Sept. 28, 2021
UNT Police dispatcher Meagan Rodriguez ('12) cares for everyone on campus, from the students to her co-workers.
She helps students by talking to them on the phone while they're walking to their cars at night. She assisted a young woman who was being followed by talking to her until she pulled into the police department parking lot.
Last December, Rodriguez created a giant Advent calendar for her fellow dispatchers, who would retrieve a small treat from it each day, such as fuzzy socks.
Her caring nature and hard work earned her the UNT Brand Ambassador title for September. This isn't the only award Rodriguez has won. She also received the police department's Employee of the Year award in 2013. Last year, she earned one of the state's Silent Hero awards, given to her for her lifesaving efforts in helping a member of the UNT community.
“I'm totally shocked,” Rodriguez said, when President Neal Smatresk presented her with the Brand Ambassador award Friday. “I just came off a 12-hour shift. It's not what I expected. It just means the world. I care about the school so much, and I care about our students.”
Rodriguez graduated from UNT with a rehabilitation studies degree and took a job as a dispatcher, which has turned into her career.
“Meagan's love of the UNT community and desire to give back are evident,” says Margarita Venegas, communications strategist for the Division of Administrative Services, who nominated Rodriguez. “She makes everyone feel special, secure and respected.”
The president cited Rodriguez for doing an “incredible job.”
“You talk people off the roof literally sometimes,” he says. “You help protect our students when they're a little bit worried or afraid. You help sort out difficult situations. We feel you model our values, especially the value of caring and the value of service. We're really proud of you.”
If you have a faculty or staff colleague you'd like to nominate for the UNT Brand Ambassador of the Month award, email brandambassador@unt.edu with a description of why you're nominating the individual. The award recipient must exhibit at least four of the 12 UNT brand attributes.