Corliss Dupuy

SERVICE WITH A SMILE

Little Orphan Annie said, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.” That certainly rings true for this year’s recipient of the President’s Award for Unclassified Staff Service Corliss Dupuy, who, as anyone who has spent time with her will tell you, is constantly smiling.

     A 2004 Southeastern graduate with a bachelor’s degree in general studies, Dupuy began working at Southeastern in 2000 as a human resources analyst and worked her way up the ladder to supervisor, served as interim director twice when asked, and now serves as assistant director of human resources over the compensation and talent acquisition areas. When called to serve, she answers the call.

     In fact, service, Dupuy said, is at the very core of what they do in the Human Resources department. 

     “We are in the business of hiring and developing people,” she said. “What I’ve most enjoyed about my job at Southeastern is the people I’ve met and worked with.”

     Human Resources Director Tara Dupre certainly agrees.

     “Everywhere Corliss goes she is an exceptional example of what a true Southeastern Lion can be,” said Dupre. “She is eternally optimistic and her immense abilities never cease to amaze me. She always has a smile on her face and is ready to pitch in no matter what. She is more than an esteemed employee for the university – she is a true Southeastern Lion!”

     In addition to her job duties, Dupuy believes in giving back to the university by performing service work outside of the office. She has served as a proctor on campus for the ACT college placement exam, volunteered in the hospitality suite at the university’s annual Rock n’ Roar Literary Rally event, participated on the Relay for Life team within the Division of Administration and Finance, helped coordinate the university’s annual United Way campaign, and serves as a sponsor for the Southeastern student group Lions for the Lamb.

     “Corliss’ dedication and commitment to Southeastern is exhibited not only by her internal relationships, but also the relationships she has built with community organizations and university partners,” said United Way of Southeast Louisiana Resource Development Director Cammie Proctor. “She took on the volunteer role of Employee Campaign Coordinator for the university’s United Way Employee Giving Campaign. The role of the ECC is to effectively communicate the benefits of United Way to the university employees, as well as organize and collect pledge and contribution information. Corliss has done an exemplary job in this endeavor each year.”

     Most recently, Dupuy has taken an active role in the implementation of Workday, the new enterprise resource planning system that will improve business processes across finance, human resources, and other university departments.

     “Corliss’ background in human resources, financials and her institutional knowledge has made her a key asset to the Workday implementation team. She has demonstrated a willingness to learn and adapt to the challenges presented with implementing an ERP system with two peer institutions,” said University of Louisiana System Project Manager Jorge Chinchilla. “Corliss’ ability to quickly build relationships, analyze issues, and find solutions to problems has made her rise from an implementation team member to the facilitator of all human resources activities for the implementation.”

     Outside the university arena, Dupuy is actively involved in serving her church as a Sunday school teacher and is also involved in working with JOY, the senior adult group of her church, planning trips, activities, celebrations and meals. 

     Out of all her service activities, Dupuy has enjoyed volunteering as a Sunday school teacher the most.

     “I’ve been teaching Sunday school for more than 20 years and have taught the children of some of my former students,” she said. “There is no better feeling than to watch the students you taught as second graders as they develop into awesome young people, and you know you played a small part in their development. They are our future.”

     Dupuy describes service as developing people and giving to others out of her abundance.

     “When my life is over, the only thing that will matter or carry on is what I’ve done for others,” she explained. “If I only live for myself or gather things for myself and never give to others, my life would be wasted.”