The James J. Gallagher Award is presented annually to two employees of UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) in recognition of exemplary attitude and commitment to the FPG community. The award, which is named for the man who served as the FPG director from 1970 to 1987, is open to permanent, full-time employees who demonstrate a willingness to perform above and beyond the call of duty and enhance the overall climate of the Institute.

This year, FPG is pleased to recognize both Applications Analyst Tom Leggett and Special Programs Manager Erica Nouri for their outstanding service to the Institute. We recently spoke with each of the awardees to learn more about their work and to find out what receiving the Gallagher staff award means to them—find out what they had to say below.

Tom Leggett

Please tell us a bit about what you do at FPG.

As a Programmer Analyst for FPG’s data management and analysis core (DMAC), my primary function is to manage data.  Usually, I work for three to five projects at a time, each with their own priorities and deadlines, so solid communication and time management are key.  Ideally my participation begins in a project’s first year, when I can draw on my experience to consult in developing a data plan—what are the most efficient and cost-effective options, and what are common pitfalls to avoid?  If a project needs help gathering data, I might do coding in DMAC’s online survey system, or I can assist with REDCap, Qualtrics, Blaise, etc.  Maybe there’s a need to harmonize large datasets from secondary sources, in which case I can help navigate those waters.  I work mostly in SAS, writing code to organize data, to troubleshoot any errors I can find, and to add scoring as needed.  Regardless of the project, whatever its methods and data sources, the common goal is to produce clean, well-documented datasets that are ready for analysis.  

What do you like most about what you do? 

I enjoy programming and writing, and I’m thrilled to have found a home at FPG where I can use these skills to help better the lives of children, and to do so while working alongside such good people.    

What does receiving the Gallagher staff award mean to you?

I am a quiet person by nature, definitely limelight avoidant, so being acknowledged for the work that I do is as surprising as it is gratifying. Sincerely, it means a lot to me. Thank you all for your kindness, and for the important work that you do.

Erica Nouri

Could you walk us through a typical day at FPG for you?

One thing that I really like about my role is that there is no typical day – every day brings something new and exciting. I could be drafting a report to provide to the UNC's Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, or assisting with copy-editing, or working with campus partners on a collaborative project on behalf of the Institute. The uncertainty keeps me on my toes, and I’m able to both broaden and enhance my skillsets, which I’m grateful for. 

What do you like most about what you do? 

What I enjoy most about what I do and working at FPG is all the incredible people housed within the Institute. My role interacts with many people, groups and projects at FPG, and I really enjoy getting to know everyone and having a hand in various and diverse areas of the Institute. As I approach my seven-year anniversary with FPG (in a few days), I am forever thankful for the opportunity to work at the Institute. Our FPG community is welcoming, nurturing, and unlike any other unit at UNC-Chapel Hill and it is simply because of the people who work here. 

What does receiving the Gallagher staff award mean to you?

I am so honored to have received this year’s James J. Gallagher Award. I know there were many nominations for many, many deserving FPGers, and so I am grateful to have been recognized and deemed worthy of this award by both my colleagues and the selection committee. At FPG, we all have a shared goal of supporting all children and families, and with that, I think we all naturally strive to go above and beyond—to do more and to set an example by the way we carry ourselves and stand by our work. I am overjoyed to have my name accompany the dozens of incredible people who have set an example for us all and carry the name of a James J. Gallagher Award recipient.