Connie Davis

Excellence in Service = Service Excellence

Excellence in Service and Service Excellence are interchangeable, according to Connie Davis, the director of Auxiliary Services and this year's recipient for the President's Award for Excellence in Service - Unclassified Staff.

"Service to others has always been a priority in my life. Someone who provides excellent service does so in the same superior manner, whether it is for a paid position or a volunteer opportunity," she said. "It is what they do and they expect nothing less of themselves."

A member of the staff at Southeastern since 1994, Davis is active in various community and church organizations. She has served as a founding board member of the Octavian foundation of the Arts, on many committees and in several capacities at St. Albert the Great Chapel and Catholic Student Center, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School and Holy Ghost Catholic School and Church.

In a university service capacity, she has served on numerous committees, including Institutional Effectiveness Support Services Assessment, Rock n' Roar, Homecoming, Pride Day, Shared Sick Leave, Relay for Life, Grad Fair, Aids Awareness Week, SGA Capital Outlay, Green 'S' Award, to name but a few.

"Service has been a part of my life since I was a child," Davis recalled. "The youngest of four daughters, I was introduced to the idea of doing for others from my parents and three older sisters. As a child, I spent 10 years at a Catholic school in New Orleans, which had a school motto of 'Serviam,' a Latin word which means "I will serve."

Upon entering college, Davis continued to get involved and find a way to work with others by becoming being a resident assistant in Housing. After graduation in 1994, she accepted her first position at Southeastern as an area coordinator for Housing while pursuing her master's degree.

"Connie has always placed students first, with a strong commitment to providing quality service to all of those we serve. She is an incredible team player who both encourages and welcomes collaboration across divisions," said Vice President for Administration and Finance Sam Domiano. "She has also taken on numerous leadership roles in professional organizations and shared the same vision, organization, and commitment to success that has served her so well at Southeastern. She will probably never truly know how many lives she has impacted as a result."

After receiving her MBA from Southeastern in 1996, Davis accepted the position of Assistant Director of Housing for one year and then was promoted to Associate Director of Housing.

"I enjoyed getting involved in the administration of University Housing and growing professionally in different aspects of management," she said. "Having the responsibility of the disciplinary process for students allowed me to have an influence in the developmental growth of students."

Drawing from her housing experience, Davis accepted the position of Director of the Student Union in 1999. There she worked under the supervision of former Director of Southeastern Auxiliary Services and now University of Louisiana at Monroe President Nick Bruno.

Davis says the best professional development decision she ever made was to get involved in the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS), something Bruno encouraged her to do.

"He impressed upon me the benefits of getting involved in a professional association," Davis said. "I quickly learned that in order for a professional association to be successful with its mission, it must rely on the volunteer services of its members."

Bruno whole-heartedly agrees with Davis' sentiment.

"Connie Davis is respected in her field. Having served in various capacities in her professional association, The National Association of College Auxiliary Services, she has gained the confidence of her colleagues around the southern region, as well as the national association," he said. "Connie served as the president of the Southern region, confirming her colleagues' confidence and acknowledgment of her leadership."

After a brief stint in 2002 as associate director of Admissions for Recruitment and Orientation, Davis became the associate director of Auxiliary Services position until promoted to interim director in 2008. She was named director in 2009.

During her tenure in Auxiliary Services, Davis has overseen the off campus merchant program for Lion's Lagniappe, the request for proposal process for Textbook Rental Operations, the retail bookstore transition to a new business partner, the implementation of residential communities, and assisting in the introduction of new dining concepts and the Fresh Food Company in the new Student Union addition and managing the contract for Document Source Print and Mail Operations.

"There is no question that I consider Southeastern my family. I have enjoyed a 20 year professional career on campus," she said. "I simply cannot see myself anywhere else."