Moving to Las Vegas wasn’t a gamble for Candyann Humphries. Even though her husband’s job in the casino industry could’ve taken her to two other cities (including one all the way on the East Coast), something about Sin City called out. 

“I grew up in Kingman, Arizona, just a couple of hours from Las Vegas, so I visited often for shows, shopping, and all the fun tourist attractions. My husband and I got married — right here in Vegas! — on Feb. 22, 2013, and moved here just three days later,” says the proud mother of three and grandmother to four “beautiful grandbabies.”

Humphries, the first-place recipient of the 2024 Classified Employee of the Year awards, is the residency program and research coordinator for the Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery in the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV.

“I corral the kids — I mean, I manage a wide range of responsibilities, from credentialing, licensing, and documentation to coordinating travel, organizing events, and handling budgets,” she says.

Nominators remarked on Humphries’ organizational skills, attention to detail, and dedication as well as her ability to create a caring atmosphere within an intense and busy working environment. 

“She is a master of creating a space where her colleagues, residents, and attending physicians feel not only supported but encouraged to thrive. Her infectious positive attitude uplifts the entire department, making the workplace feel less like a typical office environment and more like a community,” said one nominator.

What does it feel like to receive a Classified Employee of the Year award?

It’s honestly insane — in the best way! When I received the notification that I’d been nominated, I read through the essay my resident submitted for me and I was completely overwhelmed. Winning the award itself is such an incredible honor, but reading how I’ve impacted their lives? That moved me more deeply than I can even put into words. Knowing that I’ve made a difference in their journey means everything to me.

Where did you work before coming to UNLV?

I held a variety of office and administrative roles, moving around a bit along the way. Most recently, I was an administrative manager at a children’s therapy clinic. That experience made a lasting impact on me; it helped me realize how important it is for me to do work that contributes meaningfully to others' lives.

What are some of the responsibilities of your role?

There’s truly no handbook that can fully prepare you for being a coordinator — you really learn by doing. It’s a fast-paced and ever-changing job that requires strong organizational skills, multitasking, and the ability to wear a lot of hats.

he role involves countless moving parts, many of which only come around once a year. That means it can take a few cycles before things really start to click. I hit six years with the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine this May, and I still occasionally have to reference old notes or check in with my amazing coworkers for a refresher. (Though maybe that’s just me getting older!)

On top of that, I interact regularly with multiple government agencies and medical facilities, all of which have constantly changing requirements and systems. So, being adaptable is absolutely essential.

What’s the best part about the people you work with and what you do?

Working with our residents. It’s an incredible privilege to watch these brilliant medical students grow into talented, skilled surgeons. They work unbelievably hard, and truthfully, I think they’re the ones who deserve awards like this far more than I do!

There’s such a strong sense of kindness and camaraderie among them, and I’m so grateful they include me not only in their professional lives, but in their personal milestones, too. I’ve been lucky enough to attend weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, and just casual hangouts. They’re genuinely easy to care about — which also makes them the hardest part of the job. Every graduation is bittersweet. Saying goodbye as they move on to fellowships or new careers is tough, but I’m always proud of them — and thankful that we stay in touch.

Outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?

I love spending time with my grandkids! We always seem to end up baking cookies — which is why they sometimes make their way into the office. I also enjoy cooking and trying out new recipes, hiking, and exploring the area. At home, I spend time watching movies and playing video games with my husband and our two younger kids.

And one day, when I’m all “growed up," I want to travel more. This world is so beautiful and amazing — I just want to see more, more, more!

What do you like about being involved on campus?

I joined my first committee not just to participate, but to learn. From there, I realized it just naturally fits who I am. I genuinely want to make things better for people — in a million different ways — and I try to use my experience, knowledge, and energy to do that.

If you’re interested in getting involved, a great first step is to talk to your supervisor. If they don’t have any leads, don’t be afraid to ask their supervisor or reach out to offices on campus that focus on employee engagement and improvement. It all starts with just asking questions and being willing to say “yes” to new things.

How do you think people can achieve a healthy work-life balance?

Great question! To be perfectly honest, I’m still working on it. As classified staff, I think many of us are naturally people-pleasers — we’re support staff who love to support! Personally, I want to feel needed, and it’s genuinely fulfilling to know that I’ve helped create a better work environment for others. I love my job and so many of the people I work with, so stepping away from work doesn’t always come easy.

I know this is the same old song and dance that you’ve heard a million times, but it’s so true: You have to take care of yourself. I have to remind myself that even though our residents and doctors are working 80 hours a week, that’s not my schedule. Don’t check your email at home. Let your people know when you’re on vacation — and actually be on vacation. Ignore that work text. Don’t do the work. You need the downtime.

Burnout is very real. When you tell yourself, “I have to keep working because there’s so much to do,” remember that if you don’t take breaks, you’re more likely to make mistakes, be less productive, and even get sick, which only creates more work. It’s OK to step back. Your mental health is more important than your career ever will be.

What do you think you bring to your office that makes the work environment more enjoyable for your colleagues (I hear you like to bring baked goods!)

My baked goods are definitely a hit! Two of my recipes were even featured in the 2023 Classified Staff Holiday Cookbook — but not my super-secret chocolate chip cookie recipe. That one stays in the vault!

Beyond the treats, I like to think I bring laughter, good vibes, and maybe a little wisdom to the office. I make a real effort to keep things light, ensuring people go home feeling OK — not like they’ve been through the wringer. I’ve worked in places like that before, and I never want the people around me to feel that way if I can help it.

If you were to hit a big jackpot today, what would you do first?

Pay off my bills! That’s always the first thing my husband and I say when we daydream about winning the lottery. After that? Travel, travel, travel!

One of the great things about this job is that it’s given me opportunities to travel for conferences. I’ve attended our specialty conference, the [Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education] conference, and I just got back from the Association for Hospital Medical Education conference. Not only are these incredible learning experiences, but they’ve helped me realize how much I love exploring new places. I want to do more of that — see more of the world, experience new things, and go to places I’ve only dreamed of.

And, of course, I’d buy myself a pony. It’s a thing.

What’s some advice you would offer a new employee at UNLV?

Don’t waste your time stressing about things you can’t control. Focus on what you can — yourself and your reactions. It doesn’t matter how you think things should go; people and circumstances will do what they do. Also, be OK with people not liking you. A lot of people don’t even like themselves. Remember, you have the potential for greatness, so don’t let anyone’s opinion steer you off course.  

Is there anything you think people on campus would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m 46 years old and didn’t start cooking or baking until about 12 years ago when I married my husband. But what might really surprise people is that I take on about 90% of the home improvement projects around the house myself. I love to tinker and troubleshoot, and it’s incredibly satisfying to figure things out with my own hands.

Here’s a rapid-fire round of fun facts: I only have one semester of college education. I’ve never traveled outside the country — not even to Mexico. And I have a home library with more than 600 books (and yes, I’ve read most of them!).

Also, I have a sister who’s two years older than me, but since my hair’s gone completely silver, she tells people I’m her mom — and somehow, they actually believe her! She thinks she’s hilarious, but the joke’s on her — I’m rocking the silver, stealing the spotlight, and aging like fine wine while she’s just over here pretending to be the “young one."

Another thing is I have two tiny holes in the front of each of my ears called preauricular pits. They look like piercings but they're congenital malformations that occur as a result of fusion problems during the sixth week of gestation when the ear is developing.