When Dana Glauner and Amanda Winfrey started at South Piedmont on the very same day — November 5, 2012 — they had no idea they were beginning a 13-year stretch of teamwork, growth, and genuine friendship.
In fact, they didn’t even meet on day one. But as two young professionals learning the ropes on the L.L. Polk campus, they quickly found themselves side-by-side in the everyday chaos of student support, library events, tech questions, and the kind of “figure it out as you go” days that bond people for life.
Thirteen years later, they’ve watched South Piedmont evolve, changed roles, grown a family (in Amanda’s case—two kids!), survived a pandemic, built comic cons and fundraisers, cleaned historic houses, and supported each other through the highs and lows of work and life. Through it all, one thing has stayed the same: Their partnership is one of the constants that makes South Piedmont feel like home.
To celebrate their 13-year milestone, here’s a look at their journey — told through the moments, memories, and lessons that shaped it.
2 Friends
Dana, who is now Director of Library Services: Calm under pressure, the logistics mastermind, the note-taker, and the one who makes everyone laugh.
Amanda, who is now Student Technology Services Manager: Passionate, energetic, determined, and never afraid to jump into something new — even in 5-inch stilettos (which have since been retired for more sensible shoes).
13 Years
They’ve worked together since 2012 — on the Polkton campus, in the Library, in Tech Commons, and everywhere in between.
They’ve watched South Piedmont grow from a small, familiar campus to a modern, evolving college serving students in new ways.
Five of Their Favorite Memories
- Hosting two Library Comic Cons after a conference sparked the idea — Amanda found the talent, Dana ran the logistics.
- Cleaning the historic Polkton house, inspiring a larger preservation effort.
- Running a Hurricane Harvey fundraiser that raised $1,500 — triple their goal.
- Managing the laptop lending surge during COVID and meeting at coffee shops to stay connected while helping students.
- Celebrating Nov. 5 every year to marking another work anniversary.
Three Lessons Learned
- Roll with the changes. The South Piedmont of today is very different — but growth is good.
- Support makes everything possible. “We’ve been in the trenches together,” they say.
- A cohesive team has humor. As Amanda says: “Being able to laugh at yourself matters.”
2 Things That Haven’t Changed
- The people at South Piedmont are still what make the College special.
- Dana and Amanda still understand each other’s jokes better than anyone else.
1 Piece of Advice for New Employees
“Be open. Be flexible. You’ll grow, and you’ll find your people here.”
