Staff Spotlight: Kari Bellavita, Graduate School

A successful office can’t run without an organized administrative team, and New Mexico State University’s Graduate School has been in great hands with the leadership of Kari Bellavita.

Bellavita has been an administrative assistant and special executive at the NMSU Graduate School since September 2022. She began her journey at the university in April 2019 as a temporary customer service representative for the Graduate School’s front desk, and she eventually worked her way up the ladder.

“In August 2019, I was hired as a full-time customer service representative, and in March 2021, I was promoted to senior administrative assistant as admin to former Dean Luis Vazquez,” she said.

One of Bellavita’s tasks is to manage a team of two administrative assistants; one who handles the scholarships for the Graduate School, and one who runs the front desk along with a team of three graduate assistants.

“I support the dean, manage his calendar and assist his direct reports, which now includes, in addition to the Graduate School, the International Students and Scholar Services office, Education Abroad and the passport office,” she added.

She also processes the in-state tuition coding in the spring and fall semesters, assists with recruiting events, facilitates the Graduate Faculty Council meetings, orders office supplies, completes travel expense reports, and hires graduate assistants and staff.

“I enjoy working with my coworkers and the students in our office,” she said. “We work hard and support each other like a family.”