Chris Atkinson met Angel Bailey eight years ago under hectic circumstances.
Atkinson, now an information systems specialist in Infrastructure Services, had been employed at UAB as a computer technician for two weeks when a virus hit campus machines. Atkinson was running through the School of Nursing to find computers to install the patch each one needed.
“I was in a total panic due to the gravity of the situation, and it didn’t help that I didn’t know where all the computers were,” Atkinson says. “This was the first time Angel came to my rescue. She eagerly pointed me to every computer on her floor and unlocked the doors so that I could get to them. I became a fan of Angel that day.”
Bailey has made a habit of endearing people to her during her 12 years at UAB —11 of those as administrative associate in the Center for Nursing Research (CNR) in the School of Nursing. Her kindness, willingness to help others and tremendous work ethic are a few of the reasons she has been named April’s Employee of the Month.
CNR Program Manager Lauren Antia has worked with Bailey for more than 11 years and says she always has displayed the attributes of an excellent employee: professionalism, efficiency and courtesy.
“I was immediately impressed by her warmth, intelligence, ability to communicate and eagerness to improve processes,” Antia says. “Angel has been promoted into positions with increasingly higher responsibility through the years and always has performed with excellence.”
Antia describes Bailey as “a women who is in perpetual motion and activity.
“Need a huge file cabinet moved? A room organized? The printer, fax machine, shredder, door, floor or computer fixed? A requisition processed through Oracle? Kind words and encouragement? A hug? The answer is Angel.”
Bailey says she enjoys staying busy and tries to use her role in the department as an example for others.
“I want to represent myself and the school well and be a positive example for my children,” she says of Jayda, 10, and LaToya, 23.
Bailey’s primary role is to assist Associate Dean Karen Meneses, Ph.D., and support CNR activities, including 17 active research and training grants.
She is the go-to person for a variety of CNR activities, large and small. For example, Bailey coordinates CNR scheduling, communicates with faculty, staff and service personnel, orders software and products needed and contributes to the SON’s efforts to raise money for the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
“During our event for Race for the Cure, I encourage everyone to wear pink and give donations to fight this horrible disease,” she says. “Having family and friends who have had this awful disease, it’s important to me to help in the support of finding a cure.”
Because she embraces so many different roles within CNR, every day is a new day — something Bailey says she enjoys.
And her love for helping others? She says it comes from her mother Catherine. “She’s always trying to help someone,” she says. “From that, I see how her life has been blessed. I want to do the right thing by treating everyone with respect.
Co-workers say Bailey’s character shines through in her interactions with others.
“I know Ms. Bailey to be a person of integrity and high moral standards,” says Yvonne Eaves, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing. “She has a quiet demeanor and often works behind the scenes preferring to shun publicity, and she does not usually garner the recognition that her performance deserves. However, I cannot think of anyone in the school more deserving and qualified for Employee of the Month recognition.”
Bailey says she enjoys her job and the people she works with immensely. She loves that everyone works with one goal in mind: To make the school the best it can possibly be.
“It’s a great, uplifting environment,” Bailey says. We strive to work together to accomplish the mission of the school, and we all pull in the same direction so we can be successful in completing that mission.”
