FACES {People who make UNC Charlotte a great place to be}
Name: Tanya Kordahi
Title: Customer Service Representative/Support Associate
Department: Uptown Center
Location: Mint Museum, Third Floor
The multicultural aspect of working for the University fulfills Tanya Kordahi’s passion for learning about people.
“Getting to meet and know so many interesting people and find out about their lives makes my job so much fun,” said Kordahi. “Growing up in Lebanon, I would read about different places, such as Siberia. Now, I am good friends with a professor who grew up there.”
Embracing and enjoying the differences in culture comes naturally for Kordahi. Born in Beirut, her life reflects the influence of an American mother and Lebanese father. Prior to moving to Charlotte about five years ago, Kordahi spent the majority of her life in Lebanon.
“I lived there during 20 years of civil war. There were alternating periods of violence and peace. You could never be certain what might happen, so you could never hold something as simple as a birthday party without contingency plans,” Kordahi stated. “Hard times either bring out the best or worst in a person. You realize if you have good health you can survive the bad times, and eventually, they will become just a memory.”
The ability to constantly plan for the unexpected serves Kordahi well in her role at the Uptown Center. As a customer service representative and support associate, she schedules events, maintains all the computer and audiovisual equipment, serves as the liaison to facilities maintenance, works with caterers on special events and is part of the welcoming committee for faculty and students.
“Our main focus is graduate education, but we can host conferences, special events and retreats, too,” explained Kordahi. “It’s the ideal place for an enjoyable and productive event, and best of all space is free for all University-related and sponsored events.”
Currently housed on the third floor of the Mint Museum, the Uptown Center has nine classrooms. During the fall and spring semesters, nearly 800 students utilize the facility. “Center City is the heartbeat of Charlotte, so it is logical for the University to have a presence here. Some places, a town springs up around the college. For us, the University must put itself into the center of Charlotte.”
Many of the students who take classes at the Uptown Center are working professionals. With the center operating at near capacity, construction of the new iconic Center City Building is a necessity.
“It’s going to be a fabulous facility,” said Kordahi. “The students who work and live near the Uptown campus will love it. Plus, being close to them serves as a reminder that the University is, was and will be part of their lives forever.”
Off the job, learning about people and culture occupies Kordahi’s time, too. An avid reader, she loves history, especially ancient civilizations, the period of the French Revolution and Russian and Polish culture. She and her husband, Joe, a consultant with Charlotte Energy Solutions, have three children. Their oldest, Albert, is a third-year law student at University of Texas, Austin. Their daughters, Angelique and Alexandra, are in Greenville and Atlanta, respectively. Angelique attends East Carolina University; Alexandra works for Aramark.
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