Patti Bowman Carey ’82

If someone wants to find Patti Carey, there are two places on campus to look other than her office in Hiner Hall-Starbucks and the Joan Perry Brock Center during basketball season.

But those two venues represent something much larger than her love of coffee and basketball: her devotion to her alma mater and the success of its students.

On the first day of class, Carey, executive director of the McGaughy Professional Development and Internship Center and lecturer in business communications in the College of Business and Economics, extends an open invitation to students to meet her for coffee at Starbucks at any time-her treat. Even nonbusiness students reach out and arrange appointments to talk over career advice or anything else.

"It's amazing how many students take me up on that," she said. "It allows me an opportunity to get to know them on a different level."

The recipient of the Nancy B. Shelton Spirited Contributor Award displays a high degree of professionalism, is a dedicated teammate who fosters collaboration and cooperation among colleagues, and goes above and beyond job responsibilities to selflessly serve their alma mater. That description fits Carey to a T. Carey, who had a distinguished career in corporate human resources prior to joining Longwood, attends every home basketball game, where she cheers on the same Lancers she sees daily in class.

"Her dedication to our growth and development is truly inspiring," said Trey Hicks '24, a member of the men's basketball team. "Her positive energy and smile radiate through the business school as well as the university as a whole."

Like most alums, the close-knit community and genuine relationships are what Carey treasures most about Longwood.

"I love the fact that we build relationships with students. Graduation day is bittersweet because it feels like I'm losing family members," she said, "but it's exciting at the same time."