At every university, there are unsung heroes who work hard behind the scenes to ensure students have a clean and beautiful campus to call home. I had the honor to speak with James Glass, the Connor Community Housekeeping Lead, recently honored with the C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award. If you are a student living on campus, you may have met James Glass, also known as “Mr. James” by many students across campus.
Glass has worked for UNC for over 19 years and is still committed to making students feel welcome and supported every day. To him, treating the students with support and guidance is key in his job, “I feel like the students are my kids while they’re here,” he says. “They need someone to talk to, someone who understands them.”
One of the things that sets Glass apart is his view on leadership. He believes a true leader leads from the front, “I’ve never seen a leader ride in the backseat of a car,”. As a housekeeping lead, he takes pride in setting a positive example for his team, working in a way he would want them to replicate, and making sure every corner of campus reflects the time and care his team puts into it.
Housekeeping often gets overlooked, but its impact is invaluable. A clean and well-maintained campus shapes the first impressions for visitors and overall student experience. “I want families to walk through and say, ‘Yes, this is where I want my kid to go,’” he says.
When asked his final piece of advice for the Tar Heel community he said, “Keep striving. Success may not come today or tomorrow, but someone is always watching,”. For Glass, receiving this award is an extreme honor, but being recognized by his peers for his work means even more.
His dedication to campus for almost two decades makes it clear that there is not a more perfect recipient of the C. Knox Massey Award. It is also a reminder that people who work behind-the-scenes often play some of the most important roles in shaping the campus community. So next time you pass a housekeeping staff member (or Mr. Glass himself!) in the halls, take a moment to say thank you because their work makes all the difference.