Ericka Sisk, assistant to the dean in the College of Information, won Office Manager of the Year at the DFW Admin Awards on Oct. 4.
As COI’s executive administrator, Sisk oversees numerous daily operations, including reception, communication, college events, external affairs and office management. Since joining the college in 2016 as its only administrative professional, she built up the team of staff in the dean’s office and has taken the lead on initiatives involving infrastructure, workflow optimization and policy implementation throughout the college.
Sisk is instrumental in recruiting and hiring, budget matters — including implementing changes after a complete budget model overhaul — and ensuring access to college resources. She also is a certified mediator who strives to provide students, staff and faculty with the solutions they need.
“Ericka’s contributions go well beyond her expected job duties,” says Kinshuk, dean of the College of Information, who nominated Sisk for the Admin Award. “She has not only used her diverse background in her daily tasks very effectively, but she also has demonstrated an exemplary culture of service and a holistic view of outreach both internally and externally. What makes her even more deserving of this award is her unrelenting ‘student-first’ focus. We are very glad to have such a role model in our college.”
Sisk’s diverse background includes work in the airline industry, insurance investigations, retail management and preschool teaching. Kinshuk says it makes her an “exceptional liaison” with the local community, high-profile contacts and businesses, with whom she has made connections to increase student internships and research initiatives for the college.
Sisk says being nominated for — and winning — Office Manager of the Year was a great honor, particularly considering her deep respect for Kinshuk, from whom she has “derived the strength to challenge myself and perform better at each stage of my position here at UNT.”
As an executive assistant, she says, her first consideration is how to best treat those who enter the COI office — especially students.
“Putting students first is a priority, as I want to ensure that our incredible students are treated with kindness and have the resources they need to become the successful citizens of tomorrow,” Sisk says. “The work that administrative roles provide in any industry is imperative in sustaining a culture of service, but it’s especially important when working with the student body here at UNT.”