Michael Wilde

Michael Wilde recently was selected as the President's Professional Staff Member of the Year, the top honor UNLV gives to a member of its professional staff. Chosen for his advocacy and dedication, Wilde discusses why he left his native England to come to Las Vegas and why he enjoys working for the federally funded program.

Rebel since: Came to UNLV in 2002 as an MBA student and received a graduate assistantship at UNLV's Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach, where he has been since.

Coming to the States: Americans have a positive can-do attitude. In England, if you try something and it doesn't work, people get some satisfaction in your failing. Here, no one takes satisfaction in seeing you fail. At the time, our kids were 12 and 5 years old. We wanted them to grow up with that can-do attitude.

Setting an example: I was in my 30s and left a successful job in commercial banking that I had been at for 18 years to attend Edge Hill College of the University of Lancaster. I didn't want my kids to think that it's O.K. not to go to college. I graduated with an organization and management studies degree and was the first person in my family to earn a college degree. (His daughter, Jessica, graduated from UNLV's hotel and honors colleges in fall 2010.)

What is CAEO? CAEO provides services to approximately 24,000 underrepresented Clark County children to help them reach their academic goals. CAEO also provides services for adults who want to return to post-secondary education. All our funding comes from federal grants.

What I do: Fiscal control. I help make sure we get the money we need, we spend it appropriately, and we can account for every single penny.

Importance of CAEO: The mission of CAEO is tremendous -- to get kids who never thought they had a chance at college to attend college. My role is a service role. I do whatever needs to be done so that we can deliver the services to the kids. I remember taking a group of kids on a college tour and many of them had never stayed at a hotel, eaten at a restaurant, or been out of the state. It is something great to be a part of.

Why you enjoy working for CAEO? It has got to be the most diverse department in the university. It's like the United Nations. I have worked with people from Austria, India, China, Lithuania, Peru, and Zambia. I get to meet all kinds of people from all kinds of circumstances.

People would be surprised to know: I am working on my dissertation for my doctorate in higher education leadership and hope to be Dr. Wilde by Christmas.

Outside of work: I love to go to the movies and like to read a lot. I like true-life stuff and investigative journalism.

Missing England: The two things I miss most are the great British fish and chips and bread.

Awkward questions I get: Do you know the queen? Is it always foggy in London? Someone with a master's in education once asked me how we celebrate Independence Day and Thanksgiving in England.

Recognition as professional employee of the year: It's really embarrassing and humbling. There are a lot of exemplary employees at every level. To be singled out is a huge honor, but it is also uncomfortable because I don't think I am unique in any way.

Why he was nominated for the award: Wilde's nominating letter said, "Mike is a very vocal supporter of the programs that CAEO operate. He is a very enthusiastic advocate, hoping that the more people understand the center's work, the more opportunity there is to have them become supporters of the center's programs."

Additionally, "Mike volunteers as a GEAR UP chaperone for school trips and for Upward Bound college tours with 85 students. These activities enrich the student experience for underprivileged students and he does all this with a smile and ensuring the students have fun."

Other professional staff members who were nominated for the award:

• Elizabeth Baldizan, executive director, Community2Campus, Division of Educational Outreach
• Warren D. Cobb, director of production operations, film department
• Angie Doran, associate budget director, budget office
• Patrice Hollrah, writing center director, English department
• Lori James, finance and guest relations director, Performing Arts Center
• Phoebe Kuo-Jackson, student counseling and psychological services director
• Paul Pucciarelli, equipment and purchasing director, intercollegiate athletics
• Jim Reitz, head coach, men's and women's swimming and diving
• Nancy Strouse, senior associate vice president for development, executive director, UNLV Foundation
• Cheryl Tillotson, associate director, Academic Success Center
• Carrie Trentham, assistant director of admissions
• Kyle Wilson, director of athletic training