Ryan McDaniel is the recipient of the 2016 Phyllis Smith Staff Award for Excellence at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. The award was presented at the annual holiday staff luncheon at the Carolina Inn on Friday, Dec. 15.
McDaniel is the executive assistant floater at the School. Rather than having one permanent administrative role, McDaniel moves from job to job, filling in wherever he’s needed. He joined the School in January 2017.
The $500 staff excellence award honors the career of Phyllis Smith, the School’s former director of facilities, who retired in 2014 after more than 30 years of service. The award recognizes a staff member who is committed to the School’s pursuit of excellence through its business practices. The winner must demonstrate leadership, be an effective team member, have a positive attitude and be enthusiastic.
McDaniel started off in the dean’s suite supporting Roy Zwahlen, J.D., assistant dean for innovation and strategy, and Carla White, assistant dean for innovative leadership and diversity. Since then, he has worked with DPOP Chair Betsy Sleath, Ph.D., and as the acting graduate program coordinator in DPET. Currently, he’s the interim center administrator for the Center for Innovative Pharmacy Education and Research and is supporting the residency and master’s programs in PACE.
One person who nominated McDaniel for the award said, “Ryan leads by example by consistently providing high quality service and thoughtfulness in his assignments.”
Another commented on his ability to be flexible and handle multiple roles and projects at once. That person called him a natural leader and one of the most effective staff members they’ve seen in the last 20 years.
Yet another nominator said, “I truly believe the School has been greatly improved by Ryan McDaniel. To be honest, I was not sure how well this position would work; however, Ryan has been truly great.”
McDaniel joined the School after working at UPS stores in Chicago and in Chapel Hill since 2010.
“It was wonderful to work with such autonomy and in a business model that allowed for fast implementation of just about anything we needed or wanted,” McDaniel said. “I hope to bring some of that efficiency to the School.”
McDaniel earned a B.A. in theater from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire.
Those staff members receiving a nomination for the Smith Award are Jessie Bishop, Laura Bratsch, Vicky Burriss, Colleen Cera, Jessica Driscoll, Jackie Feaster, Dottie Forthman, Chris Hill, Porschia Holmes, James Joyce, Julie Leemkuil, Kelin Li, Mieke Lynch, Dave Maldonado, Caroline Martin, Jason Martin, Rosa Mayorga, Stacey McGlothlin, Pam Morrison, Katie Musgrove, Sara Pettaway, Kim Swain, Mercedes Tolbert, Bill Vogt, Zawadi Baskile Walker and Kate Zhang.