Dianne Avery named 2022 Outstanding Professional Employee
Dianne Avery, senior officer for administration and finance, has been named the 2022 Outstanding Professional Employee by the University of Maine Professional Employees Advisory Council.
The award is based on a professional employee’s demonstrated dedication to serving others, maintaining the highest level of professional services, creating a better campus environment and public service engagement in their field and community. Award recipients are recognized for their accomplishments with a $1,000 stipend.
Avery has been a member of the UMaine community since 1985. As senior officer of administration and finance in the Provost’s Office, she is responsible for organizing the searches and hires of many UMaine leadership positions. This past year she has co-lead the change management process related to university finances in the Financial Management Initiative and has played a leading role in the 2022 Commencement, which this year involved four ceremonies.
In her multiple letters of nominations for the award, Avery is cited for her dedication to the university and her professionalism, efficiency and expertise. She is known for working long hours and weekends to get projects completed in a timely manner, which was particularly true with commencement — from answering emails of graduates and parents to coordinating the many major planning components to ensure the success of UMaine’s largest event of the year.
“Dianne is always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty, provides professionalism and counsel to those around her,” noted one nominator.
Avery’s attention to detail allows the budget for the Office of Academic Affairs and the Provost Office to run smoothly and efficiently. Her experience of all processes within these offices and throughout the university makes her a valuable resource to administrators and staff and many have benefitted from her hard work.
As another nominator noted, “Dianne’s three and a half decades of service to the University of Maine are a testament to her commitment and dedication to this institution and to the communities it serves.”