and community college students in North and South Carolina.

A graduate of East Carolina University, Dessie has worked in higher education admissions for nearly 10 years; he was senior assistant director and assistant director of Undergraduate Admissions at UNC Charlotte prior to joining the Levine Scholars Program in July 2018.