UNC honors Dave Stevens’ distinguished service

Dave Stevens, senior associate dean of business and operations at UNC Kenan-Flagler, was selected by Chancellor Carol L. Folt to receive the 2017 C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award, one of the University’s most coveted distinctions for faculty and staff. Stevens is one of just six UNC employees to receive this important recognition.

“I have had the honor of working with Dave for more than 20 years and conveying his contributions and achievements would take a book,” said Douglas A. Shackelford, dean and Meade H. Willis Distinguished Professor of Taxation. “He has worked successfully for five deans as well as interim deans, providing the strategic and administrative glue and continuity of leadership and range of expertise that have supported UNC Kenan-Flagler’s growth and eminence in business education.”

Stevens’ responsibilities include finance and administration, human resources, facilities and information technology for the McColl Building, Rizzo Center, Kenan Center and East 54 offices.

Among Stevens most significant and visible accomplishments was the design and construction of the original Rizzo Conference Center and its subsequent additions. The Rizzo Center is the home of UNC Executive Development Programs, which provide leadership and management training to executives and companies. He shepherded the Rizzo Center through three phases of construction and financing over the past 20 years, overseeing every detail and ensuring that services are at the highest level.

“But Rizzo is only part of the story,” says Shackelford. “Dave oversaw construction of the McColl Building and was deeply involved in the expansion of the full-time MBA Program, and the launches of MBA@UNC, Weekend MBA, Global OneMBA, the UNC-Tsinghua Dual-Degree programs, and the online format of the MAC Program. In short, everything that we enjoy here at the School has Dave’s imprint on it, and Dave’s wisdom is sought for every major decision we undertake.”