Emily Knighton-Akins, program manager I in the Heersink Office of Strategic Leadership Recruitment, has been selected as a recipient of the inaugural Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff.
“I am flattered to have been nominated for this award and feel so incredibly humbled to have been selected as one of the inaugural recipients,” said Knighton-Akins. “Working for an organization that values its staff so highly is exciting. It is a privilege to be involved in the process of bringing individuals to UAB that strive to improve health care and health care research, and it is an honor to have been recognized for it.”
Knighton-Akins has been a critical contributor to the Office of Strategic Leadership Recruitment as she has been at the forefront of the department’s development and has worked diligently to build a foundation that can propel Heersink’s recruitment efforts. Since 2018, she has recruited more than 55 researchers, staff, and leaders.
She serves as the primary contact for candidates before, during, and after their visits. In addition to managing communication and logistics of visits, Knighton-Akins has developed recruitment protocols and led recruitment training sessions for more than 50 UAB employees.
Knighton-Akins’s dedication to Heersink is showcased in the way she fosters a sense of belonging, builds cooperative teams that promote inclusivity, advocates for others, and offers creative and innovative solutions.
“Her attention to detail when it comes to the needs of our visiting candidates is unparalleled. She makes sure that they all have smooth, interesting, and engaging visits with our Heersink stakeholders as well as with our local community,” said Josh Carter, Ph.D., executive director of Heersink’s Strategic Leadership Recruitment. “She is bright, energetic, talkative, and desires to contribute to a positive outcome for the HSOM, UAB, and every person who comes to visit us.”
The Heersink School of Medicine Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff recognize and honor individual Heersink staff members who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments and significantly supported Heersink’s core mission areas of education, clinical care, and research.