Good afternoon,
This month, OE is highlighting Kathy Anderson, an exceptional campus partner. Kathy serves as the associate dean for information technology and project planning while simultaneously overseeing facilities function at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. Kathy is a champion of transformation and change. Below, Kathy talks about her time at Carolina and her involvement with OE.
1. What is your current role and how long have you worked at UNC?
I serve as associate dean for IT and project planning at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, with two sets of responsibilities: I lead a talented team of IT professionals that delivers IT services and systems; I also lead and facilitate a variety of transformational change projects that don’t necessarily involve technology. I just celebrated 15 years at UNC – time flies!
2. What has been your with Operational Excellence?
One of my Gillings colleagues served on the Staff Hiring project, one of OE’s first successes. I was impressed by the engaged process and quality outcomes, and I still use the Hiring Playbook to this day. I finally got a chance to serve on an OE design team myself, the Future of Work, in 2021. We created a sustainable approach to flexible work based on remote work experiences during the early days of the pandemic. It was energizing to work with colleagues from all over campus and be guided by expert skills of OE team members. I’m proud of the impact of our work and how it has positively affected the productivity and well-being of many of our staff. In 2022, I participated in a Lean Foundations training pilot that helped the OE team test, adjust, and launch the course for all employees. We created a sustainable approach to flexible work based on remote work experiences during the early days of the pandemic. It was energizing to work with colleagues from all over campus and guided by expert skills of OE team members. I’m proud of the impact of our work and how it’s positively affected productivity and well-being of many of our staff.
3. What do you see as Operational Excellence’s impact on your work and/or the operations of the University?
OE is solving real problems while also visibly promoting a culture of continuous quality improvement across campus. To make things better in both small and big ways, we first need everyone to notice what’s working and what’s not. The new is an approachable, fun way to start building skills.
4. When you are not working, how do you enjoy spending your time?
My partner and I love to stand shoulder to shoulder in our tiny kitchen, cooking great food together. I’m a beginning birdwatcher and an experienced gardener discovering native plants for the first time. I’m also a retired road cyclist who still logs miles…on my spin bike, watching professional bike races.
Please feel free to share this email with your colleagues. You can also visit our website to learn more about Operational Excellence, read my previous updates, and submit feedback. If you have any questions, please reach out to me at wernoski@email.unc.edu. I read every email.
Best,
Rick