Janice Pierson

Presidential Award of Excellence, 2010

Community, Equity and Diversity

With an uncanny ability to juggle details and meet pressing deadlines, Janice Pierson has worked tirelessly over the years to make UNH a leader in promoting and celebrating diversity.

Her colleagues in the President's Commissions and Inclusive Excellence Initiatives say their offices simply could not pull off their many events and programs without her deft handling of the details.

"There are two types of people in this world," says Wanda Mitchell, vice provost and chief diversity officer for UNH. "There are people who watch things happen, and there are people who make things happen. Janice Pierson is clearly in the latter category."

In fact, Pierson says she thrives on multitasking and staying on top of the smallest details - while staying out of the limelight.

"I'm a behind-the-scenes type of person," says Pierson. "I love to organize and to multi-task, and to get everything in order so that things can happen...I'm one of those people who thinks, 'How many things can I do at once?' "

In addition to her role in assisting four commissions, Pierson serves as the coordinator of Social Justice Educators Training and is a member of the Operating Staff Council, Administrative Office Professionals, and MUB Board of Governors. She also provides critical support to several student-focused programs, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and the Diversity Banquet.

Last year, Pierson led efforts to help make diversity and inclusion the focus of the office professionals' conference - and participants praised the results in a follow-up survey. In her work to organize the very successful InterHostel Program and Spiritual Café, her efforts to advance diversity at all levels demonstrates her tireless promotion of the University.

After 22 years with UNH, Pierson continues to inspire and take on new challenges, and to bring new perspectives and innovative ideas to old issues and traditions.