Assistant Director of Student Affairs Shelley Arroyo has been named Employee of the Quarter at IUPUC for the second quarter 2023. Since 2016, IUPUC has recognized an employee every quarter for contributions above and beyond regular work responsibilities.
“Shelley has breathed life and energy into the IUPUC campus since joining on June 1, 2022,” said Jayne Morris, Assistant Director of Enrollment Management, who nominated Arroyo. “I truly wish that we could bottle Shelley’s energy, enthusiasm, and attitude, as well as her amazing personality and commitment to all aspects of campus life.”
Arroyo is responsible for student clubs and organizations and leads Pride Pantry and Welcome Week. She also assists with graduation and other campus events; plus, she works with students to help them acclimate to college life and feel part of the Crimson Pride.
“I think about all the wonderful mentors who stepped up and helped me when I was a first-generation college student trying to find my way,” Arroyo said. “That’s who I try to be for our students.”
When reflecting on the many projects she’s worked on in the past year, she’s especially proud of the holiday meal giveaway, which fed 250 people in the community.
She also spearheaded an immersion trip to the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville for Martin Luther King Day. “It was a really powerful, impactful event for our students, faculty and staff who participated,” she said. “I’m especially proud of how that experience informed our students and opened them up to new concepts.”
In going above and beyond, Arroyo spearheaded send-off celebrations and organized meals/snacks for IUPUC athletic teams before travel games, and sometimes made the road trip herself to cheer them on.
“Shelley truly puts others before herself, giving up evenings and weekends to improve the lives of those connected to IUPUC,” Morris noted in the nomination form. “She is a positive force to be reckoned with and truly deserves to know how much she is valued by this campus.”
Arroyo’s “Pantry Wars” campaign led to 2,411 items being donated to the IUPUC food pantry. Also, a recent partnership with Gleaners has been hugely successful, thanks to increased buying power, bringing an influx of healthy and fresh food to Pride Pantry.
Before joining IUPUC, Shelley worked for 14 years at her alma mater, IU Bloomington, in Residential Life. She’s originally from Columbus and has enjoyed being back in her hometown. In her free time, she likes to read, go for walks, and is a very active baseball mom.