Posted: February 25, 2025
The University of Florida Graduate School’s Megan Lewis (Assistant Director of Academic Career Tracking, pictured above) has won a 2025 Division Three Superior Accomplishment Award in recognition of the positive impact that her meritorious service has on University of Florida operations.
Superior Accomplishment Award winner and proud teammates (left to right): Associate Dean Tom Kelleher, Dean Nicole Stedman, Megan Lewis, and Academic Support Services Director Chelsea Rojas.
Lewis is a UF alumna (Bachelor of Arts in English, 2014) who has worked within the Graduate School since 2018. In her current role, she oversees final semester certification of graduate degree awards, provides administrative support in matters of meeting degree and graduation requirements, and maintains the accuracy and integrity of students’ records.
Lewis’ work has made a big impression on those who endorsed her as a natural choice for his award.
“What I appreciate the most about Megan is her can-do attitude and leadership in tackling difficult problems,” said her supervisor, Dr. Tom Kelleher, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Graduate School. “She has a gift of quickly assessing a situation and coordinating a plan of action.”
From the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Associate Dean Dr. Heather McAuslane cited Lewis’ track record of cohesive cross-campus collaboration. “Megan has been a knowledgeable, consistent, and incredibly responsive ally in our shared mission to resolve graduate student challenges and smooth their path to successful graduation.”
Others commented on two tied, though seemingly disparate, traits: Lewis’ keen attention to minute detail and ability to see the big picture.
“Megan’s approach to problem-solving is exemplary,” noted Kimberly Dukes, Director of Academic Support Services for the UF College of Journalism and Communications’ graduate programs. “She takes time to listen to issue thoroughly, clarifies policies, and outlines potential options, rather than simply providing immediate answers.”
And UF Graduate School Academic Support Services staffer Hannah Potter lauded Lewis’ hand in large-scale innovation, acknowledging how Lewis “played an essential role in managing the graduate audit project” now under construction, which will enable graduate students to track progress through their degree programs.
Asked about her own approach to her work, Lewis remarked, “It always comes back to stewardship and centering my goals around providing the best academic experience for graduate students and the university as a whole.”
She also credited her coworkers and clients as catalysts for her “going the extra mile” performance. “I truly believe that if I have been able to serve exceptionally, it is because I am working with and around exceptional individuals,” she said. “It’s not the emails or the phone calls that keep me coming back to work, it’s the people I get to work with — and more importantly — the people I get to work for that keep me motivated.”
And her reaction to being tapped for this honor? “As cheesy as it sounds, the effort and care to even nominate me internally had me over the moon, so anything else beyond the support of my director and deans has been an extra delight.”
Lewis received her award at a formal ceremony on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at UF Emerson Alumni Hall.
Graduate School