Be the Voice: Gaddy Wins Statewide Thomas Ross Award

Listening and being heard. These strengths have guided Pat Gaddy throughout her 34-year career at NC State — and for her, the two go hand in hand.

When the Staff Senate was created in 1995, Gaddy jumped at the chance to join. At the time, she was working in human resources, having moved from campus dry cleaning two years before. She was all too aware of how some staff positions, like dry cleaning, were often perceived but believed everyone deserved to have their voice heard.

“The Staff Senate came about to be a voice for the staff community,” said Gaddy, current assistant to the assistant vice chancellor for Communication Technologies (ComTech) within the Office of Information Technology (OIT). “I wanted to be the voice. I wanted to advocate for staff, those who didn’t have a voice, and make sure their voices were heard.”

It’s that same vision that earned Gaddy the 2024 Thomas W. Ross, Sr. Visionary Leader Award last November from the UNC System Staff Assembly, where she currently serves as parliamentarian. The Staff Assembly is an advisory group to the system president and board of governors and is made up of delegates from all UNC System institutions.

The award is presented annually to one delegate who has proven to be an exemplary leader and inspires a shared vision for both their campus and the Staff Assembly as a whole. Gaddy is the second delegate from NC State to receive the award.

She was nominated by her fellow NC State delegates, who cited her passion, positivity and ability to encourage others to use their voice.

“Pat embodies the very spirit of this award. She is a tireless leader not afraid to question processes while always preferring to create a shared vision,” said Greg Sparks, assistant vice chancellor for OIT ComTech. “She works to empower others through her actions and mentorship as shown by her continued willingness to provide advice and guidance to new members of the NC State Staff Senate.”

During her time as chair of the Staff Senate, which serves as an advisory body to the chancellor, Gaddy led efforts to create the Employee Emergency Loan Program in collaboration with the Faculty Senate. While it was conceived as a response to COVID-19, the program provides short-term loans to employees experiencing emergency situations of all kinds. Also as chair, Gaddy created an ad-hoc onboarding committee to better prepare new senators to take on the role.

For others and herself, she is always dreaming bigger. What started more than three decades ago as a way to speak up for NC State staff has now grown statewide.

“When I became a staff senator, I wanted to be the voice for the staff community. But my goal to become the chair was to be the voice of my senators. And when I realized that as a chair-elect of the Staff Senate I would be a delegate to the UNC System Staff Assembly, I was not content until I had a voice for the 17 campuses,” said Gaddy.

Sparks, who has worked with Gaddy for the last 20 years, said he is delighted that she has been honored.

“I can’t think of anyone more qualified to represent NC State as a member of the UNC Staff Assembly, where her systemwide colleagues have quickly recognized the same traits those of us at NC State have long valued in Pat.”