Christine Hopper, assistant to the dean, was named Boss of the Year by Illinois Administrative Professionals (IAP, formerly known as The Secretariat), an organization for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign employees in certain Civil Service classifications. She was recognized at a special IAP event on October 19.
"Christine is willing to take on any duty, big or small, to support her team," said Office Administrator Beth Lewis, who nominated Hopper for the award. "This is not only during the workday, but also after hours and even while on vacation. No message, email, or call of duty is too minute to receive a response."
Hopper, who joined the iSchool in 2007, supervises four administrative staff, including Lewis. In her nomination, Lewis described how Hopper ensures that staff are not overloaded or stressed, making "every effort to evenly distribute duties," even when the office is short-staffed. She also noted how Hopper supports professional development for staff and takes an active interest in helping them achieve their goals.
"I don't see myself as a 'boss' per se but rather someone who guides others to do their best by providing them with the resources they need to do their job and achieve their professional goals," said Hopper. "I am very fortunate to work with a great team and strive every day to show them how much they are appreciated."