Julia Hou received the University Staff Appreciation Award for November 2025.
Hou is a financial specialist in the School of Engineering. The individual nominating her stated, "Julia demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the university through her exceptional stewardship of its resources and her direct support of its core educational mission. Her dedication is evident in three key areas: upholding financial integrity, supporting the academic mission and maximizing university resources.
"She consistently stands out by both treating her core responsibilities with a project manager's precision and by taking the initiative to collaborate on special projects that improve our department's overall efficiency. In short, Julia's attitude is the antithesis of a siloed mentality. She is an integrated, approachable and indispensable teammate whose primary focus is advancing the shared mission of our department.
"The value that Julia brings to our department cannot be overstated. It's the rare combination of her meticulous financial expertise, her innovative initiative on projects like the student onboarding course and her genuinely supportive 'teammate' attitude that makes her so exceptional. She doesn't just manage our finances; she actively elevates our department's culture and operational success."
Each employee of the month receives a certificate of recognition and a gift presented by Chancellor Katherine Frank. The award, in its 21st year, was established by the Chancellor’s Office and is co-sponsored by the University Staff Senate.
