UNK Compliance Manger Deb Huryta received the University of Nebraska Board of Regents KUDOS award Oct. 3.
KUDOS awards recognize university staff for their professional expertise, service and “superior dedication” to UNK and University of Nebraska. It is the university’s top staff award.
Huryta has a degree in business administration and marketing from UNK, and she has been a member of the UNK staff since 1995, when she joined the university as director of publications. Her career has included work in human resources, including positions as Dual Career Program director, Human Resources generalist and ombudsperson.
Huryta’s responsibilities include: administering family medical leave, preparation and maintenance of ADA/Americans with Disabilities Act plans, serving as ombudsperson and serving as records officer, which includes records maintenance and responding to public records requests.
“Her quiet and sincere nature, her ability to earn and keep the trust of colleagues and clients, and her sense of humor even in difficult situations made her a wonderful fit for those positions, and these assets continue to serve her very well in her relatively new role as compliance manager,” her nomination said.
Huryta was also recognized for being a Leadership UNK graduate, serving on the UNK Professional Development Committee and Economic Development Council of Buffalo County’s Human Resources Roundtable Group.
Huryta was recognized and given the KUDOS award at the Board of Regents meeting, which was attended by UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen, NU President Hank Bounds, her husband Kirk, sons Keegan and Karson, and her aunt Bev Mathiesen.
Colleagues describe Huryta as “gracious and dedicated, compassionate and fun, and one whose good work is equaled only by her humility.”
Said Huryta: “Helping students and employees solve whatever issue they are facing removes a burden for them, and to do so helps them focus on their primary goal, in the end making them a successful student or a successful employee. To be just a small part of building the future is as rewarding as it gets.”
