Lisa Ayala: Helping others whenever she can

When Lisa Ayala worked in University Cashiering and Student Accounting Services, she once paid a $5 block for a frustrated alumna in New York who urgently needed her transcript.

"You just never know when you'll need someone to help you, too," says Ayala, now an accounting technician in the payroll office, part of the finance and business affairs department.

Ayala handles Teacher Retirement System deductions and Optional Retirement Program deductions for employees as well as savings bond deductions for those who take advantage of that program, and she processes the payroll. She says she enjoys working with UNT employees because she is a "people person" and likes helping others.

She came to the university in the spring of 1995 as a student majoring in accounting. To finance her studies, she first worked as a full-time cook in Dining Services. She says she always liked math and dreamed of becoming an accountant one day. Enrolling at UNT became her first step toward achieving that goal.

In September 1997 Ayala became a full-time accounting clerk in student accounting services. She processed financial aid refunds and student fee payments, cashed checks and, when the workload doubled during registration periods, politely helped the students waiting in line.

Barbara Kennedy, service representative in the Eagle Student Services Center, thinks highly of Ayala and considers her a friend and caring colleague.

"She is always willing to help anyone," Kennedy says. "It doesn't matter whether it is part of her job requirement or not. She would be there for anyone who needed help, even before they had to ask."

It is not surprising that she was greatly missed by her colleagues in student accounting after she moved to the payroll office in September. Her cubicle sits in the back of the office with books and files stacked neatly on top of the table. Her new position brings different challenges, but Ayala welcomes them.

"I enjoy working here," she says as a smile spreads slowly over her face. "It is a big change. And I have much to learn."

She will resume her studies this summer to finish her bachelor's degree.

BY LEI ZHANG contributing student writer

Other featured articles in this issue:

• UNT debuts :CRQ™ technology at capital campaign gala
• UNT opposes TNRCC permit for asphalt/concrete plant
• THECB grants planning authority for UNT engineering program
• Women's History Month events at UNT
• Time set for Pohl inauguration
• UNT schedules events for International Week
• UNT professor serves as phone-a-friend lifeline for "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" contestant
• UNT Vision forums completed
• Regents approve building name change, raise tuition and fees
• UNT cosponsors 100-year commemoration of community colleges

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