Shiya Rawls, Manager of Division Operations in the Advancement & University Relations division, combines many traits that would, at first blush, seem to be incompatible. Much of her work involves dealing with so-called “behind the scenes” tasks, for example, and yet, nearly everyone on UHD’s campus knows who she is. More than that, they are happy to see her when she crosses their path, or they hers. And despite her having won both the 2025 President’s Staff Excellence Award (she was one of two winners this year) and the 2024 Goes the Extra Mile Award, she doesn’t work in her tireless way for recognition, or solely for the sake of career advancement. Instead, Rawls finds fulfillment in helping her colleagues succeed.
And this sort of purpose and selfless dedication began long before her time at UHD. As a young mother, Rawls was dedicated to raising her children, and she stayed at home to do so. As they grew older, Rawls said, she felt a desire to find a new purpose. "I started asking myself 'What do I want with my life, What's the next chapter?’” That's when she decided to go back to school, a decision that eventually led her to UHD and the career and coworkers she loves.
She began studying at UHD in 2017 as a Psychology major, but like many Houstonians, her path changed dramatically after Hurricane Harvey. After seeing how the UHD community supported one another in the storm’s aftermath, she switched her major to Social Work, driven by a desire to help others in the same ways that Gators helped each other here on campus. She went on to earn an Interdisciplinary Studies degree with a concentration in social work, a path that preserved her credits from a prior institution and honored her dedication to community engagement.
Rawls’s career at UHD began in the very department she now helps manage. She started as a student worker in University Relations and, after a brief time working at the Marilyn Davies College of Business, she found her way back to Advancement and University Relations in 2022. Today, she holds the role of Manager of Division Operations, and she takes immense pride in knowing her colleagues personally and being a trusted confidante. "I thrive on anticipating what my coworkers across the university might need,” she said. “I want to think ahead and set them up for success so they can achieve their goals. That’s what brings me joy.”
Having won two staff awards in as many years, it’s clear that Rawls's commitment to others and UHD hasn’t gone unnoticed. So, what’s next? Career growth, more service, and a continued investment in her education, as she plans to take courses in fundraising and gift processing and will also complete her graduate business degree soon.
Ultimately, her professional success evidences the Aesopian teaching that no act of kindness, no attempt to help a coworker, neighbor, or friend, is wasted, and it in fact comes back with awards, satisfaction, and, for Shiya Rawls, the kind of happiness that comes from knowing that the best successes are shared.