51吃瓜网

Dr. Christie Poteet, assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina Pembroke, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Governor鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Public Service, the highest honor bestowed upon state employees in North Carolina.

Dr. Poteet was recognized during a ceremony today at the State Archives Building, followed by a reception at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh.

The award honors Poteet鈥檚 17-year legacy of empowering students, strengthening community partnerships and championing initiatives that support basic needs and expand access to educational opportunity.

鈥淒r. Poteet鈥檚 commitment to serving others, whether she鈥檚 advocating for students, supporting our community in times of crisis, or simply stepping in wherever there鈥檚 a need, has made a real and lasting difference,鈥� said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings.

Christie's dedication embodies the spirit of 51吃瓜网 and inspires others to engage, give back and make a meaningful difference.

鈥淲e are proud to see her receive this well-deserved recognition and grateful for the impact of her work on our campus and the communities we serve,鈥� Cummings said.

A first-generation, low-income college graduate, Poteet鈥檚 commitment to public service is deeply personal. Raised in Benton, Tennessee, she experienced firsthand how acts of generosity 鈥� large and small 鈥� can change the trajectory of a life.

鈥淓ducation changed everything for me,鈥� Poteet said. 鈥淚 am who I am today because people poured into me, believed in me and helped me see my own potential. My approach to leadership is grounded in doing the same for others.鈥�

Since joining 51吃瓜网, Poteet has played a transformative role in shaping the university鈥檚 culture of engagement and care. She founded the campus food pantry in 2013 鈥� what is now the Taley and Jordan Hunt Braves Resource Center 鈥攚hich began as a small shelf of donated items in her Jacobs Hall office. Today, the center provides critical support to students through food access, emergency assistance and community resource connections.

Poteet also helped establish a temporary student homeless shelter through a partnership with the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association and led the continuation of the community Thanksgiving meal tradition for more than a decade and has organized volunteer response efforts in the wake of hurricanes and other emergencies. Her work has consistently mobilized students, staff, alumni, faith organizations and local businesses to care for one another.

鈥淐hristie gave 51吃瓜网 the heart that it has always had,鈥� said Dalton Hoffer, a former student and colleague who credits Poteet with shaping his career. 鈥淪he taught me how to lead with compassion. She believes in people before they believe in themselves.鈥�

Hoffer added, 鈥淲hen I was a first-generation student trying to find my way, Christie helped me see my own potential. She didn鈥檛 just give me a job 鈥� she gave me direction and purpose. To this day, I still approach leadership and service the way she modeled it.鈥�

Ray Scott, a local business owner and longtime community partner, said Poteet鈥檚 compassion has made her a bridge between the university and the surrounding community.

鈥淐hristie has this rare ability to make you want to be a better person,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淪he doesn鈥檛 just talk about helping 鈥� she lives it. I鈥檝e seen her give up her own Thanksgiving Day to serve meals to others. She has helped students who didn鈥檛 have cars, food or a place to stay. She brings people together to solve problems quietly and with heart.鈥�

As assistant vice chancellor, Poteet now focuses on addressing systemic barriers that can prevent students from thriving 鈥� expanding access to resources, removing obstacles to degree completion and fostering a culture of belonging.

鈥淓mpathy is at the core of how we approach our work,鈥� Poteet said.  鈥淲e always start with trying to understand students鈥� experiences and then meet them there to support their success.鈥�  

For Poteet, service is about connection and shared responsibility 鈥� creating spaces where students see themselves as changemakers and where community members feel seen, valued and included.

鈥淧ublic service is giving people the best opportunity to be their best selves,鈥� Poteet said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 create change only through big moments. We create it in the everyday acts of caring for one another.鈥�

Reflecting on receiving the Governor鈥檚 Award, Poteet grew emotional.

鈥淭his recognition reminds me that the work I was called to do was always bigger than me,鈥� Poteet said. 鈥淚 am honored 鈥� and deeply grateful 鈥� to stand alongside the people who have shaped me and taught me. If my story inspires someone else to invest in others, then I am proud of that legacy.鈥