{"id":72985,"date":"2024-09-18T16:15:58","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T23:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=72985"},"modified":"2024-09-18T16:44:21","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T23:44:21","slug":"traci-gleason-named-2024-homecoming-dedicatee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/traci-gleason-named-2024-homecoming-dedicatee\/","title":{"rendered":"Traci Gleason named 2024 Homecoming dedicatee!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It was a beautiful, late summer day and dozens of students had formed a line outside the Lumberjack CARE Center to collect food and other goods from NAU\u2019s on-campus food pantry. This wasn\u2019t a typical bi-weekly <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/dean-of-students\/louies-cupboard\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Louie\u2019s Cupboard<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> handout, though\u2014it was a celebration of Hispanic\/Latine Heritage Month and, unbeknownst to anyone in attendance, also the tapping of this year\u2019s Homecoming dedicatee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Several clubs had booths set up outside, including IMQ, which hosts a cooking demonstration each heritage and history month to highlight cultural foods, feature chefs from that community and hand out recipe kits. <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Traci Gleason<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, director of the Office of Inclusion, and her team were busy connecting with students when loud cheers started to approach the booth.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Before long, nearly 20 staff, students and media had surrounded the IMQ table, carrying a bouquet of flowers, waving pompoms and wearing Homecoming dedicatee buttons.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cHi everyone!\u201d <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Michelle Gardner<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, director of Office of Leadership &amp; Engagement, said to the crowd. \u201cWe are so excited to announce that the 2024 Homecoming dedicatee is Traci Gleason!\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/eA0HBrXKqJw\">Watch the tapping video.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Northern Arizona University taps the 2024 Homecoming dedicatee\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eA0HBrXKqJw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cheering continued as all eyes were on Gleason, who was obviously in a state of shock, as she was handed the flowers and a button with her face on it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Over the last 25 years working for NAU, Gleason has served in a number of roles, including program coordinator and retention specialist for Native American Student Services, assistant director of orientation in University Admissions, director of Trio Upward Bound Math &amp; Science and director of First-Generation Programs before settling into her current role in the Office of Inclusion: Multicultural &amp; LGBTQIA+ Student Services. She has not, however, had the honor of serving as the Homecoming dedicatee\u2014until now.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_72989\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-72989\" style=\"width: 286px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/IMG_1756-e1726701538183.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-72989\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/IMG_1756-e1726701538183.jpg\" alt=\"Gardner (right) hands Gleason (left) flowers and dedicatee button.\" width=\"286\" height=\"395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/09\/IMG_1756-e1726701538183.jpg 452w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/09\/IMG_1756-e1726701538183-217x300.jpg 217w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 286px) 100vw, 286px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-72989\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gardner (right) hands Gleason (left) flowers and dedicatee button.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The tradition dates back to 1936. Leaders of student organizations from throughout campus nominate and vote for an NAU faculty or staff member who has demonstrated exceptional service over more than 10 years and whose unwavering support of the university and students has greatly benefited the Lumberjack community. This year, Gleason was the chosen one.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThe &#8216;tapping\u2019 is one of my favorite moments in my career at NAU. The anticipation, the surprise, the look on everyone&#8217;s faces as we arrive to inform the faculty\/staff member\u2014it is unlike anything else. I get teary-eyed every time,\u201d said Gardner, who serves as the Homecoming planning co-chair and facilitates the dedicatee nomination and tapping process each year. \u201cThere is something especially meaningful and sacred about our students identifying a single person who has dedicated their career to Lumberjack excellence. I am taken aback by how deeply this tradition resonates with the campus community as the tradition honors an individual while connecting them to many years of past dedicatees.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The dedicatee participates in several events throughout the\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nau.edu\/homecoming\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">week of Homecoming festivities<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, starting with a banquet held in their honor, serving as a judge in the annual Chili Cookoff, riding on a float in the Homecoming Parade and being recognized on the field during the Homecoming Football game.\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nau-event-registration.azurewebsites.net\/eventregistration.aspx?evt=1051\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Register to attend the Oct. 15 Dedicatee Luncheon online.\u202f<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/IMG_3883-e1726702044889.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-72991 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/IMG_3883-e1726702044889.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of white box on table, adorned in dedicatee buttons, reads: We love you, Traci! (So here are some creampuffs) Enjoy!\" width=\"400\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/09\/IMG_3883-e1726702044889.jpg 844w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/09\/IMG_3883-e1726702044889-300x254.jpg 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/09\/IMG_3883-e1726702044889-768x650.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>\u201cI am deeply honored to be selected as this year\u2019s dedicatee and want to thank the students, the IMQ team, my colleagues and everyone who has been a part of my journey,\u201d Gleason said. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be here today without everyone\u2019s love and support over the years. I truly see this recognition as a reflection of all the good work carried out by my current team and the various offices and teams I\u2019ve been a part of in my time here at NAU. It\u2019s great to know the work we do truly makes a difference!\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gleason is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and has raised four daughters on the NAU campus, including two who are former or current Lumberjacks. She looks forward to getting her family together to celebrate Homecoming.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to spending time with students, colleagues, family and friends this Homecoming. I\u2019m also looking forward to participating as a judge in the Chili Cookoff and being in the parade. It\u2019s going to a fun and exciting week!\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_72992\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-72992\" style=\"width: 1253px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/IMG_1776.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72992\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/IMG_1776.jpg\" alt=\"Gleason (center) poses with her IMQ team.\" width=\"1253\" height=\"836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/09\/IMG_1776.jpg 1253w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/09\/IMG_1776-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/09\/IMG_1776-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2024\/09\/IMG_1776-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1253px) 100vw, 1253px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-72992\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gleason (center) poses with her IMQ team.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-56007\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514.png\" alt=\"Northern Arizona University Logo\" width=\"134\" height=\"95\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514.png 905w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514-768x546.png 768w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514-600x426.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 134px) 100vw, 134px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><br \/>\nCarly Banks | NAU Communications<br \/>\n(928) 523-5582 | <a href=\"mailto:carly.banks@nau.edu\">carly.banks@nau.edu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"search-results-excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/traci-gleason-named-2024-homecoming-dedicatee\/\">It was a beautiful, late summer day and dozens of students had formed a line outside the Lumberjack CARE Center to collect food and other goods from NAU\u2019s on-campus food pantry. This wasn\u2019t a typical bi-weekly Louie\u2019s Cupboard handout, though\u2014it was a celebration of Hispanic\/Latine Heritage Month and, unbeknownst to anyone in attendance, also the&hellip;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":72986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-community"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72985"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72985\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}