If you’ve ever wondered who keeps the gears turning behind the scenes in the Department of Radiology at UNC, meet Alexis Evans—HR Consultant, logistics queen, and a self-proclaimed “runner of a tight ship.” With numerous responsibilities stretching across onboarding, hiring, terminations, faculty support, salary changes, promotions, and beyond, Alexis is the master of multitasking. “I like to call this position an octopus role,” she says. “I’ve got many different arms doing different things.”
A Winding Road to Radiology
Alexis’s journey to UNC Radiology was anything but linear. A proud New Jersey native, she initially pursued a degree in foreign languages at the University of Delaware, mastering Spanish, German, and French while dabbling in Japanese. Despite her linguistic prowess, life had other plans.
After graduation, Alexis worked for a nonprofit that supported survivors of domestic violence, an experience that ignited her passion for human resources. Managing volunteers, organizing food pantries, and screening resumes gave her a renewed appreciation for the HR aspect of operations. From there, she took her skills to Delaware and later to Massachusetts, working for healthcare organizations until a family emergency brought her to North Carolina.
She arrived with little more than a suitcase and determination, carving out a path in HR that ultimately led her to UNC’s School of Medicine—and, by chance, to the Department of Radiology. “When we are hired, we sometimes know, and sometimes do not know, what department we will serve,” she explains. “I was particularly interested in higher education and had worked for my alma mater in the English Language Institute, so having the privilege to work for a prestigious medical school has been an incredible change of pace!”
The Invisible Force Behind the Screen
As a remote employee, Alexis acknowledges that she’s something of a mystery to many of her colleagues. “I think the implication from me working remotely is that I am just this mysterious force behind a screen,” she laughs. “At the holiday party, many people didn’t even know who I was! I introduced myself, and their reaction was shock and surprise more than anything!” But behind that virtual veil is a dedicated professional keeping things running smoothly.
“Alexis is wonderful in so many ways,” says Blair Allen, Business Operations Manager. “First and foremost, to say Alexis is highly responsive really wouldn’t even do it justice. More times than not Alexis’s responses to emails or chats asking for additional information, documentation, policies, etc. are returned in minutes! It’s genuinely hard for me to believe that Alexis has other departments she supports beyond Radiology because of how remarkably attentive she is to our many Radiology needs! Alexis approaches every interaction and challenge with a positive attitude and smile. In an area with as many complexities and moving parts as HR, it would be so easy to get frustrated with the nuances or ever-changing processes, but I’ve never seen that once from Alexis. We are so lucky to have her as our HR rep and she is such a valuable member of our staff team!”
A Life of Adventure and Strategy
When she’s not navigating the complex world of HR, Alexis enjoys playing video games with her husband and college friends, exploring new restaurants in the Triangle, and traveling. “I love the planning part of travel. Maybe that’s the HR in me, but I enjoy the logistics of moving pieces around,” she admits. “I tend to play slower, more calculating characters in the faster-paced games I play with my friends, so this tracks!”
An amateur photographer, she also enjoys capturing her journeys and sharing them with those who may not have the same opportunities to explore.
Her next big adventure? A honeymoon to Austria and Germany. “My husband hasn’t traveled abroad before, so I’m really excited for him,” she says. “We’re not beachy people, so we picked somewhere with architecture, classical music, and mountains, plus a bonus is that it’s forcing me to brush up on languages I haven’t practiced in admittedly a while.”
Words of Wisdom
If she could give her younger self one piece of advice, it would be simple: “Just keep marching.” Having faced personal and professional challenges—including a cross-country move to escape a difficult situation—Alexis values persistence above all else. “There were times I wanted to give up, but I had to fight back. Keep going and keep marching.”
Her favorite thing about herself? Her resilience. “I try to hold everyone accountable, including myself,” she says. “That persistence has helped me personally and professionally.”
“Alexis is a reliable resource and teammate – I can always count on her timely help and knowledge! I’m very happy she joined the department.” Joanna Newman, Program Coordinator.
The Methodical Strategist
If you ask Alexis to describe herself in one word, she’ll say, “Methodical.” Whether it’s HR logistics, travel planning, or video game strategy, she thrives on organization.
If she had a superpower, she’d choose the ability to understand and speak every language—fitting for a former foreign language major with an innate curiosity about the world. “At the very least, as cheeky as this is, it’d be possible to do something as topical as finding out who has a crush on who, right?”
As for the title of her autobiography? “In Spite of It All.” It is a fitting testament to a woman who has navigated every twist and turn life has thrown her way with determination and grace.
So, next time you’re emailing HR, know that behind the screen is Alexis Evans—methodical, persistent, and always ready to help (even if you don’t recognize her at the holiday party).
