The U of A’s university values — unwavering curiosity, a spirit of community, shared accountability and impact through excellence — serve as a guiding light for everything we do. In this series, we meet the people whose daily dedication brings these values to life.
Imagine this — you’re a new administrator in a small unit and you encounter a situation that wasn’t covered in your training process. You need to come up with a solution, whether it’s finding the appropriate form or connecting the right people, but nobody else in your unit has the answer. Who do you turn to?
It was a scenario that Amanda Danis saw time and time again. Amanda, who has worked at the University of Alberta for 13 years, has held various administrative positions and developed an extensive knowledge of the inner workings of the university. She often found herself fielding questions from confused administrators, and while she was happy to share her expertise, she realized there was a bigger need to be filled.
Almost all units or departments across the university have administrative assistants and coordinators, executive coordinators and other general administrative employees, explains Amanda, who is currently the team lead, administration for Information Services and Technology within University Services, Operations and Finance. However, “most of the time, depending on how big the departments or units are, the administration can be kind of siloed,” she adds. When faced with challenges, these administrative employees were often on their own, unsure of who might have the right expertise to guide them.
“In talking with my team, we thought there would be a lot of benefit from a community,” says Amanda. So, she facilitated the coordination of a hub that could serve as a bridge between the many siloed administrative employees across campuses, knowing they would be much stronger together than alone.
While the administrative hub Amanda created includes a shared Google Drive for various resources, for her, the backbone of the group is the Google Space they all participate in. With a simple message, members can easily receive help with a wide range of queries, from logistics-related issues such as the types of forms needed for particular situations to more complex matters related to processes, HR operational items and more. “Anyone who is part of this community can ask a question and there’s always someone to answer or direct them to the right person,” says Amanda.
In the two years since its founding, the hub has blossomed into a genuine community. “This group enables pockets of people or individuals to connect, to be part of something where normally there would be no connection and they’d have to figure things out on their own,” says Amanda. “We share tips, resources, ideas — really, I’d call it a direct line to all the brilliant administrative minds in one place. We really make the magic happen here at the university.”
What started with Amanda simply emailing administrators she already knew to gauge interest has grown into a thriving group of more than 200 members. “It’s a really valuable resource. Everyone’s friendly, we treat each other with respect, we all help each other,” says Amanda. “We’re a powerful little community.”
The group grows primarily through word of mouth, with the occasional mention in relevant staff newsletters. Though Amanda is quick to highlight that everyone plays an equal role in the community, as the one who facilitated the creation of this community, she always brings new members into the fold by sending them a personal email. “It builds the feeling that everyone is welcome,” says Amanda. “I didn’t want them to just receive a link to a shared drive or a form. I thought it was important that someone invite them personally.”
For Amanda, the “spirit of community” isn’t just a value: it’s a shared Google Space that ensures no one has to work in isolation — a place where no problem is too small and help is always just one click away.
“For me, what’s important is the people,” says Amanda. “I’m really trying to continue to build goodwill, compassion, kindness and positive influence through the community and hope that I can do my part to improve administrators’ experience at the university.”
If you are in an administrative position and you are interested in joining this community, please email Amanda Danis at adanis@ualberta.ca.