CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Debra Flessner was selected as the Office Professional of the Year 2024 by the Illinois Administrative Professionals organization at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.
Flessner, the office administrator for System Offices Shared Services, was presented with the award during the organization’s membership meeting on April 17.
This is the 32nd year for the award, which recognizes an outstanding member whose expertise and professionalism helps their department run more efficiently. Flessner was nominated by Shengyan Zhang, the Shared Services coordinator.
“I was very surprised and honored to be nominated by my supervisor to receive this award,” Flessner said. “The award is a prestigious one in IAP, and I am humbled to be one of the few who have been honored with it. ”
Flessner began her career at the U. of I. nearly 21 years ago as extra help in the Office of University Counsel, transferring to the office of the dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences before becoming a full-time university employee in 2004. She worked in several departments before joining her current unit in February 2020.
Illinois Administrative Professionals seeks to build collegiality, promote professional advancement and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among employees in certain civil service classifications. Founded in 1948 as the Secretariat, the group changed its name in 2018 to better reflect the evolving roles and responsibilities of those it represents.