Behind the role: Michelle Guobadia approaches 20 years of service to student affairs

For nearly two decades, Michelle Guobadia, senior director of student engagement and director of fraternity and sorority life, has been showing up for students, building community and shaping the student experience at UNC Charlotte. This May marks 19 years at the University for Guobadia, and she is as motivated as ever. 

“I love the people I work with — our staff, our students,” Guobadia said. “We have a good time and get to sit front row to students being the best versions of themselves.”

Over the course of her career, this native New Yorker has made an impact on Charlotte — and received several awards for her accomplishments and leadership. These include the Robert H. Shaffer Award and the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors, the Hazing Prevention Organization Anti-Hazing Hero Award, Pi Kappa Phi Friend to the Fraternity Award, Kappa Alpha Order Greek Professional of the Year and UNC Charlotte Division of Student Affairs Hall of Famer Award. 

For Guobadia, student engagement means students know they have the opportunity to be involved outside of the classroom. Her work in Fraternity and Sorority Life often challenges common misconceptions. For example, at Charlotte, more than 2,000 students are part of the fraternity and sorority community across 43 chapters; this group’s GPA has remained higher than the overall student GPA for the last 12 years. 

“It’s not what you see on TV or TikTok,” Guobadia said. “We have a solid Greek community at UNC Charlotte, and there is a space for anyone who wants to be a part of it.”

One of her greatest sources of satisfaction comes years after students graduate, when former students point back to their experience in fraternity and sorority life and share how deeply it shaped their lives.

“What makes me most proud is seeing our students excel and becoming amazing alumni who are leaders in their field, starting families, mentoring others and having so much Niner Pride,” Guobadia said. 

When asked about the best advice she’s received in her career, she keeps it simple: “Do what you love and love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” For Guobadia, that’s not just advice — it’s how she has chosen to lead.