Celebrating UA Supervisors on National Boss’s Day

No team is complete without a leader, and National Boss’s Day is a chance to show appreciation to those who guide the many offices and departments that keep the University running every day.  

Faculty and staff were asked to give a shout-out to their boss and share how they make a difference to their team. Here’s what they said: 

Ashley Olive  
Bryant Conference Center  

“Ashley Olive is a remarkable boss whose integrity, kindness, and dedication to creating a supportive and goal-oriented work environment make her truly exceptional. Her mentoring abilities, in particular, have had a profound impact on our professional growth and success. I am grateful to work under such inspiring leadership.” – Anonymous 

Benet Bondi  
Undergraduate Admissions  
 
“Benet works tirelessly to make The University of Alabama a great place to work and go to school.  She manages Team Central and juggles her management responsibilities and her role as a recruiter beautifully.  She supports and encourages her team while simultaneously recruiting the best and brightest students from Central Florida with a huge smile and a positive attitude.  UA and the recruiters are lucky to have her on the team!” – Jennifer Potts 

Blaine Johnson  
Transportation Services  

“I just wanted to express my appreciation for the guidance and support you gave me while I worked for you. Your leadership helped me grow both professionally and personally, and I’ll always be grateful for the skills and lessons I learned from you. You created a positive work environment that made every day motivating and rewarding. Even though we no longer work together, the impact you had on my career stays with me. Thanks for being such an inspiring leader!” – Anonymous 

Cara Houser  
Supe Store 

“Cara is an exceptional leader and mentor. She is always supportive and fosters a culture of open communication. Her kindness, encouragement, and inclusiveness create a positive atmosphere where everyone feels valued and empowered. She is very creative and innovative, as she is always approaching challenges with fresh perspectives. Cara is truly selfless and kind-hearted, consistently going above and beyond for her team members. She is always empathetic towards students and prioritizes their needs. Her kindness shines through in small gestures, whether it’s checking on the well-being of her team members’ well-being or acknowledging hard work with genuine appreciation. I’d like to thank Cara for her dedication to the University and our students, for always being a hard worker, and for being an excellent role model and mentor. We are lucky to have her!” – Tara Jones 

Cathy Elliott  
College of Arts & Sciences Student Services Center 

“Cathy is an incredible supervisor! She is supportive, understanding, and a strong listener. She assists us in handling situations we aren’t sure how to handle she is our cheerleader; she is our advocate; she is a team player — just a fabulous person to work with and for. She creates a safe environment for us to ask questions and to learn, and she encourages professional development. She has built strong relationships with campus partners in other colleges and departments so that we can better serve students.” – Haley Gross 

“Anyone who has met Cathy knows just how hardworking and caring she is. She has cultivated a safe and supportive work environment where I feel empowered to step out of my comfort zone and grow professionally. As an undergraduate student, she advised me with respect and showed confidence in my abilities, and now I have the privilege of being on her team. I strive to advise each student to the best of my ability, ensuring they feel valued and encouraged, just as Cathy did for me. I couldn’t ask for a better boss!” – Allison Bothwell 

Charter Morris  
International Student and Scholar Services  

“Charter makes a difference with how much he helps the students and scholars that attend here. He is always making sure everything is organized, and creates a space where everyone feels welcome.” – Anonymous 

Chelsea Ratcliff 
First Year Experience  

“Chelsea is always giving us the support we need to work hard while also supporting us as people who are professionally developing by pushing us to reach our identified goals. Chelsea is great at celebrating the wins of our office by bringing donuts or our favorite treat on big programmatic days or celebrating our individual work anniversaries with little mementos. She gives us the encouragement to keep thriving and striving while pushing us to be our best!” – Christina Gooden 

Dominic Yeager  
Department of Theatre and Dance  

“Dominic works very hard to make sure that each person at the department has everything they need to succeed in whatever they do. He advocates for every student, staff and faculty member and does his best to help them creatively problem solve. He allows each person to take charge over what they want to and trusts them to see it through while creating a culture where failure is accepted and expected to push everyone to be the best version of themselves. And he always does so with a sense of calm and a good attitude!” – Anonymous  

Dr. Amy Williamson  
CrossingPoints  

“Amy is a bright light to our staff and students. We are fortunate to have her as our leader!” – Jeremy Reid 

