Civic Engagement Professional of the Year
The Civic Engagement Professional of the Year Award (CEPY) recognizes a staff person at a member campus who has worked to institutionalize service, fostered a vision of service, supported faculty and students, and formed innovative campus-community partnerships. The award is presented during the PACE Conference. Nominations typically open in mid-September and close the first week in December.
2025 Recipient
Kate Johnson, Ed.D.
Dr. Kate Johnson, Director of the Key Center for Community Engaged Learning at UNC Asheville, was presented the 2025 Civic Engagement Professional of the Year Award on February 12, 2025 during the PACE Conference hosted at The Conference Center at GTCC.
Past Recipients
2024 – Dr. Robert Brewer, Greensboro College
2023 – Dr. Jaime Russell, UNC Wilmington
2022 – Kathy Sikes, Duke University
2021 – Dr. Marianne Magjuka, Wake Forest University
2020 – Dr. Lori Kniffin, UNC Greensboro
2019 – Sean Langley, UNC Charlotte
2018 – Charlotte Williams, Lenoir-Rhyne University (Sustainer Award) and Dr. Tamara Johnson, UNC Charlotte (Emerging Leader)
2017 – Dr. Smith Jackson, Elon University
2016 – Cathy Kramer, Warren Wilson College (Sustainer) and Kelly Misiak, Pfeiffer University (Emerging Leader)
2015 – Dena Shonts, Central Piedmont Community College (Sustainer) and Dr. Lane Perry, Western Carolina University (Emerging Leader)
2015 – Dena Shonts, Central Piedmont Community College (Sustainer) and Dr. Lane Perry, Western Carolina University (Emerging Leader)
2014 – Dr Emily Janke, UNC Greensboro (Sustainer) and Rev. Dr. Joe Blosser, High Point University (Emerging Leader)
2013 – Elaine Madison, Duke University
2012 – Aubrey Swett, UNC Pembroke
2011 – Mary Morrison, Elon University
2010 – Jenny Huq, UNC-Chapel Hill
2009 – Julie Lawson, Peace College (Emerging Leader); Dr. Stacey Riemer, Davidson College (Sustainer); and Dr. Susan Harden, UNC Charlotte (Innovator)
2008 – James Shields, Guilford College
2007 – Jenny Koehn, Appalachian State University
2006 – Jason Denius, East Carolina University