On the lower floor of Davis Memorial Library, you’ll likely find Constance “Connie” Pratt at her desk. Although often behind the scenes, her work − and the work of her team − is quite visible across campus at Methodist University: Spotless hallways, fresh bathrooms, inviting classrooms, and residence halls ready for students to call home. As superintendent of Housekeeping, Pratt oversees a hardworking team that keeps MU running.
On the lower floor of Davis Memorial Library, you’ll likely find Constance “Connie” Pratt at her desk. Although often behind the scenes, her work − and the work of her team − is quite visible across campus at Methodist University: Spotless hallways, fresh bathrooms, inviting classrooms, and residence halls ready for students to call home. As superintendent of Housekeeping, Pratt oversees a hardworking team that keeps MU running.
Pratt is a Fayetteville native, though she was born in Panama to military parents. She graduated from E.E. Smith High School and has called this community home ever since. An alumna of Winston-Salem State University, she later earned her master’s degree in Public Administration, where she developed a foundation in leadership and service. Her journey to MU was a natural next step in putting her education, experience, and heart for people to work..
For Pratt, the heart of her role is people. She believes the respect she shows her team directly shapes the pride they take in their work.
“The relationships and trust I’ve built here have allowed me to support the campus community in ways that matter,” she said. More than just managing buildings, she sees her role as guiding a group of people whose professional efforts make the University a welcoming place every day.
No two days are the same for her. One morning may be spent touring buildings or responding to work orders, while another is focused on hiring and training. What never changes is her standard of excellence.
“There’s a myth that anybody can do this work,” she says. “The truth is, it takes the right people, who take pride in results, and choose this as their profession, to care for this campus the way it deserves.”
Her team lead, Anecieto “Chito” Abalos, said: “Every supervisor I’ve worked with has been good, but Mrs. Connie has been the best. She listens, she trusts us, and she makes sure we have what we need to do the job right.” He credits Pratt with empowering him and supporting his growth since his journey from the Philippines to MU.
When asked what she is most proud of in her 12 years at MU, Pratt’s answer is immediate. She reflects on 2021, when her team faced the sudden and heartbreaking loss of their beloved coworker, Enelrae “Nell” Collier.
“Nell was a bright light and high-spirited member of the team who made everybody’s day better, even in the midst of her bad ones,” Pratt recalls. “I am proudest of the team from that year, who showed resilience and strength in honoring her memory while carrying on the important work we do. Their ability to come together during such a painful time was remarkable.”
Her leadership will extend into the future of MU. Pratt has already been a part of conversation about management for the proposed School of Medicine, pending approval from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Hoping to ensure that the new facility is cared for with the same pride and care as the rest of campus.
Outside of work, Pratt stays just as active. She is a leader in her church’s women’s group and involved in her sorority Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. She enjoys spending time with her husband, a recently retired high school band director, and their two daughters. Though she jokes that she feels “cozy” tucked behind her desk in her favorite office spot, she says the best moments are when she is out on campus, catching up with her staff. “It is like seeing a long-lost friend,” she says.
For Pratt, her motivation comes down to the notion of helping MU thrive.
“There is always an opportunity to be better,” she says. “We are not just cleaning buildings, we are contributing to the student experience and to the success of this University.”
One of MU’s behind-the-scenes, hidden gems, Connie Pratt is a leader keeping the present and future of Methodist University polished with pride.