Jimmy Warren  
Advancement/Alumni Affairs 

“Working with Jimmy Warren for the past couple of months has been a rewarding experience.  I am grateful for how he pushes me intellectually and professionally. I appreciate that he tries to make as many events as possible to represent and market the University of Alabama and the National Alumni Association. He has shown the true meaning of teamwork to the staff in Alumni Hall, by rolling up his sleeves and diving in all departments. He has never asked the staff to do any job he would not do himself. Jimmy is a great ambassador who spreads the news about the University of Alabama and the National Alumni Association everywhere he goes. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to learn and work with him.” – Rhonda Andress 

Chief John Hooks  
Public Safety  

“Chief Hooks has been instrumental in ensuring that our campus community is safe. It has been his top priority. He has made it his mission to integrate our department (Security Resources) to assist UAPD with this goal…Chief Hooks never makes you feel like your opinion isn’t valued. Any issue that you have he will listen. He really wants the best for our University and those of us who serve it.” – Anthony Wiley  

Dr. Luoheng Han  
Office for Academic Affairs – Provost Office 

“[Dr. Han] is an exceptional leader. He exhibits unwavering support for Office of Disability Services staff and students.  He takes a proactive approach to creating a positive and productive work environment that inspires all of us. Dr. Han is always available to provide guidance, demonstrating remarkable patience even in challenging situations. Under his leadership, I have been positively challenged to be self-evaluative and strategic.  His deep institutional knowledge enhances our team’s efficiency and fosters a culture of learning and growth…In every interaction, Dr. Han showcases his dedication to our team and the mission we serve. I can think of no one more deserving of recognition on Boss’s Day.” – Vanessa Goepel 

Sonya Dunkin  
UA Online Student Success  

“Sonya makes every student feel like they’re our only student. She will go out of her way to work with any student with whatever challenges they face. She will send emails, make calls, and meet with whomever she needs to advocate for students. Her level of care and consideration applies not only to UA Online students but to our team as well.” – Victoria Clark 

“When I was interviewing for my job with the University I was given the opportunity to ask questions to the hiring committee. I looked at Mrs. Sonya and asked her what brought her the most joy about her job.  She immediately responded with no hesitation and tears in her eyes, ‘My team.’ And when she said that I knew that is who I wanted to work for. She doesn’t just say that, she is genuine…She makes a huge difference to our office/department, The University of Alabama and (since our students come from all over the world) the world.  One thing I notice a lot about her is she consistently has a positive attitude and very encouraging. We, Online Student Success, are so blessed to have her as our leader! The University of Alabama is better because of her!” – Shelia Branham 

Dr. Steven Yates  
College of Communication and Information Sciences 

“Dr. Yates is always looking for ways to make our college work more efficiently and to improve processes to better employee and student experiences. I really appreciate his fair approach to any subject and his exemplary active listening skills. He makes everyone in our office feel heard and appreciated.” – Karin Bryson 

Tiffany Tant  
Custodial Services  

“Tiffany Tant is a very supportive boss who teaches me something new every day.  She is fair but also empathetic. She is responsible for many employees and tries diligently to treat them well.” – Jamie Taylor 

Tina Spires  
OIT – Telecommunications  

“Tina strives for excellence in all she does. When doing so she always listens and keeps an open mind to the new changes or challenges that are coming her way. She promotes a healthy work environment by encouraging communication, compassion, and understanding throughout the team.  She’s open and honest about her strengths and weaknesses, which allows for transparency and opportunity for other team members to fill those gaps. I appreciate everything she has taught me and enjoy working with her.” – Anonymous

Tracie Potthoff 
OIT – EDAS  

“Tracie is the best supervisor. She makes employees feel valued and keeps up with all that they do; in a technology department, that can be challenging when some of the technologies are new to her. She’s humble and willing to admit if she’s made a mistake. She also has an incredible work ethic, even when she has to work while on vacation to handle emergencies for her clients. She sets an example for us, both professionally and personally, and does it with a smile. Regardless of what comes up, we know she has our back. She embodies the character that UA needs in all of its employees and leadership.” – Anonymous

William Diltz  
Environmental Health And Safety  

“I just wanted to take a moment to recognize you for your incredible leadership and support. Working for you has been such a rewarding experience, and I appreciate how you continuously push the team to grow and succeed. Your positive attitude, guidance, and encouragement really make a difference every day. Thank you for being such an amazing leader and for creating an environment where we can thrive!” – Anonymous